How to be Successful in your Degree

From PHDcomics.com, Originally published 10/27/1997

The professors gave sage words of advice for us this week.These were the ones I managed to jot down during the session.

"How to be Successful in your Degree":

1. Align yourself with someone in the faculty who shares your passion.
2. Communication, Committee, Cooperation - most important aspects of your dissertation research.
3. Pick a topic you want to work on for 1 to 5 years.
4. Stay focused on your goals and be flexible.
5. If your committee isn't serving you, ax them.
6. Write 10 pages in the afternoon. Edit in the morning.
7. Use your networks to get access to data.
8. Finishing your doctorate is not about how smart you are but how bad you want it.
9. Be OCD and Get 'R Done.
10. Grow up or go home.
11. The entire process is suppose to be demoralizing.
12. Faculty is not going to support you emotionally. Rely on your cohort for that.
13. It's about the process of getting it done.
14. Become a subject-matter expert on something.
15. Get some money to support you.