Doctoral students frequently come to the dissertation without clear cognizance of the magnitude of the project that lies before them and, therefore, underestimate its scope and breadth, as well as the demands of conducting research and writing across a monograph of several hundred pages. They often have scant experience or training in the preparation of the dissertation, and many find themselves adrift on the high seas, without compass or map. This fact may be exacerbated by the practice among dissertation chairs who insist that students conceptualize the dissertation and design a proposal or prospectus, without the sustained oversight and guidance that many students require at this vulnerable stage. This is particularly true in many disciplines, such as the social sciences and humanities, where proving one’s mettle involves the discovery of a viable research topic, the writing of the proposal, often times at least three chapters, and accomplishing this end in relative isolation. However, even in the sciences, where the research concept is developed in unison with the advisor, because generally advisees work and share in their advisors’ research and do not necessarily have to discover a topic, many still find themselves adrift when they must translate bench research, code and lab books, and essentially, their findings into a cogent, linguistically sound narrative.

Remaining ABD (All But Dissertation) should not be an option for any doctoral student confronted by the demands of the dissertation, nor should he or she think that the dissertation should require excessive years to complete: this simply is not so, and as the adage goes, the best dissertation is the one that’s done, not the one that remains endlessly stalled. Neither should students feel compelled to write their dissertations alone or to struggle without appropriate mentorship and graduate education expertise. Successful, talented people, dancers, actors, athletes, authors, singers, among others, who are intent on achieving their goals, recognize that a coach is critical in meeting their objectives.

If the unfamiliar world of the dissertation process seems to threaten your equanimity, as well as your degree completion, then perhaps getting a dissertation coach as a member of your team is the answer. Together, we can develop a winning strategy to navigate your dissertation and replace ABD with Ph.D.

[Photo: Nestor Galina]