Please keep those good vibes coming. Last day of PhD comps tomorrow

[Maddy McCall]

I've finished three days, and have my minor area comps tomorrow.

Say a prayer, send my good wishes, anything you can do to help me feel more self-confident.

:grouphug:

[Metatron]

1. Best of luck!

[Maddy McCall]

2. Thanks!

I'm feeling pretty great about tomorrow. :-)

[fluffernutter]

3. tons of positive thoughts for you!

you can do it, and then you can celebrate your ass off!

:toast:

[Maddy McCall]

5. This is the toughest thing I have ever been through in my life.

Worse than divorce or death in the family. I'll definitely be celebrating after my oral exams. :-)

[fluffernutter]

17. i can imagine!

my father got his in some science or another, and even though he's a genius, he said it was pretty rigorous going through exam time.

you'll do great, heck, if you've been through a divorce and a death in the family (i'm sorry), you can do anything.

i saw your PhD will be in History - what are you going to do with it when you're done?

[Maddy McCall]

27. Get the hell out of Mississippi! :-)

That's what I'm going to do with it when I am finished. :-)

[Jean Louise Finch]

4. Wow!!

Three days down, and one to go! You're so close! That's incredible. Just focus your brains for one more day, and then IMAGINE the glory that shall descend!

My partner is struggling through the last draft of his PhD dissertation (this has been going on since he started in 1998), and the degree to which we are BOTH getting giddier and giddier about the pending completion cannot be fully expressed; we're BOTH pulling for you to putter through this last bit.

Good luck, but I don't think you need luck in these last few blinding hours. Just some ability to maintain composure before complete ecstatic breakdown. Minor comps, minor shmomps. You'll blast them to the moon.

[Maddy McCall]

7. Awwww...THANKS!

What a nice message! Yes, I will finish written comps tomorrow...then the oral exam. I am feeling pretty great right now...hoping I can hold on to my sanity through tomorrow.

What a stressful ritual PhD exams are!

In which area is your partner receiving his PhD? I'm an historian.

:-)

[Jean Louise Finch]

10. oh very cool

It seems that would be a lot to memorize/pontificate upon/theorize about. What area specifically?

My boy is about to be (officially) a health economist.

Not to torture you, but he's in the Australian system, which means no comps and no defense, just this monster of a dissertation, which is waiting for my proofreading skills to finish it off (I'm only on chapter 3 out of 7--eek!). It's pretty dense, and my stat skills aren't really the most stellar on the planet. But I'm determined to put in my week's work, as he's put in 7 years. heh heh heh.

Anyway, so many good thoughts your way! A dissertation is epic, but at least it doesn't put you on the spot like exams and orals. Do let us know how it all turns out.

Here is my predicted thread header for the completion celebration: "Glory unto Me! I am Free!"

[Maddy McCall]

12. LOL! Yes, I will save that header!

I am an ethnohistorian. Focus on southeast American Indians, from contact to present--especially those in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

I bet your guy will do fantastic on his dissertation! I can't wait to get started on mine. THAT will be the fun part of this! :-)

[GOPisEvil]

6. Wow! U our thuh smrt!

Good luck! :thumbsup:

[Maddy McCall]

8. LOL! Thanks!

When I get through, I'm going to see if there are any DU gatherings in Texas in December...I might head y'all's way and visit relatives and meet some DUers on the same trip.

:-)

[GOPisEvil]

9. If you head to Texas, we'll have a get-together!

We're all about spontaneous parties here! Give us as much notice as ya can!

[Maddy McCall]

11. Will do.

How far are you from Longview? What about from Port Neches?

I will be visiting both areas...will let you all know! :-)

[GOPisEvil]

13. Pretty far from both...

...but I can make a roadie, possibly. :-)

[Maddy McCall]

16. I might just make a grand tour...

I want to visit San Antonio, too. That's my birthplace. :-)

[GOPisEvil]

20. San Antonio - now we're talkin'!

That's my hometown - at least that's where my parents live. I'm about an hour up the road! :D

[Maddy McCall]

22. I was born there, and adopted when I was three days old.

Haven't been back since, and am dying to visit the town of my birth. Might just get a room on the riverwalk. What's the best hotel for the money?

