All But Dissertation Survial Guide: A free monthly online newsletter addresses tactics to avoid ABD. If you are interested in looking at it and reading a sample issue, then: click here
Is this a for profit or non-profit organization? I meant do we need to pay for servvices after getting the free guide?
I believe there are services that are available for a charge, but the free newsletters and tips that are offered are very beneficial.
It is free and I just now subscribed to their service. They will send the subscriber a monthly email outlining some pointers on how to effectively complete a doctoral dissertation. To review their archive of past articles: click here I found it by entering "ABD, education" into Google.
A B D When I worked with the local school system, I knew a "know it all" teacher who bragged that she had so much education behind her belt. However, when I asked her if she had a doctorate, her reply still rings in my mind today. She said three letters: " A B D " Since that notable day, I have read and heard of the that acronym several more times, to include here on this forum. At that time, I didn't even have an undergraduate degree. I don't want to be an ABD casualty.
You often hear that at least half of the people who start doctoral programs end up ABD forever. The program I participated in only graduated 1 or 2 graduates a year for several years. There were many people walking around who had never finished. However an interesting thing happened. One of the professors in adult education started a group that he called a "community of scholars". This group expanded to two seperate cities. Although they mostly worked seperately, they would occasionally join forces. The groups were initially just for students majoring in adult ed or HRD, however, eventually students from other majors joined the group. The idea was to have doctoral students meet together and support each other in preparation for comps, preparation for dissertation proposals, preparation for the disseration and ultimately preparation for dissertation defense. These groups met once a week. They challenged one another. They supported one another. They kept individuals focused on getting done. Remember the most important part of a dissertation is "completing it!" The group helped check statistics, checked grammar and content, and challenged each other to produce better work. An interesting point, the professor who started these efforts was ultimately challenged by the leadership of the university because too many people were making it through and graduating, 12 one year, ten the next. It was if he had revealed a secret that was not supposed to be shared. As a result they slowed down admissions to the program. So why all the diatribe here? It is just to say that without this kind of support it would have been difficult to finish. I think writing a dissertation may be one of the lonliest activities I have ever participated in. All of the various books on how to finish are very helpful, but there is much more that can be done. I strongly suggest finding others in your area working on thier dissertations and meeting regularly, holding each other accountable, encouraging and supporting. I completed my efforts more than two years ago, but I continue to support my group. I live 2000 miles a way, but I contribute to the discussions and reviews by e-mail. These same kinds of efforts can help many more people to finish.
Re: A B D "However, when I asked her if she had a doctorate, her reply still rings in my mind today. She said three letters: " A B D " Well, what an "ABD" [Almost Became a Doctor] she is!
Online support Hi. I'm new. I think you probably won't mind if I plug a non-profit support group I started, but don't operate anymore. PhinishED http://www.phinished.org It works a lot like the face2face groups Obecve describes. One feature entirely innovated by the community itself is a "Pacting System." There's even a separate board for it now, on which somebody makes a public promise about what they'll do that week or that day, and others join with their own pacts and support. It's neat group of people. /amy
What a great idea, Amy. Thanks for sharing. Pacts can be a wonderful tool. When Marina was five years into the process (2 years on campus at Vanderbilt, 3 years of plugging along), with the 7 year limit looming on the distant horizon, and the clear evidence that the faculty in Nashville was not comfortable working with someone 5,000 miles away, she offered a pact. If she went back to campus for three months, she would have an approved first draft by the end of this time, or abandon the process. And, despite the best efforts of Travis Tritt to derail the process, she succeeded, and came triumphantly home to Hawaii. ____________ * Her rented room was across the street from his home. His tour buses were either parked on the street under her window with engines running night and day (so the resident staff could keep the air conditioners and 1000-watt stereos running), or returning from concerts in the wee hours and partying in the street till dawn. She wrote a polite note to Mr. Tritt, and got a reply from one of his people, that said, "We gotta do what we gotta do."
Could someone answer the following questions about an ABD- Is there some shame in have an ABD? Is there a salary difference for professors with an ABD vs. PhD? Is an ABD the same concept as a DBA? Do you still us the Dr. title with an ABD? Thanks
I onced worked for an arrogant government civilian who, as the base education officer, was often called "Dr. Smith" by customers and colleagues. He was an ABD. He never corrected them. Leaving someone with a false impression is the same as lying, which fit his overall character. Poor SOB. He left his wife for a younger woman (who, in the true spirit of conflict of interest, had a contract with the education office to conduct remedial programs). He died of a heart attack while changing a tire on the side of the road on their way to Florida.
In academic institutions, an ABD almost always means less money and less credibility. Is ther shame? Probably not, it just means the person did not finish what they started. Not doctor in this one!
just to be clear- if you finish a program ABD you do not use the PhD title-correct? Also, can you use any title such as - Randell ABD
Not in polite society. Often, if you are really ABD (coursework and comps done) you can be awarded what is technically a non-terminal MA or MSc. I happily list my "booby-prize" MA from Thumbscrew U. (aka Torquemada Institute for Slave Labour), figuring I've got something for all the wasted time I spent there. I should be loath to call myself ABD, since I would rather eat my own eyes than go back there to finish. Besides, as pointed out above, it's an abbreviation, not a credential or a degree.
