How to prepare for a thesis proposal

[Dodohead]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey folks,

Ok, so I have the date...the time...the paper written. Now I have two weeks to prepare my thesis proposal presentation before my committee. (Note that I am starting my 5th year of a 5 year program, so it really is more like a mini-defense than anything else). Any suggestions as to what I should do beforehand to prepare? Any pointers for a good talk?

I met on Tuesday with one of my committee members and left crying (well, not in front of him of course, but when I got home I was weeping), because he asked me to do all sorts of things that my adviser and I had decided not to do. He also asked me all sorts of things that are WAY outside my area of expertise. I'm not sure how to handle that when I have my actual proposal.

Suggestions/Comments/Words of Inspiration?!!?!

- Dodo.

 

[BDavis]

Any suggestions as to what I should do beforehand to prepare? Any pointers for a good talk?

I met on Tuesday with one of my committee members and left crying (well, not in front of him of course, but when I got home I was weeping), because he asked me to do all sorts of things that my adviser and I had decided not to do. He also asked me all sorts of things that are WAY outside my area of expertise. I'm not sure how to handle that when I have my actual proposal.

Suggestions/Comments/Words of Inspiration?!!?!

- Dodo.

I am writing my thesis as well and preparing for my defense. I am practicing my presentation by presenting to post-docs and graduate students; I am also presenting at other lab meetings as well (kind of like job talks). Many of the post-doc that just graduate had very helpful comments (some of them even had the same committee members as I did so they mentioned some of the questions that were asked).

I am also in a similar situation where experiments were dumped on me at the last minute. I already have a first author paper and two second author papers. My graduation was dependent on the submission and acceptance of another first author paper (which is pretty much done). However, one of the committee members asked that I get another first author paper written and submitted (the data is organized and I have the skeleton for the manuscript). The timing for graduation is important because I need to return to medical school so that I can sync up with the med school schedule; otherwise it will take me an additional year to graduate. I discussed my concerns with my advisor and talked to the other committee members privately and I was able to get a majority decision that I would not be required to finish the paper before I returned in medical school.

I understand your frustration with your committee member, but since your advisor has already decided against doing the experiments you have some grounds to talk to the committee member. It is very annoying when you have come this far to have someone attempt to derail your graduation. It almost feels like you are a prisoner awaiting parole and you have to meet with your parole board to see if you are "ready for society".