By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I’m at the point of choosing a dissertation topic—and panicked. How do I pick the right one?
—Top(ic)less
A: No need to panic, but it is a big decision. And with more implications than you might think.
Dear Dr. Noelle: Post-Parting Depression?
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I just graduated and feel a ridiculous void! What should I do?
— Destitute Without Dissertation
A: A well-known motivational truism proclaims that the most dangerous time is when you’ve reached a goal. This maxim may explain why many doctoral candidates experience Post-Parting Depression (PPD).
Dear Dr. Noelle: Musical Chair?
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: It’s time for me to find a dissertation chair. I’m panicked. How?
—Chairless
A: You’re right to have at least a little trepidation. Here’s what a new “doctor” said in a study of how the choice and behavior of chairs affect doctoral students’ satisfactions:
Dear Dr. Noelle: Whirling in the Limbo of Creativity
By Dr. Noelle Sterne,
Q: Whenever I start writing, all kinds of ideas start swirling around. How do I corral them?
— Creatively Dizzy
A: I’ve experienced the same, often. Whether I’ve scribbled a handful of notes in a frenzy of inspiration or actually made an outline, once I start to write that same itchy, unsteady, slightly nauseous feeling pervades. Not exactly illness or indigestion, it’s more of a nervous disquiet I can only describe as “creative limbo.” Doesn’t matter how often I’ve felt it or how many pieces I’ve started and completed. It rears up, and the ideas threaten to overtake me.
Dear Dr. Noelle: Vanquish That Self-Imposed Guilt
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: What do you do if you missed a deadline you created for yourself? How do you get through the feelings of guilt and set another deadline in a way that you can hold yourself to it?
— M. Culpa
A: I empathize with you! It’s hard to miss your self-imposed deadline. As a fellow deadline-misser, I’ve arrived at several methods that make myself easier to live with.
Dear Dr. Noelle: Overworking and Underwriting
By Dr. Noelle Sterne
Q: I work full-time and more! How can I write my dissertation?
— Overworking and Underwriting
A: Most doctoral candidates work full-time. And have families and responsibilities. If you’re at the dissertation stage, finding time for writing is especially hard. Maybe a few fortunate students can quit work and devote themselves completely to the dissertation. But if you cannot quit, there are still ways to make decent time for it. Other than speaking harshly to yourself to devote Saturday to the dissertation instead of the game, one way that many candidates have found effective is to meet with your employer or supervisor.