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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lucia Francisca on December 10, 2005, at 20:58:17
Hello. Is anyone on this board currently in the midst of writing their dissertation? Just wanted to commiserate with someone about the challenges. Thank you. Lucia
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 11, 2005, at 12:31:31
In reply to Anyone out there ABD?, posted by Lucia Francisca on December 10, 2005, at 20:58:17
I'm ABD+a 1yr internship. Everything else is done though. So I guess I'm ABDI?
The dis process is torture though. Lonely and frustrating. It makes me wish that I had gone to med school instead.
I also wish that I could be a real adult who could pay all her bills and could enjoy having the weekends off.
That's enough of my pity party for now. :) As you can tell, I do feel your pain!
Best,
EE
Posted by gardenergirl on December 11, 2005, at 17:14:45
In reply to Sorta, posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 11, 2005, at 12:31:31
I'm in the same boat. And some people might say it's leaking.
They don't know how well I can bail while plugging leaks, though. Especially now that depression seems to be waning.
We can do it!!!
gg
Posted by Lucia Francisca on December 11, 2005, at 21:15:58
In reply to Sorta, posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 11, 2005, at 12:31:31
Hi Emily Elizabeth. Thanks for replying. Yes, this diss process is really long and drawn out. I hope to be done with it in about 6 months, but we'll see. Yes, I need a "real" job that pays a decent salary, and I wish I didn't have to work nights and weekends! Oh well, WHEN we finish, hopefully it'll be all worth it! :) Lucia
> I'm ABD+a 1yr internship. Everything else is done though. So I guess I'm ABDI?
>
> The dis process is torture though. Lonely and frustrating. It makes me wish that I had gone to med school instead.
>
> I also wish that I could be a real adult who could pay all her bills and could enjoy having the weekends off.
>
> That's enough of my pity party for now. :) As you can tell, I do feel your pain!
>
> Best,
> EE
Posted by gardenergirl on December 11, 2005, at 23:32:03
In reply to Re: Sorta, posted by Lucia Francisca on December 11, 2005, at 21:15:58
We should start a dissertation support group. :)
gg
Posted by Lucia Francisca on December 12, 2005, at 17:28:04
In reply to Good luck Lucia Francisca » Lucia Francisca, posted by gardenergirl on December 11, 2005, at 23:32:03
I know--I definitely need the support! Good luck with your writing. And thanks again for telling me about babblemail and babblemailing me. Lucia
> We should start a dissertation support group. :)
>
> gg
Posted by MTNDOG on December 20, 2005, at 16:15:20
In reply to Re: Good luck Lucia Francisca, posted by Lucia Francisca on December 12, 2005, at 17:28:04
Hang in there- I just finished my coursework and have to take my qualifying exam so I call myself AABD (almost all but dissertation). We should start a support group
Posted by llrrrpp on May 6, 2006, at 22:40:32
In reply to Re: Good luck Lucia Francisca, posted by MTNDOG on December 20, 2005, at 16:15:20
Hi I'm ABD. I don't think my research study is working out. It's all i can do to make it to my meetings. I'm so depressed that I havent looked forward to anyting in months. i can't bring myself to analyse the data ive collected so far, becuase if it's not working i have no back up plan. I'm in bad shape. At least I'm still at the Uni full-time, so I am taking advantage of mental health services.
Posted by MTNDOG on May 7, 2006, at 18:47:59
In reply to ABD, posted by llrrrpp on May 6, 2006, at 22:40:32
Hang in there- I'm having a hard time myself. Just seem to have lost all motivation to study for my exam. Ugh!
Posted by llrrrpp on May 7, 2006, at 20:26:43
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by MTNDOG on May 7, 2006, at 18:47:59
Yes, fortunately I don't have any qualifying exams in my program. Maybe if you just start studying for 10 minutes at a time, and then set a time limit (30 minutes per topic) it will help you get started?
I'm waiting for my anti-depressant to kick in, but I already notice some progress in my levels of concentration and short-term memory. Hopefully I will be able to get to work soon. Thanks for writing me back :) PhD is so isolating sometimes. We become specialists and no one understands our subjects. It's hard to talk about sometimes.
