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jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapakuh
|
gapahzo
| 1,604,155,945 | 1,604,155,896 | 161 | 22 |
I was in the same boat as you, but I actually loved defending my thesis online. There were like 60 people watching the stream, and I had relatives and friends watching that wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. You’ll be able to celebrate with your friends and family in person next year, and you have a job lined up which is awesome. Just be proud of your accomplishment, and make sure you practice your talk beforehand to get used to the format. When I did my presentation, I just got into a nice zone of focusing in on my slides and talk and not worrying about the audience. Anyways, at least in our department, most people end up scuttling off to their meetings and to do work afterwards anyways, and we just have an awkward celebration after.
|
I’m just ready to be done. Don’t care how it’s done or where I am as long as it’s over.
| 1 | 49 | 7.318182 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap6fw0
|
gapakuh
| 1,604,153,385 | 1,604,155,945 | 15 | 161 |
I'm in the exact same boat right now and still working through it as well. It really, really sucks, but it won't make the PhD any less valid when you get it
|
I was in the same boat as you, but I actually loved defending my thesis online. There were like 60 people watching the stream, and I had relatives and friends watching that wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. You’ll be able to celebrate with your friends and family in person next year, and you have a job lined up which is awesome. Just be proud of your accomplishment, and make sure you practice your talk beforehand to get used to the format. When I did my presentation, I just got into a nice zone of focusing in on my slides and talk and not worrying about the audience. Anyways, at least in our department, most people end up scuttling off to their meetings and to do work afterwards anyways, and we just have an awkward celebration after.
| 0 | 2,560 | 10.733333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gapakuh
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,155,945 | 3 | 161 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
I was in the same boat as you, but I actually loved defending my thesis online. There were like 60 people watching the stream, and I had relatives and friends watching that wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. You’ll be able to celebrate with your friends and family in person next year, and you have a job lined up which is awesome. Just be proud of your accomplishment, and make sure you practice your talk beforehand to get used to the format. When I did my presentation, I just got into a nice zone of focusing in on my slides and talk and not worrying about the audience. Anyways, at least in our department, most people end up scuttling off to their meetings and to do work afterwards anyways, and we just have an awkward celebration after.
| 0 | 1,394 | 53.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8vyv
|
gap6fw0
| 1,604,154,906 | 1,604,153,385 | 44 | 15 |
I'm sorry that's happened to you, but perspective is critical here. You've completed your PhD. A lot of people are struggling to do that under the circumstances, and have limited access to resources they need, or have legitimate fears about how to pay rent or get groceries. You have a job lined up in a desperately depressed market, where thousands of new graduates saddled with debt have found their prospects dissipated or the positions they were promised gone because funding has evaporated. Although things aren't perfect, and you can't have the party that you were looking forward to, there is a lot of privilege in your post, and you should be pleased that so much *has* worked out for you despite the circumstances. There will be time and opportunity to make up for what you missed out on later.
|
I'm in the exact same boat right now and still working through it as well. It really, really sucks, but it won't make the PhD any less valid when you get it
| 1 | 1,521 | 2.933333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8vyv
|
gap8b6l
| 1,604,154,906 | 1,604,154,551 | 44 | 3 |
I'm sorry that's happened to you, but perspective is critical here. You've completed your PhD. A lot of people are struggling to do that under the circumstances, and have limited access to resources they need, or have legitimate fears about how to pay rent or get groceries. You have a job lined up in a desperately depressed market, where thousands of new graduates saddled with debt have found their prospects dissipated or the positions they were promised gone because funding has evaporated. Although things aren't perfect, and you can't have the party that you were looking forward to, there is a lot of privilege in your post, and you should be pleased that so much *has* worked out for you despite the circumstances. There will be time and opportunity to make up for what you missed out on later.
|
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
| 1 | 355 | 14.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap6fw0
|
gapahzo
| 1,604,153,385 | 1,604,155,896 | 15 | 22 |
I'm in the exact same boat right now and still working through it as well. It really, really sucks, but it won't make the PhD any less valid when you get it
|
I’m just ready to be done. Don’t care how it’s done or where I am as long as it’s over.
| 0 | 2,511 | 1.466667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapahzo
|
gap8b6l
| 1,604,155,896 | 1,604,154,551 | 22 | 3 |
I’m just ready to be done. Don’t care how it’s done or where I am as long as it’s over.
|
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
| 1 | 1,345 | 7.333333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gapbwqu
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,156,755 | 17 | 16 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
From experience, you will not want to have a party or do much of anything the actual night of your defense. I was wrung out and exhausted. I get the rite of passage desire, though, and I'd suggest you work to try to make a plan for something you - maybe with your boyfriend's help - can do to mark it properly. Definitely let your research group know you'd like a chance to celebrate and say goodbye - while it's not the same, they may be up for organising a hangout on Zoom or similar.
| 1 | 9,497 | 1.0625 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap6fw0
|
gapsw6b
| 1,604,153,385 | 1,604,166,252 | 15 | 17 |
I'm in the exact same boat right now and still working through it as well. It really, really sucks, but it won't make the PhD any less valid when you get it
|
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
| 0 | 12,867 | 1.133333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gaprlof
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,165,571 | 17 | 15 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
| 1 | 681 | 1.133333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gapcc3v
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,157,013 | 17 | 9 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
I defended back in April, and I hear you, it was *not * what I had pictured in all the years leading up to it. *But* I did find a couple of bonuses I didn’t expect — I was actually a lot more relaxed doing it at home than I would’ve been otherwise (though I did miss that in-person energy), which was a big plus. The biggest benefit by far was that I was able to invite people to watch online who never would’ve been able to make it to an in-person defense. I had really old friends as well as folks who had finished before me, who lived hundreds or thousands of miles away, and who were able to be an important part of that final step. That ended up being a big deal for me, and it happened because the online format opened it up so that I could invite whoever I wanted. Regardless of the format, and like others have written, you’ll soon be done!! And that is a big accomplishment.
