Exam Schedule

Starting Monday, for the next four weeks, I will be hunkered down working on my candidacy exams.  Candidacy exams are basically the culmination of my coursework as a doctoral student.  Once I finish these exams, which includes an oral defense, I will become a PhD candidate, which means that my committee feels that I am prepared to work on my own research in the form of a dissertation.  If I pass these exams, “all” that stands between me and the PhD is the dissertation.  So, what I’m trying to say is that they are very important.  I’m going to be on lock down for the next four weeks, and am apologizing in advance if I don’t answer the phone, respond to email or if I decline invitations to do fun summer activities like a rent a boat for the 4th of July (Sorry, Julie!  It sounds like a ton of fun!).  My exam schedule is Monday-Friday from 8-5 from June 28-July 23.  On the evenings and weekends, I will likely be doing extra reading and working on a research project with a professor of mine that contracted me to do some work over the summer.  It’s going to be a very busy and stressful time, so please forgive me as I disappear.  I promise to reappear with gusto, bathing suit and grilling tongs in hand on July 23rd at 5pm, hopefully still smiling.

I decided to structure each week so that I wouldn’t drive myself nuts digging around in my mountains of books, articles and notes.  I’m sharing my structure really for my own benefit, but I’m sure you’re interested too. 

Monday- Sort and organize pertinent readings; select and gather pertinent quotations from those readings; create a thorough outline for the paper

Tuesday- Write 7 pages according to outline; reread as necessary

Wednesday- Write 7 pages according to outline; reread as necessary

Thursday- Write 7 pages according to outline; reread as necessary

Friday- Revise paper; revisit readings as necessary; revisit outline to make sure I addressed what I intended to; cry (just kidding… sort of)

Repeat three times!  Here we go.