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New professors' reflections on the dissertation process.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

In this article, we reflect on the process and procedures that we embraced when completing our doctorates. In the quest for academic excellence, we examine the role of organization, current technology, collaboration among graduate students, and options in traveling and scheduling. With the intention of providing pragmatic information for those still in the midst of their research and writing, we also share what we wished we had known prior to the experience.

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Do you recall the excitement you experienced when you opened your acceptance letter into your chosen doctoral program? And equally important, do you recall a few years later sitting in front of your computer in the middle of the night frustrated when your printer ran out of ink? What happened to the excitement you first held at the start of your program? The reality is that writing a dissertation is filled with unforeseen obstacles creating unique journeys for each individual.

When less than 50% of graduate students actually complete the dissertation process (University of North Carolina, www.unc.edu, n.d.), this suggests that writing a dissertation is an experience like few others in life. In her humorous and carefully crafted essay, Higgins (2000) suggests that doctoral students are susceptible to DAC, Dissertation Avoidance Complex, if not aware of the various symptoms. Clearly, the path is long and filled with tension, energy, and excitement. Each person's journey is individualized, yet all writers share commonalities. In this article, and in a collective voice, we reflect upon the process, procedures, and products that we embraced when completing our dissertations. In the quest for academic excellence, we examine the role of organization, current technology, collaboration among graduate students, and options in traveling and scheduling. With the intention of providing pragmatic information for those still in the midst of their research and writing, we share what we wished we had known prior to the experience.

Organization: The Key to Sanity

We believe that writing a dissertation reflects more about the writer's sense of perseverance than about the intelligence of the writer. One way to promote and ensure perseverance is to be well organized. In this portion of the article we offer suggestions concerning manageable writing schedules, maximizing your time to read, understanding your new role as a scholar, structural shortcuts, how to create boundaries when writing, and how to organize your writing supplies.

To begin, we recommend creating manageable writing schedules. When deciding how much you need to accomplish in the next day or in the next week, we suggest that you always stop before you finish. Specifically do not finish all...

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