| 1 | 9,239 | 1.888889 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gappy6t
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,164,686 | 17 | 8 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
| 1 | 1,566 | 2.125 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapf6zp
|
gapsw6b
| 1,604,158,684 | 1,604,166,252 | 7 | 17 |
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
|
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
| 0 | 7,568 | 2.428571 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gapg19u
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,159,165 | 17 | 5 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
| 1 | 7,087 | 3.4 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gapbwbx
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,156,748 | 17 | 6 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
| 1 | 9,504 | 2.833333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaphgyj
|
gapsw6b
| 1,604,159,990 | 1,604,166,252 | 5 | 17 |
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
|
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
| 0 | 6,262 | 3.4 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gap8b6l
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,154,551 | 17 | 3 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
| 1 | 11,701 | 5.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapd1sy
|
gapsw6b
| 1,604,157,436 | 1,604,166,252 | 3 | 17 |
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
|
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
| 0 | 8,816 | 5.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gapcq84
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,157,245 | 17 | 2 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
| 1 | 9,007 | 8.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gapcx7n
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,157,361 | 17 | 2 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
| 1 | 8,891 | 8.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsw6b
|
gaphr7v
| 1,604,166,252 | 1,604,160,151 | 17 | 2 |
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
|
I’m defending in a week and leaving shortly after. I feel you. Just a few weeks before the pandemic I was thinking about how grateful I was for this town and my friends and how I wanted to soak everything in before I leave. Then I never got to.
| 1 | 6,101 | 8.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsi2o
|
gapsw6b
| 1,604,166,046 | 1,604,166,252 | 1 | 17 |
Also here for advice and to help you know you're not alone. <3 For my undergrad, my parents made a big deal about me having to walk. I didn't want to because it was a big school and none of my friends were walking (Dec. graduation), so I would be alone and I knew I was going to grad school. But they made me sign up, and I did... and then my dad got cancer and they couldn't make it. (He's doing much better now!) Then, instead of walking for my master's, I got married, so ok, whatever. The defense was a blip and I had good friends and I was headed for my doctorate. There would be another chance. I was slated to defend this semester and "walk" in December. COVID and lack of jobs decided for me, but my school is also talking about canceling May graduation, and it's doubtful that the pandemic will be over by then in my state anyways. The restaurant that I wanted to have my first "Doctor's" reservation at has closed permanently, and I haven't been able to keep up on networking because of conferences. I know walking is a silly thing, but it's what I wanted. It's the point I've been looking forward to. I THRIVE on audience feedback/engagement, and presenting online just isn't the same. I feel you. BUT! You're a doctor! You did the work! You have a job! People are proud of you even if you don't get to do the big party *right now*. Have a post doc finishing party. Or a "real job obtained" party. Or just a super awesome birthday bash once we can celebrate. (Birthday because that's the day to celebrate YOU and everything you are.) Have a party just because. Everything sucks right now. I'm sorry. Sending big hugs.
|
At least you have a boyfriend to have dinner with. I'm just going to close Zoom and then have a glass of champagne with my dog. And my family don't even live in the same country as me. It sucks. It's so anti-climactic. I love presenting in public and that energy is missing when presenting on Zoom.
| 0 | 206 | 17 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapbwqu
|
gap6fw0
| 1,604,156,755 | 1,604,153,385 | 16 | 15 |
From experience, you will not want to have a party or do much of anything the actual night of your defense. I was wrung out and exhausted. I get the rite of passage desire, though, and I'd suggest you work to try to make a plan for something you - maybe with your boyfriend's help - can do to mark it properly. Definitely let your research group know you'd like a chance to celebrate and say goodbye - while it's not the same, they may be up for organising a hangout on Zoom or similar.
|
I'm in the exact same boat right now and still working through it as well. It really, really sucks, but it won't make the PhD any less valid when you get it
| 1 | 3,370 | 1.066667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapbwbx
|
gapbwqu
| 1,604,156,748 | 1,604,156,755 | 6 | 16 |
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
|
From experience, you will not want to have a party or do much of anything the actual night of your defense. I was wrung out and exhausted. I get the rite of passage desire, though, and I'd suggest you work to try to make a plan for something you - maybe with your boyfriend's help - can do to mark it properly. Definitely let your research group know you'd like a chance to celebrate and say goodbye - while it's not the same, they may be up for organising a hangout on Zoom or similar.
| 0 | 7 | 2.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gapbwqu
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,156,755 | 3 | 16 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
From experience, you will not want to have a party or do much of anything the actual night of your defense. I was wrung out and exhausted. I get the rite of passage desire, though, and I'd suggest you work to try to make a plan for something you - maybe with your boyfriend's help - can do to mark it properly. Definitely let your research group know you'd like a chance to celebrate and say goodbye - while it's not the same, they may be up for organising a hangout on Zoom or similar.
| 0 | 2,204 | 5.333333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcc3v
|
gaprlof
| 1,604,157,013 | 1,604,165,571 | 9 | 15 |
I defended back in April, and I hear you, it was *not * what I had pictured in all the years leading up to it. *But* I did find a couple of bonuses I didn’t expect — I was actually a lot more relaxed doing it at home than I would’ve been otherwise (though I did miss that in-person energy), which was a big plus. The biggest benefit by far was that I was able to invite people to watch online who never would’ve been able to make it to an in-person defense. I had really old friends as well as folks who had finished before me, who lived hundreds or thousands of miles away, and who were able to be an important part of that final step. That ended up being a big deal for me, and it happened because the online format opened it up so that I could invite whoever I wanted. Regardless of the format, and like others have written, you’ll soon be done!! And that is a big accomplishment.
