Update on my University of the Free State Progress

Hello, All;

As you may or may not remember, I was accepted to the UFS business school last year to do a field study in preparation for applying to the PhD program at the same school. I was required to do this field study since I did not have a research Masters. Well, I mailed in three temporarily bound copies of my 170 page field study a few weeks ago (at a cost of 250 to send by DSL), and I'm awaiting the results. Although we have been dealing with electrons up until that point, the professor and the other reviewers want a hands-on grading experience, since they are primarily a bricks and mortar school.

Under no circumstances will I get an A out of this field study, since the reviewers are very comprehensive. Although they have some style requirements, up until this point, they have not been as picky as the APA Nazis whom I have encountered at other schools. I turned in a decent looking and well researched product with some flaws in logic perhaps, - time will tell. I would like to say that the comments from my professor throughout the course have been spot on, helpful and welcome. I do not expect to earn an "A" from UFS, even though I was ABD at another university with a 4.0 average.

Although my final grade will not be posted until February 2013, they have allowed me to apply for the PhD program. Since they have already gotten my paperwork (passport copy and transcripts) I need not send them again. They also waived attendance at the free courses on stats and research that will be conducted at the start of the PhD program. I am heartened by all of this, since it leads me to believe that they might think that I will pass the field study. I will need at least a 66 (that equates to a B plus) to qualify for the PhD program, based on my grades from the previous deliverables in the study. I will not be required to be present for the first few requirements, but I will be required to defend in person. I might even follow Brad Sweet's example of defending the day before commencement :wink:

I still need a dissertation topic and proposal, but I need to ask if I can use the field study as a basis for the dissertation. A professor in Japan wants to be my external advisor for a subject that I dealt with in the field study. Since she is co-author of a theorem that I used, you can be sure that I will somehow work this in to my dissertation:scratchchin:.

That's where I am right now. For me, the ABD derailment was the best thing that ever happened to me in terms of finding a good topic and a good school.

 

Thanks for the update, rmm0484!

I'm always interested in posts about SA schools.

Are you working on the EdD and PhD at the same time?

Roscoe

 

Who needs a research topic and proposal, just begin writing. :smile:

Seriously, all the best in your academic journey.

 

I had to hedge my bets, since I did not know which school would pan out, but they both did. I am currently pursuing the PhD at UFS, and on hold at Aspen (but who could turn down a 7K EdD)?

 

When it came time for me to submit my PhD thesis to the University of Pretoria, I was required to submit three hard-bound copies and 4 temporarily bound copies. My thesis was over 500 pages long, so it would have been a tremendous expense for me to send all of these materials to South Africa. Fortunately, I was able to work out a deal with the copy center on the University of Pretoria campus. I submitted my thesis as a PDF email attachment. They then printed off the 7 copies. I also was able to make arrangements with a bindery there to bind the hard copies.

When all was said and done, the process went efficiently and cost a fraction of what it would have cost me to send the 7 copies from the US through post or Fed Ex.

 

Nicely done - good thinking! I did it the old-fashioned way, but it all worked out in the end

 

I looked for printers in Bloemfontein, the thought had ocurred to me. I should have pursued this more, especially at that cost and pace. It took a week to get there.

 

Its a lot less stressful if you can work the defence a few days earlier! But at least they are looking at the research and candidate's abilities which is better than a university having blanket policies for people overseas like most B&M universities. I think flexibility will become the norm the world over. Congratulations on the work so far and likely entrance into the PhD programme.

Brad

 

Thanks for the update, and good luck!

 

Brad, thanks! I found UFS to be tough, but flexible. I am growing fond of them.

 

Further Update:

My 170 page field study was accepted by UFS last December and I was allowed to enroll in the preliminary stage of the PhD process in Jan 2013. One year later, I have been unofficially notified that my proposal was accepted, and I will be allowed to pursue the dissertation. I had to defend my proposal twice, I just finished the last one on 21 November, via Skype at 0130. This process is not for the faint of heart or the person in need of a quick PhD....

 

Congrats on your progress and thanks for keeping us posted! I'm a UNISA DBL grad and found the SA university experience to be very rigorous, demanding and rewarding.

 

I agree, again, with distancedoc 2007. LOL. It is ( I am on my fourth year going into my fifth year) demanding, tough, and rigorous. In the end, you will say, "Whew, I did it".

 

Time goes fast! Do you have any more updates from UFS? Were you able to used the field research as part of your PhD?

 

Keep it up dude, you are nearing the finish line. If I recall correctly, you have been working on your doc degree for the last six or seven year now?

 

Try year 8 and a half. Year 9 will be July 2018 and it is looking more and more likely. Sigh. I am trying for a February 2018 defense. If it does not happen, then I have to register for year 9.

 

As Abner says, Tireman - we know you will get there - and it will be well worth the 8 or 9-year timeline. I am in absolute awe, when I consider the money you have saved, compared to the expense of 8 or 9 years of study at a US school! If you're unsure how to spend some of those savings, maybe this might help: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alfa-romeo/4c-spider

Si parla italiano? :smile:

J.