[GOPisEvil]

23. Hey! I was adopted at 4 days old!

I want to go back to Athens, Greece, my birthplace, one day!

How much do you want to spend on this hotel? :-)

[Maddy McCall]

24. Depends on how many nights I stay.

$100/night range.

And, as for Athens, I don't blame you for wanting to go back. It's got a fabulous party scene, so I hear...I've never been, but one of my cousins did, and he actually saw the B-52s in a bar there...a small bar--said it was the best live music show he ever saw.

Great music scene, fine music town.

So you were adopted, too? I think this is the first time I've ever mentioned it on DU, and to someone else who was adopted. Wow. :-)

[GOPisEvil]

25. Oh...I believe you can find something in that range!

The Holiday Inn Riverwalk on N. St. Mary's is not bad. The Riverwalk Plaza Hotel is in a good location, but I don't know much about it. There's a Clarion on Lexington as well.

[Maddy McCall]

26. Thanks! I had wondered about the Holiday in Riverwalk

Is it centrally located? I want to be where the action is! :-)

[GOPisEvil]

28. It's right on the Riverwalk!

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/satrw?WT.domain=www.holiday-inn.com&WT.vanity=sat-riverwalk

[Maddy McCall]

30. Thanks!

Probably will be visiting either over Christmas holidays, or maybe next summer.

:-)

[MountainLaurel]

14. Go Maddy!!

I took my comps for my master's about a month ago, and know the stress I felt with just that one four-hour test. My hat's off to you!

[Maddy McCall]

18. Thanks!

And congrats to YOU! If you can do the four hour test, you can do the four day test. Perseverance, my friend. :-)

[Timebound]

*cheers Maddy McCall on*

You can do it! :)

[Maddy McCall]

19. Thanks!

One more day. One more day. One more day. :-)

[salin]

15. Sleep, lots of sleep

go in confident - and with a notepad. Throughout - write notes when they ask their questions... so it looks like you are capturing their key points (you may want to ask if that is okay to have a blank tablet for notes to get the gist of their questions to make sure that you fully answer... so many academics do this (take notes during questioning) that it shouldn't be a problem.

The real point, however, is that if you get a question that throws you initially for a curve - that you have a couple of seconds to reflect/think - and then pull something out that sounds reasonable. Generally - once you see the angle - IF you capture what they are asking - you can answer extemporarily pretty well... even if you start off on a tangent. The notes buy you a few seconds - and let you glance back to realize when you need to draw a link from your initial ideas/points/info that you bring up - back to what they actually have asked. It is amazing how many tangents can suddenly sound completely cogent and profound when doing this. They will attribute the circuitness of your answer to nerves.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that you will do well!

:hug:

[Maddy McCall]

21. I just printed your post. I am going to keep it with me as I go into...

my orals. EXCELLENT ADVICE!! Thanks so much!

[salin]

29. hope that it helps

the worst part of quals are the parts that we think that we may not be as well versed in as we "should be" (or as we think the committee members think that we should be.) Reality is that we have taken a heck of a lot more in than we realize... I mean - intense thought, study and focus over a period of YEARS... it is just that in some of the areas which are not our primary focus (and thus we do not as frequently work through verbally - written or oral) we may need just a little push to elicit (from our mind) what is there...and when we do it is a risk that the mental diharria that comes out (my term - sorry for the grossness - but when thinking... sometimes a thought just spews out there) - doesn't directly answer what is asked... that is where the only 'danger' exists - we know - but in the nerves that come in these situations we don't always loop back that spew (that is often very in depth and very cogent)... often one last thought that ties it together is the only difference between ... "not sure that she/he gets it" (a judgement primarily due to the fact that when questions are asked it is more related to the committee member's personal interest/research and thus they are kinda looking for a specific type/realm of answer) versus a "wow..."