|
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
| 0 | 8,558 | 1.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaprlof
|
gappy6t
| 1,604,165,571 | 1,604,164,686 | 15 | 8 |
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
|
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
| 1 | 885 | 1.875 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaprlof
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,165,571 | 1,604,158,684 | 15 | 7 |
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 1 | 6,887 | 2.142857 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaprlof
|
gapg19u
| 1,604,165,571 | 1,604,159,165 | 15 | 5 |
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
|
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
| 1 | 6,406 | 3 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaprlof
|
gapbwbx
| 1,604,165,571 | 1,604,156,748 | 15 | 6 |
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
|
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
| 1 | 8,823 | 2.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaphgyj
|
gaprlof
| 1,604,159,990 | 1,604,165,571 | 5 | 15 |
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
|
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
| 0 | 5,581 | 3 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaprlof
|
gap8b6l
| 1,604,165,571 | 1,604,154,551 | 15 | 3 |
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
|
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
| 1 | 11,020 | 5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaprlof
|
gapd1sy
| 1,604,165,571 | 1,604,157,436 | 15 | 3 |
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
|
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
| 1 | 8,135 | 5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcq84
|
gaprlof
| 1,604,157,245 | 1,604,165,571 | 2 | 15 |
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
|
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
| 0 | 8,326 | 7.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcx7n
|
gaprlof
| 1,604,157,361 | 1,604,165,571 | 2 | 15 |
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
|
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
| 0 | 8,210 | 7.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaphr7v
|
gaprlof
| 1,604,160,151 | 1,604,165,571 | 2 | 15 |
I’m defending in a week and leaving shortly after. I feel you. Just a few weeks before the pandemic I was thinking about how grateful I was for this town and my friends and how I wanted to soak everything in before I leave. Then I never got to.
|
I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.
| 0 | 5,420 | 7.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapbwbx
|
gapcc3v
| 1,604,156,748 | 1,604,157,013 | 6 | 9 |
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
|
I defended back in April, and I hear you, it was *not * what I had pictured in all the years leading up to it. *But* I did find a couple of bonuses I didn’t expect — I was actually a lot more relaxed doing it at home than I would’ve been otherwise (though I did miss that in-person energy), which was a big plus. The biggest benefit by far was that I was able to invite people to watch online who never would’ve been able to make it to an in-person defense. I had really old friends as well as folks who had finished before me, who lived hundreds or thousands of miles away, and who were able to be an important part of that final step. That ended up being a big deal for me, and it happened because the online format opened it up so that I could invite whoever I wanted. Regardless of the format, and like others have written, you’ll soon be done!! And that is a big accomplishment.
| 0 | 265 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gapcc3v
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,157,013 | 3 | 9 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
I defended back in April, and I hear you, it was *not * what I had pictured in all the years leading up to it. *But* I did find a couple of bonuses I didn’t expect — I was actually a lot more relaxed doing it at home than I would’ve been otherwise (though I did miss that in-person energy), which was a big plus. The biggest benefit by far was that I was able to invite people to watch online who never would’ve been able to make it to an in-person defense. I had really old friends as well as folks who had finished before me, who lived hundreds or thousands of miles away, and who were able to be an important part of that final step. That ended up being a big deal for me, and it happened because the online format opened it up so that I could invite whoever I wanted. Regardless of the format, and like others have written, you’ll soon be done!! And that is a big accomplishment.
| 0 | 2,462 | 3 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gappy6t
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,164,686 | 1,604,158,684 | 8 | 7 |
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 1 | 6,002 | 1.142857 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gappy6t
|
gapg19u
| 1,604,164,686 | 1,604,159,165 | 8 | 5 |
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
|
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
| 1 | 5,521 | 1.6 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapbwbx
|
gappy6t
| 1,604,156,748 | 1,604,164,686 | 6 | 8 |
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
|
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
| 0 | 7,938 | 1.333333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaphgyj
|
gappy6t
| 1,604,159,990 | 1,604,164,686 | 5 | 8 |
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
|
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
| 0 | 4,696 | 1.6 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gappy6t
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,164,686 | 3 | 8 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
| 0 | 10,135 | 2.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gappy6t
|
gapd1sy
| 1,604,164,686 | 1,604,157,436 | 8 | 3 |
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
|
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
| 1 | 7,250 | 2.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gappy6t
|
gapcq84
| 1,604,164,686 | 1,604,157,245 | 8 | 2 |
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
|
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
| 1 | 7,441 | 4 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gappy6t
|
gapcx7n
| 1,604,164,686 | 1,604,157,361 | 8 | 2 |
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
|
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
| 1 | 7,325 | 4 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaphr7v
|
gappy6t
| 1,604,160,151 | 1,604,164,686 | 2 | 8 |
I’m defending in a week and leaving shortly after. I feel you. Just a few weeks before the pandemic I was thinking about how grateful I was for this town and my friends and how I wanted to soak everything in before I leave. Then I never got to.
|
My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!
| 0 | 4,535 | 4 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapbwbx
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,156,748 | 1,604,158,684 | 6 | 7 |
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 0 | 1,936 | 1.166667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,158,684 | 3 | 7 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 0 | 4,133 | 2.333333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapd1sy
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,157,436 | 1,604,158,684 | 3 | 7 |
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 0 | 1,248 | 2.333333 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcq84
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,157,245 | 1,604,158,684 | 2 | 7 |
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 0 | 1,439 | 3.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcx7n
|
gapf6zp
| 1,604,157,361 | 1,604,158,684 | 2 | 7 |
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
|
It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.
| 0 | 1,323 | 3.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapg19u
|
gap8b6l
| 1,604,159,165 | 1,604,154,551 | 5 | 3 |
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
|
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
| 1 | 4,614 | 1.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapg19u
|
gapd1sy
| 1,604,159,165 | 1,604,157,436 | 5 | 3 |
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
|
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
| 1 | 1,729 | 1.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcq84
|
gapg19u
| 1,604,157,245 | 1,604,159,165 | 2 | 5 |
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
|
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
| 0 | 1,920 | 2.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcx7n
|
gapg19u
| 1,604,157,361 | 1,604,159,165 | 2 | 5 |
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
|
I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.
