Comps vs. Dissertation Phase??

I am in the comps class now and I am completing my next-to-last paper. I must say it is not fun. I have read six books for just one paper! It is an eye-opening experience. My question is: how does the comps class compare to the dissertation portion of the PhD?

If the comps are a 5 on a scale of 1-10, what is the dissertation?

 

The dissertation is about a 10 in difficulty and it's reflected by the fact that the attrition rate varies from 50 to 70% (once people hit the dissertation), depending on the college or university. The dissertation is a mind-bending experience.

 

I found my comps to be VERY intensive but with each finished paper there was a sense of satisfaction of completion. I vaguely remember writing almost as much as a dissertation in terms of total pages. The dissertation was like one giant comp paper that you have to do much more ground work, more writing, and more of everything that you did in the comps for each topic but a little bit more... every time you got closer and closer... eventually, when you are just almost ready to give up and totally exhausted... it gets approved and accepted for the defense. Then it is all downhill from there... I'm feeling tired just thinking of that darn dissertation... hardly slept... it became like a mistress competing with everything else and wanting all your attention.

 

The Comps are a 5 and the dissertation a 10...not what I was hoping to hear

 

Randell... Be of good cheer... reframe your perspective as:

1. Simply working a little bit more.

2. Having the "joy" of focusing on one question you would love to answer.

3. Having the satisfaction that you will be one of the world's few experts on that subject.

4. That you can parlay that expertise into $$$$ at some point.

5. That folks will give you respect concerning that expertise.

6. That you will be one of those few individuals in that very low percentage that can actually do something hard, finish it, and then go out and change the world.

Remember... your dissertation is just a "little bit more work" but then you'll be done.

Hang in there! We are cheering for you.

 

Yeaa, what Blackbird said. He's finished a dissertation, so listen to him. I'm probably not the person to ask because I'm in the midst of trying to do a dissertation and it's like having a mountain being gently placed onto my shoulders -- and it's freaking HEAVY! If you gently step on an ant, it has the same effect.

A dissertation definately weeds out a lot of chaff. If you're hellbent on getting a doctorate, then be prepared to work for it.

 

Master's thesis ---> Doctoral dissertation

My MSEd in counseling did not require a dissertation. I've often wondered, though, how common (or not) is it for someone who's completed a master's thesis to expand it into a doctoral dissertation? Assume each is completed at different schools. Theoretically, I imagine, a thesis in the pocket -- the "right" thesis -- could substantially lessen the completion time of a dissertation. Anyone???

 

Blackbird,

Thanks for the encouragement - I needed it also. i just submitted revsion 3 of my proposal last week.

Shawn

 

Same here - thanks-

 

We had oral comps at my school. I didn't know the answer to the first THREE questions I was asked. They started to give me questions with the answers included so I passed anyway.

Dissertation is a completely different type of experience. In most cases, you're on your own. I have heard that HALF of those who reach the dissertation stage never finish it.

 

Sounds like your comps process was pretty grueling. Six books for one paper? Did they ask you something that was totally out of your area? The dissertation is a lot of work, but totally doable. Just stay focused on your research question and don't go overboard.

 

No it was a question about decision making. I was just really interested and wanted to go deep into it.