My quals weren't orals (thank goodness) but were brutal - and almost each of us were defeated, not by our ability or nerves, but by our own lack of self-confidence. Took me a long time to fully realize that in our area of specific study/research - we really were (if we were doing our work effectively) among the most knowledgeable folks in the country on that specific area (who else has the time to read so much research and theory on one small area and analyze it and compare it and wrestle with it, etc.) And that the knowledge built along the way on some of the side areas (like minor concentrations) was deeper than realzied... because to begin to think about those topics/issues in a way that could be integratd to explore one's major research area required a much deeper level of internalization while going through the work than regular read/memoraize/regurgitate... a whole lot more is there - and with greater insight than we often realize. It is a side product of the whole process. Just no one helps us realize that - and the nerves can get us to where we freeze.

Sometimes the whole process feels like a long fraternity hazing program.

BTW - while I have perspective through this point... was at an institution that almost by existence forced the... "I may be smart and good, but I don't know that I have what it takes what a PhD from X institutions..." and the self-defeating nerves - even when producing at a high rate - was HUGE. For me, had to get through the hoops and realize that it was fully within my grasp and capabilities (a confidence thing) before I could then ask if the career that followed was what I really wanted for the rest of my life. Only when I got through (to the "infamous all but dissertation..." had candidacy, finsihed coursework, had the research (theory, lit review, and methodology and instruments) laid out... and knew it was cool to go... that I could walk away. Am more of a practitioner... realized I would rather start an organization from scratch to do the work I was researching - and that either way would take more than a year longer of almost no pay... that I if I was going to be poor with job insecurity for several years... would rather be practicing and starting a program/organization from scratch - than finishing a dissertation and be set for a life of scholarship(my program spit you straight into research U jobs... a fantastic thing in a tight market... IF that is what one wanted for the rest of one's life...) Long way of saying... my advice (which I like to think is pretty good) ends at a point not much beyond where you are now - at least that based in experience... I love it when folks can gain something from that experience... and then go and surpass the source of that advice! Go forth - kick butt - and keep kicking academic butt until you are blazing trails for others with your research and nurturing as a teacher to lead others. :thumbsup:

Yikes - way too much about my path... at a time where the focus is yours.

Short message: Don't let your nerves - or their agendas (which always come into the room in these things) get in your way - a few seconds here and there to reflect - pull what you know and wrap it to their interests... and you are golden and past a hurdle that accelerates you to shining on your own work. A toast to you!

Please let us celebrate with you when it is over!

[Maddy McCall]

31. Salin, I must respond to each and every point you made.

I have to study now for my two minors tomorrow. I will Pm you when through.

I agree...self confidence can make or break you. I almost went in monday to tell them I wouldn't take the tests, because I was so overwhelmed and never thought I could measure up. But I decided to open the envelope and just look to see if I could answer ANY of the questions...I answered ALL of them. I did fine yesterday too, or at least I feel that I did.

Tomorrow will be the most stress-free day. I will carry your advice with me into the orals...ALL EXCELLENT ADVICE. Thanks so much for taking the time to REALLY respond to my thread. I will PM you when I am through with all of this!

[salin]

32. as I read the words of your second

paragraphs, I did something I rarely do to a passive activity such as reading a message board... pumped the fist... YES! Yes! Sounds like the real battle (with self) was earlier in the week. And you won by not calling the pause when your self doubt was greatest and before you really saw the task at hand. BooRaah!

I look forward to talking with you when you get through this guantlet!

Sleep well - and come out on the other side stronger!

Best of luck to you (though it doesnt sound like you need any "luck"!)

[deadparrot]

33. Good luck!

I'm far away from graduate school, but one day I want to get a Ph.D in history. :)

Sending good throughts your way.