| 0 | 1,804 | 2.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gapbwbx
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,156,748 | 3 | 6 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
Can you invite guests? If so, see it as a chance to invite friends and family that otherwise may have been unable to come by. I defended in March, still in person but already with reduced visitors and no real celebration, we couldn't do all traditions we usually do. My plans for the reception afterwards were cut short (especially since we moved the date forwards to avoid the impeading lockdown, which made the small celebration I could have super improviced). I would lie if I would say that I wasn't disappointed. *But* I also felt extremely relieved to be done, especially in these times. Looking back I rather would defend like that again, instead of waiting longer and not knowing when and how I might be able to defend. Sure, you could aim at 2021, but who knows when in-person defences will truely return? Early next year, late or not at all? And once they do, can you do the real-deal right away or only a smaller version? I am sure once you are done you'll feel similar. A bit sad how it went but overall relieved and happy that you are finally done. Make sure to plan a small celebration as possible and make the best out of that day. You can be extremely proud that you didn't have to move your defence but managed to finish this year. Finishing is a huge achievement.
| 0 | 2,197 | 2 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gap8b6l
|
gaphgyj
| 1,604,154,551 | 1,604,159,990 | 3 | 5 |
I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.
|
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
| 0 | 5,439 | 1.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapd1sy
|
gaphgyj
| 1,604,157,436 | 1,604,159,990 | 3 | 5 |
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
|
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
| 0 | 2,554 | 1.666667 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcq84
|
gaphgyj
| 1,604,157,245 | 1,604,159,990 | 2 | 5 |
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
|
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
| 0 | 2,745 | 2.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcx7n
|
gaphgyj
| 1,604,157,361 | 1,604,159,990 | 2 | 5 |
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
|
Just do it again when covid is over! You can organize like a seminar about your topic, perhaps invite some colleagues who give layman talks on your topic as well and invite some experts with whom you'll have a discussion (you decide who!) and invite all your friends and family to join and then still have dinner and party afterwards! The nice thing is that you will be able to make all the rules for that day! In a sense the fact that you can decouple the stressy parts and the celebratory parts is actually pretty nice.
| 0 | 2,629 | 2.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapz33m
|
gapcq84
| 1,604,169,604 | 1,604,157,245 | 3 | 2 |
Sorry about this and don't want to sound like a Pollyanna. But - there are a ton more people at thesis defenses now. More people that are friends and family will be able to come than before - so that is kind of nice for all of them and you.
|
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
| 1 | 12,359 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcx7n
|
gapz33m
| 1,604,157,361 | 1,604,169,604 | 2 | 3 |
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
|
Sorry about this and don't want to sound like a Pollyanna. But - there are a ton more people at thesis defenses now. More people that are friends and family will be able to come than before - so that is kind of nice for all of them and you.
| 0 | 12,243 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapz33m
|
gaphr7v
| 1,604,169,604 | 1,604,160,151 | 3 | 2 |
Sorry about this and don't want to sound like a Pollyanna. But - there are a ton more people at thesis defenses now. More people that are friends and family will be able to come than before - so that is kind of nice for all of them and you.
|
I’m defending in a week and leaving shortly after. I feel you. Just a few weeks before the pandemic I was thinking about how grateful I was for this town and my friends and how I wanted to soak everything in before I leave. Then I never got to.
| 1 | 9,453 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapz33m
|
gaptrko
| 1,604,169,604 | 1,604,166,732 | 3 | 2 |
Sorry about this and don't want to sound like a Pollyanna. But - there are a ton more people at thesis defenses now. More people that are friends and family will be able to come than before - so that is kind of nice for all of them and you.
|
I defended in July, online obviously. I was also quite sad about this, as the defense was something I had been looking forward to for years, including the party after. The benefit was that some family was able to attend over zoom, people who never would have been able to come in person, as well as some colleagues currently out of the country. It was nice to share my work with family in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. It wasn’t the same, of course, but that was definitely a silver lining and don’t let anything else diffuse the joy of completing such a massive undertaking.
| 1 | 2,872 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsi2o
|
gapz33m
| 1,604,166,046 | 1,604,169,604 | 1 | 3 |
Also here for advice and to help you know you're not alone. <3 For my undergrad, my parents made a big deal about me having to walk. I didn't want to because it was a big school and none of my friends were walking (Dec. graduation), so I would be alone and I knew I was going to grad school. But they made me sign up, and I did... and then my dad got cancer and they couldn't make it. (He's doing much better now!) Then, instead of walking for my master's, I got married, so ok, whatever. The defense was a blip and I had good friends and I was headed for my doctorate. There would be another chance. I was slated to defend this semester and "walk" in December. COVID and lack of jobs decided for me, but my school is also talking about canceling May graduation, and it's doubtful that the pandemic will be over by then in my state anyways. The restaurant that I wanted to have my first "Doctor's" reservation at has closed permanently, and I haven't been able to keep up on networking because of conferences. I know walking is a silly thing, but it's what I wanted. It's the point I've been looking forward to. I THRIVE on audience feedback/engagement, and presenting online just isn't the same. I feel you. BUT! You're a doctor! You did the work! You have a job! People are proud of you even if you don't get to do the big party *right now*. Have a post doc finishing party. Or a "real job obtained" party. Or just a super awesome birthday bash once we can celebrate. (Birthday because that's the day to celebrate YOU and everything you are.) Have a party just because. Everything sucks right now. I'm sorry. Sending big hugs.
|
Sorry about this and don't want to sound like a Pollyanna. But - there are a ton more people at thesis defenses now. More people that are friends and family will be able to come than before - so that is kind of nice for all of them and you.