Posted by MTNDOG on May 7, 2006, at 21:00:04
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by llrrrpp on May 7, 2006, at 20:26:43
It is hard. what is your specialty? Mine is adolescent literacy. Thanks for the idea- like 30 minutes per topic. I am REALLY dreading this exam (not taking it- just studying for it. Feel free to post anytimer. have you been to www.phinished.com? It's a GREAT support board. And people on there really get it. Best, B
Posted by llrrrpp on May 7, 2006, at 21:23:08
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by MTNDOG on May 7, 2006, at 21:00:04
I study developmental psychology (early childhood). When I was working on my diss. proposal I set up a rewards system. Every section I finished I gave myself a treat. It was good. and after my proposal hearing I went on a vacation. so that was nice too. Of course your treat should be something healthy- like a new outfit, a massage, or tickets to see a game NOT an excuse to go on a drinking binge (this type of reward did not help me very much!)
Thanks for the support group site. I'll check it out sometime.
Posted by MTNDOG on May 8, 2006, at 8:19:51
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by llrrrpp on May 7, 2006, at 21:23:08
The treat system is a good idea! OK- there are four sections on my exam I have to study for, an exam I have to take, then rewrites (EVERYONE in my program does rewrites :(, then my proposal. So, I see 7 upcoming treats!
Yeah- a drinking binge wwouldn't work for me either! hang in there, it's a long road and it gets lonely.
Posted by Jost on July 2, 2006, at 22:57:11
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by MTNDOG on May 8, 2006, at 8:19:51
My methods were not the best, but worked for me (kinda).
Orals in Oct. Have from June to Oct. to study. Four fields.
June/July/Aug/Sept.-- unable to study for reasons I can't remember
October.: 2 (or maybe 3) weeks before exam: get prescription from Pdoc (won't say what--very understanding)-- study 36 hours; sleep, take day off; study next 36 hours; sleep, day off-- for two weeks (could have been 3 weeks, but I don't think so, because I barely got through the 2 weeks)
October 15 (or 22): take exam (like going to execution)
Pass exam. High Pass--2+ (out of three, 1 being high)
Profs. a little disappointed for me; Me--ecstatic.
And this was at a competitive program-- Sorta depressing when I think about it.
I still have no idea how I passed. (I'm no longer ABD--kinda wish I were...)
Jost
Posted by llrrrpp on July 2, 2006, at 23:14:48
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by Jost on July 2, 2006, at 22:57:11
Jost- Oh my. 36 hours at a time? that doesn't sound very neuroprotective. But whatever works, works. And now you're Dr. Jost. I wanna be Dr. llrrrpp. Won't that be a kick!
I have a deadline imposed by my diss. fellowship. And by me. And I think I'm going to get kicked out of my office in a few months, 'cause I'm dead weight.
At least I didn't have comprehensive exams. Also, I'm fairly certain that one of my committee members won't read anything but the abstract.
I'm going on vacation. I've also decided to present my diss. research at a conference in the fall, so maybe I will be able to scrape together something by then.
MTNDOG- haven't heard from you in a while. Hope you're doing okay.
I'm off-
-llrrrpp
Posted by Jost on July 3, 2006, at 22:05:33
In reply to Re: ABD » Jost, posted by llrrrpp on July 2, 2006, at 23:14:48
Not neuroprotective. Not at all.
Have a great vacation!
Maybe you'll come across a place where they can update your "best by" date-- the meat dept. at D'Agostinos does it IMO.
Anyway: maybe it's a "do not open before" date-- and your brain is coming into its own (euphemism alert) like a good cheese?
ooph! !!
Jost
Posted by llrrrpp on July 3, 2006, at 23:17:13
In reply to Re: ABD, posted by Jost on July 3, 2006, at 22:05:33
> Not neuroprotective. Not at all.
>
> Have a great vacation!
>
> Maybe you'll come across a place where they can update your "best by" date-- the meat dept. at D'Agostinos does it IMO.
>
> Anyway: maybe it's a "do not open before" date-- and your brain is coming into its own (euphemism alert) like a good cheese?
>
> ooph! !!
>
> JostAww, that's nice. Thanks Jost :) My brain has been smelling awfully "ripe" lately.
The best things come to those who ripen.
And thanks for your kind advice with pdoc and all that stuff. I'll try to check in to pbabble here and there. Aparently we're staying in a campground for a night with wireless internet. What is this world coming to?
your friend,
-ll
haha still doing laundry lol
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