| 0 | 3,558 | 3 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapd1sy
|
gapcq84
| 1,604,157,436 | 1,604,157,245 | 3 | 2 |
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
|
People are having covid weddings, having covid babies, not being allowed to see loved ones die in the hospital. So yeah, not having a dream defense is a bit sad, but there could be worse things. You're getting the degree.
| 1 | 191 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapcx7n
|
gapd1sy
| 1,604,157,361 | 1,604,157,436 | 2 | 3 |
I just defended in early October, and gave my defense over Zoom! It was definitely not what I had pictured going into grad school, but with everything going on it is what it is at this point. I was able to give the link out to basically my whole department and select friends and family (I could have given it to anyone but I didn’t want it to get out of hand). I will agree that the part that made me most sad was that I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to the people in my department—and we’re a pretty social group so we all know each other and get along. I did get to say thanks and goodbye to my lab group, because my advisor had a small, socially distanced celebration the weekend after I defended. But even that wasn’t exactly how I pictured going out. But honestly? I’m just so glad to be done that I almost don’t really care about HOW it had to happen. Just that it did.
|
Focus on defending your PhD thesis. Regardless of the medium you present with passing and failing will both feel the same the next day.
| 0 | 75 | 1.5 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsi2o
|
gaptrko
| 1,604,166,046 | 1,604,166,732 | 1 | 2 |
Also here for advice and to help you know you're not alone. <3 For my undergrad, my parents made a big deal about me having to walk. I didn't want to because it was a big school and none of my friends were walking (Dec. graduation), so I would be alone and I knew I was going to grad school. But they made me sign up, and I did... and then my dad got cancer and they couldn't make it. (He's doing much better now!) Then, instead of walking for my master's, I got married, so ok, whatever. The defense was a blip and I had good friends and I was headed for my doctorate. There would be another chance. I was slated to defend this semester and "walk" in December. COVID and lack of jobs decided for me, but my school is also talking about canceling May graduation, and it's doubtful that the pandemic will be over by then in my state anyways. The restaurant that I wanted to have my first "Doctor's" reservation at has closed permanently, and I haven't been able to keep up on networking because of conferences. I know walking is a silly thing, but it's what I wanted. It's the point I've been looking forward to. I THRIVE on audience feedback/engagement, and presenting online just isn't the same. I feel you. BUT! You're a doctor! You did the work! You have a job! People are proud of you even if you don't get to do the big party *right now*. Have a post doc finishing party. Or a "real job obtained" party. Or just a super awesome birthday bash once we can celebrate. (Birthday because that's the day to celebrate YOU and everything you are.) Have a party just because. Everything sucks right now. I'm sorry. Sending big hugs.
|
I defended in July, online obviously. I was also quite sad about this, as the defense was something I had been looking forward to for years, including the party after. The benefit was that some family was able to attend over zoom, people who never would have been able to come in person, as well as some colleagues currently out of the country. It was nice to share my work with family in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. It wasn’t the same, of course, but that was definitely a silver lining and don’t let anything else diffuse the joy of completing such a massive undertaking.
| 0 | 686 | 2 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gapsi2o
|
gaqjl5y
| 1,604,166,046 | 1,604,181,547 | 1 | 2 |
Also here for advice and to help you know you're not alone. <3 For my undergrad, my parents made a big deal about me having to walk. I didn't want to because it was a big school and none of my friends were walking (Dec. graduation), so I would be alone and I knew I was going to grad school. But they made me sign up, and I did... and then my dad got cancer and they couldn't make it. (He's doing much better now!) Then, instead of walking for my master's, I got married, so ok, whatever. The defense was a blip and I had good friends and I was headed for my doctorate. There would be another chance. I was slated to defend this semester and "walk" in December. COVID and lack of jobs decided for me, but my school is also talking about canceling May graduation, and it's doubtful that the pandemic will be over by then in my state anyways. The restaurant that I wanted to have my first "Doctor's" reservation at has closed permanently, and I haven't been able to keep up on networking because of conferences. I know walking is a silly thing, but it's what I wanted. It's the point I've been looking forward to. I THRIVE on audience feedback/engagement, and presenting online just isn't the same. I feel you. BUT! You're a doctor! You did the work! You have a job! People are proud of you even if you don't get to do the big party *right now*. Have a post doc finishing party. Or a "real job obtained" party. Or just a super awesome birthday bash once we can celebrate. (Birthday because that's the day to celebrate YOU and everything you are.) Have a party just because. Everything sucks right now. I'm sorry. Sending big hugs.
|
Yup. I defended online and then went to have dinner at my parents' house. They got me a balloon but it was pretty anticlimactic and doesn't feel like it really happened.
| 0 | 15,501 | 2 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaqjl5y
|
gapzbvg
| 1,604,181,547 | 1,604,169,741 | 2 | 1 |
Yup. I defended online and then went to have dinner at my parents' house. They got me a balloon but it was pretty anticlimactic and doesn't feel like it really happened.
|
I had to do the same this past spring. I had dreamed for years about having all these folks in the same room and celebrating... Honestly, it was a huge bummer and very anti-climatic. I'm glad other folks in the thread enjoyed theirs/were more upbeat. But don't feel bad if you're not pumped about it. I'm super happy with my job/life/etc, but there's nothing wrong with grieving an experience that was supposed to be different. Best wishes to you and congrats on finishing soon.
| 1 | 11,806 | 2 | ||
jlixda
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.
|
gaqjl5y
|
gaqaexl
| 1,604,181,547 | 1,604,176,020 | 2 | 1 |
Yup. I defended online and then went to have dinner at my parents' house. They got me a balloon but it was pretty anticlimactic and doesn't feel like it really happened.
|
Not sure if this is helpful, but ultimately everybody is making sacrifices. Weddings, funerals, not seeing newborn relatives, graduations, birthdays, ... it is what it is, a shit situation for all involved. Be glad that you're defending, be delighted that your PhD itself wasn't affected so severely and be excited about your future position. All in all, it's a privileged position to be in right now.
| 1 | 5,527 | 2 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq2l6sq
|
iq2fidk
| 1,664,257,530 | 1,664,253,678 | 310 | 61 |
Money, dude. It's money.
|
I mean... it’s the government that wants them to do those things? Public universities are run by the government, through appointed boards of regents/trustees. There is a public desire for them to be run in a way that minimizes the need for public funds, and sports and alumni donations are a huge part of that. Policies and salaries of public institutions are largely controlled by the state government. Public will for increased funding isn’t generally there. In fact, states are consistently cutting back on investment in higher education because it’s politically unpopular many places. It’s not as regulated as K12 because it doesn’t deal with minors, but rather adults. Moreover, public universities aren’t about profiting: they’re about breaking even on the costs and minimizing the amount of subsidy necessary. Not sure why you think they’re trying to be “profitable” or what you mean by that. In fact, most universities including private are non-profit entities.
| 1 | 3,852 | 5.081967 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq2fidk
|
iq3neri
| 1,664,253,678 | 1,664,285,093 | 61 | 152 |
I mean... it’s the government that wants them to do those things? Public universities are run by the government, through appointed boards of regents/trustees. There is a public desire for them to be run in a way that minimizes the need for public funds, and sports and alumni donations are a huge part of that. Policies and salaries of public institutions are largely controlled by the state government. Public will for increased funding isn’t generally there. In fact, states are consistently cutting back on investment in higher education because it’s politically unpopular many places. It’s not as regulated as K12 because it doesn’t deal with minors, but rather adults. Moreover, public universities aren’t about profiting: they’re about breaking even on the costs and minimizing the amount of subsidy necessary. Not sure why you think they’re trying to be “profitable” or what you mean by that. In fact, most universities including private are non-profit entities.
|
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
| 0 | 31,415 | 2.491803 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3do7n
|
iq3neri
| 1,664,280,015 | 1,664,285,093 | 33 | 152 |
It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.
|
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
| 0 | 5,078 | 4.606061 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq2wwq1
|
iq3neri
| 1,664,267,143 | 1,664,285,093 | 18 | 152 |
It's interesting what's happened with the American university system in the last 30 years. They are run like businesses because they are. But they are also incredibly bloated and not suffering the consequences that normal businesses would in the same circumstances. It will be fascinating to see how this develops in the next 10-20 years.
|
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
| 0 | 17,950 | 8.444444 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3neri
|
iq3gw28
| 1,664,285,093 | 1,664,281,808 | 152 | 8 |
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
|
Everything in America is run like a business. Money and business are the cultural gods that are worshiped, sacrificed for, and offered all that we have of value to.
| 1 | 3,285 | 19 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3neri
|
iq3110p
| 1,664,285,093 | 1,664,270,866 | 152 | 1 |
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
|
My guess is toxic capitalistism which has seeped through every single institution, ideology and thought in 'Merica. At least the gas price is low.
| 1 | 14,227 | 152 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3neri
|
iq31jqt
| 1,664,285,093 | 1,664,271,326 | 152 | 3 |
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
|
Unpopular opinion: there’s no guarantee that some folks sitting in a government office will do a much better job than the the admin who work for the university and at least know a bit about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying universities are wonderful right now but the chance of government improving stuff isn’t that much higher than the chance that they screw up…
| 1 | 13,767 | 50.666667 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3bmb5
|
iq3neri
| 1,664,278,799 | 1,664,285,093 | 3 | 152 |
Neoliberalism
|
For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.
| 0 | 6,294 | 50.666667 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3do7n
|
iq2wwq1
| 1,664,280,015 | 1,664,267,143 | 33 | 18 |
It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.
|
It's interesting what's happened with the American university system in the last 30 years. They are run like businesses because they are. But they are also incredibly bloated and not suffering the consequences that normal businesses would in the same circumstances. It will be fascinating to see how this develops in the next 10-20 years.
| 1 | 12,872 | 1.833333 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3110p
|
iq3do7n
| 1,664,270,866 | 1,664,280,015 | 1 | 33 |
My guess is toxic capitalistism which has seeped through every single institution, ideology and thought in 'Merica. At least the gas price is low.
|
It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.
| 0 | 9,149 | 33 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3do7n
|
iq31jqt
| 1,664,280,015 | 1,664,271,326 | 33 | 3 |
It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.
|
Unpopular opinion: there’s no guarantee that some folks sitting in a government office will do a much better job than the the admin who work for the university and at least know a bit about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying universities are wonderful right now but the chance of government improving stuff isn’t that much higher than the chance that they screw up…
| 1 | 8,689 | 11 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3bmb5
|
iq3do7n
| 1,664,278,799 | 1,664,280,015 | 3 | 33 |
Neoliberalism
|
It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.
| 0 | 1,216 | 11 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq2wwq1
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,267,143 | 27 | 18 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
It's interesting what's happened with the American university system in the last 30 years. They are run like businesses because they are. But they are also incredibly bloated and not suffering the consequences that normal businesses would in the same circumstances. It will be fascinating to see how this develops in the next 10-20 years.
| 1 | 32,870 | 1.5 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq3r4cu
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,286,808 | 27 | 17 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
The answer, as always, is capitalism. Longer answer: As funding and support for public universities has grown more and more precarious, there was increasing political and economic pressure to emphasize credentialing and "preparing students for the workforce" over the rest of the liberal arts and sciences. This led to increasing dependence on donations from wealthy alumni and businesses, which led to a reduction of power for faculty and departments and an increase in power for upper administration and the boards of trustees, the latter of which are rarely academics or scholars but business types. The University of Louisville, for example, used to have the CEO of Papa John's on its board, among others. These trustees don't particularly know or care about the quality of education except insofar as it boost the university's reputation and enrollment. This means they want their money invested into expensive vanity projects (new buildings with their names on them, athletics in non-athletic schools, whiz-bang technology and software that everyone hates, expensive guest speakers, etc.), which creates budget shortfalls, which leads to increased tuition and the hiring of MORE upper administrators (who are outrageously well paid) to manage these expensive projects that no student or faculty want or need. This leads to corporatization of academia, which leads to greater support for "useful" majors like business, which by the way, are mostly taught and run by retired industry people who the trustees are pals with rather than scholars (who go into economics if they study finances). Since all of these problems are caused by the people who benefit most from them, and those same people are in charge of budget and policy, this leads to a self-perpetuating cascade of skyrocketing tuition, more and more admin, and weaker quality of actual education and research.
| 1 | 13,205 | 1.588235 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4m0po
|
iq4o133
| 1,664,299,230 | 1,664,300,013 | 10 | 27 |
As a 30-year college prof and someone who spent a year on sabbatical in a business -- I can assure you that universities are *not* run like businesses. Businesses (at least the functional ones) pay attention to their customers, spend tons of resources developing products, and understand the idea that just because you were profitable in the past doesn't mean that you'll survive in the future. I have yet to come across a university that adopts that same set of behaviors.
|
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
| 0 | 783 | 2.7 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3gw28
|
iq4o133
| 1,664,281,808 | 1,664,300,013 | 8 | 27 |
Everything in America is run like a business. Money and business are the cultural gods that are worshiped, sacrificed for, and offered all that we have of value to.
|
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
| 0 | 18,205 | 3.375 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3110p
|
iq4o133
| 1,664,270,866 | 1,664,300,013 | 1 | 27 |
My guess is toxic capitalistism which has seeped through every single institution, ideology and thought in 'Merica. At least the gas price is low.
|
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
| 0 | 29,147 | 27 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq31jqt
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,271,326 | 27 | 3 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
Unpopular opinion: there’s no guarantee that some folks sitting in a government office will do a much better job than the the admin who work for the university and at least know a bit about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying universities are wonderful right now but the chance of government improving stuff isn’t that much higher than the chance that they screw up…
| 1 | 28,687 | 9 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq3bmb5
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,278,799 | 27 | 3 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
Neoliberalism
| 1 | 21,214 | 9 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq3tnk8
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,287,922 | 27 | 2 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
We have somehow made it so that instead of employers paying employees during training, students and the government pay for their own job training at the expense of actual academics. I’m simplifying, but think about how far something Philosophy, once the cornerstone of academic disciplines, has fallen in favor. And it’s common to hear, through barely contained rage, “Why did you get a degree in gender studies instead of a business degree?” As if one were supposed to not learn academics in academia. Or, as once observed: “The bourgeoisie has stripped of its halo every occupation hitherto honoured and looked up to with reverent awe. It has converted the physician, the lawyer, the priest, the poet, the man of science, into its paid wage labourers…It compels all nations, on pain of extinction, to adopt the bourgeois mode of production; it compels them to introduce what it calls civilisation into their midst, i.e., to become bourgeois themselves. In one word, it creates a world after its own image.” -Marx and Engels
| 1 | 12,091 | 13.5 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq3xi9p
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,289,553 | 27 | 2 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
government-backed loans. you literally can't lose.
| 1 | 10,460 | 13.5 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq4o133
|
iq40gei
| 1,664,300,013 | 1,664,290,771 | 27 | 2 |
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
|
Well that's because they're mostly businesses
| 1 | 9,242 | 13.5 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq44pes
|
iq4o133
| 1,664,292,490 | 1,664,300,013 | 2 | 27 |
Because they are ….
|
Something I don't think I saw mentioned is the administrative creep of higher ed. Universities used to be largely run through a process of shared governance where faculty had a major voice in the running of a university. Faculty generally have preferences to spend university resources on teaching and research. This voice has greatly eroded over time. I have served on many executive level search committees and they will talk about there being an academic side and a business side and that faculty should have no voice in the business operations of a university. What this also means is that faculty have little to no voice in the budget of a university. I've been at 5 different universities, and all of them had a rough budget breakdown of about 1/3 toward academics and 2/3 toward non-academics. That 2/3 also controls the budget and those people are business people. They are lawyers, accountants, finance, MBAs, HR, marketing, all the same type people you see running any other business or non-profit. We have people freely move between us and a hospital system or a large corporation or any other large organization. They run the university and many (yes I'm stereotyping, but I have run into too many of these) have disdain for the faculty and students. Their job is to audit books or check off compliance reports and the academic mission of the institution just makes their job harder to do. So it all becomes about a mindset. The people really running universities run it like a business because they are the people that also run businesses.
| 0 | 7,523 | 13.5 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3r4cu
|
iq3gw28
| 1,664,286,808 | 1,664,281,808 | 17 | 8 |
The answer, as always, is capitalism. Longer answer: As funding and support for public universities has grown more and more precarious, there was increasing political and economic pressure to emphasize credentialing and "preparing students for the workforce" over the rest of the liberal arts and sciences. This led to increasing dependence on donations from wealthy alumni and businesses, which led to a reduction of power for faculty and departments and an increase in power for upper administration and the boards of trustees, the latter of which are rarely academics or scholars but business types. The University of Louisville, for example, used to have the CEO of Papa John's on its board, among others. These trustees don't particularly know or care about the quality of education except insofar as it boost the university's reputation and enrollment. This means they want their money invested into expensive vanity projects (new buildings with their names on them, athletics in non-athletic schools, whiz-bang technology and software that everyone hates, expensive guest speakers, etc.), which creates budget shortfalls, which leads to increased tuition and the hiring of MORE upper administrators (who are outrageously well paid) to manage these expensive projects that no student or faculty want or need. This leads to corporatization of academia, which leads to greater support for "useful" majors like business, which by the way, are mostly taught and run by retired industry people who the trustees are pals with rather than scholars (who go into economics if they study finances). Since all of these problems are caused by the people who benefit most from them, and those same people are in charge of budget and policy, this leads to a self-perpetuating cascade of skyrocketing tuition, more and more admin, and weaker quality of actual education and research.
|
Everything in America is run like a business. Money and business are the cultural gods that are worshiped, sacrificed for, and offered all that we have of value to.
| 1 | 5,000 | 2.125 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3110p
|
iq3r4cu
| 1,664,270,866 | 1,664,286,808 | 1 | 17 |
My guess is toxic capitalistism which has seeped through every single institution, ideology and thought in 'Merica. At least the gas price is low.
|
The answer, as always, is capitalism. Longer answer: As funding and support for public universities has grown more and more precarious, there was increasing political and economic pressure to emphasize credentialing and "preparing students for the workforce" over the rest of the liberal arts and sciences. This led to increasing dependence on donations from wealthy alumni and businesses, which led to a reduction of power for faculty and departments and an increase in power for upper administration and the boards of trustees, the latter of which are rarely academics or scholars but business types. The University of Louisville, for example, used to have the CEO of Papa John's on its board, among others. These trustees don't particularly know or care about the quality of education except insofar as it boost the university's reputation and enrollment. This means they want their money invested into expensive vanity projects (new buildings with their names on them, athletics in non-athletic schools, whiz-bang technology and software that everyone hates, expensive guest speakers, etc.), which creates budget shortfalls, which leads to increased tuition and the hiring of MORE upper administrators (who are outrageously well paid) to manage these expensive projects that no student or faculty want or need. This leads to corporatization of academia, which leads to greater support for "useful" majors like business, which by the way, are mostly taught and run by retired industry people who the trustees are pals with rather than scholars (who go into economics if they study finances). Since all of these problems are caused by the people who benefit most from them, and those same people are in charge of budget and policy, this leads to a self-perpetuating cascade of skyrocketing tuition, more and more admin, and weaker quality of actual education and research.
| 0 | 15,942 | 17 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3r4cu
|
iq31jqt
| 1,664,286,808 | 1,664,271,326 | 17 | 3 |
The answer, as always, is capitalism. Longer answer: As funding and support for public universities has grown more and more precarious, there was increasing political and economic pressure to emphasize credentialing and "preparing students for the workforce" over the rest of the liberal arts and sciences. This led to increasing dependence on donations from wealthy alumni and businesses, which led to a reduction of power for faculty and departments and an increase in power for upper administration and the boards of trustees, the latter of which are rarely academics or scholars but business types. The University of Louisville, for example, used to have the CEO of Papa John's on its board, among others. These trustees don't particularly know or care about the quality of education except insofar as it boost the university's reputation and enrollment. This means they want their money invested into expensive vanity projects (new buildings with their names on them, athletics in non-athletic schools, whiz-bang technology and software that everyone hates, expensive guest speakers, etc.), which creates budget shortfalls, which leads to increased tuition and the hiring of MORE upper administrators (who are outrageously well paid) to manage these expensive projects that no student or faculty want or need. This leads to corporatization of academia, which leads to greater support for "useful" majors like business, which by the way, are mostly taught and run by retired industry people who the trustees are pals with rather than scholars (who go into economics if they study finances). Since all of these problems are caused by the people who benefit most from them, and those same people are in charge of budget and policy, this leads to a self-perpetuating cascade of skyrocketing tuition, more and more admin, and weaker quality of actual education and research.
|
Unpopular opinion: there’s no guarantee that some folks sitting in a government office will do a much better job than the the admin who work for the university and at least know a bit about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying universities are wonderful right now but the chance of government improving stuff isn’t that much higher than the chance that they screw up…
| 1 | 15,482 | 5.666667 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3r4cu
|
iq3bmb5
| 1,664,286,808 | 1,664,278,799 | 17 | 3 |
The answer, as always, is capitalism. Longer answer: As funding and support for public universities has grown more and more precarious, there was increasing political and economic pressure to emphasize credentialing and "preparing students for the workforce" over the rest of the liberal arts and sciences. This led to increasing dependence on donations from wealthy alumni and businesses, which led to a reduction of power for faculty and departments and an increase in power for upper administration and the boards of trustees, the latter of which are rarely academics or scholars but business types. The University of Louisville, for example, used to have the CEO of Papa John's on its board, among others. These trustees don't particularly know or care about the quality of education except insofar as it boost the university's reputation and enrollment. This means they want their money invested into expensive vanity projects (new buildings with their names on them, athletics in non-athletic schools, whiz-bang technology and software that everyone hates, expensive guest speakers, etc.), which creates budget shortfalls, which leads to increased tuition and the hiring of MORE upper administrators (who are outrageously well paid) to manage these expensive projects that no student or faculty want or need. This leads to corporatization of academia, which leads to greater support for "useful" majors like business, which by the way, are mostly taught and run by retired industry people who the trustees are pals with rather than scholars (who go into economics if they study finances). Since all of these problems are caused by the people who benefit most from them, and those same people are in charge of budget and policy, this leads to a self-perpetuating cascade of skyrocketing tuition, more and more admin, and weaker quality of actual education and research.
|
Neoliberalism
| 1 | 8,009 | 5.666667 | ||
xp66g1
|
askacademia_train
| 0.94 |
Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?
|
iq3gw28
|
iq4m0po
| 1,664,281,808 | 1,664,299,230 | 8 | 10 |
Everything in America is run like a business. Money and business are the cultural gods that are worshiped, sacrificed for, and offered all that we have of value to.
|
As a 30-year college prof and someone who spent a year on sabbatical in a business -- I can assure you that universities are *not* run like businesses. Businesses (at least the functional ones) pay attention to their customers, spend tons of resources developing products, and understand the idea that just because you were profitable in the past doesn't mean that you'll survive in the future. I have yet to come across a university that adopts that same set of behaviors.
| 0 | 17,422 | 1.25 |
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