The Last Week of My PhD | Submission Vlog | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

In this vlog, Jean documents the final week of her PhD thesis submission, sharing her thoughts, emotions, and challenges along the way.

Key Insights

• ☄️ Writing a PhD thesis is a long and challenging journey that comes with personal and academic obstacles.
• ❓ The final week can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting for the candidate.
• ⚖️ Balancing personal and academic commitments can be a significant challenge during the final stages.
• 🥺 The pressure to meet deadlines and make final adjustments can lead to mental and physical exhaustion.
• 👪 Having a support system of friends, family, and supervisors is crucial during the final stages of a PhD.
• ❤️‍🩹 PhD candidates may experience a mix of emotions, including relief, stress, and apathy, as they approach the end of their journey.
• 😫 It is essential to set limits and prioritize tasks during the final stages of a PhD to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is Jean's area of study for her PhD?

Jean is pursuing a part-time PhD in ancient history and classics, focusing on the politicization of sexual assault in fourth-century Athens.

Q: How does Jean feel about the final stages of her PhD?

Jean expresses a mix of emotions, including stress and relief. While she loves her field of study, she is no longer having fun and is ready for the journey to be over.

Q: What is a viva, and when is Jean's scheduled?

A viva is an examination for a PhD candidate, where they defend their thesis and answer questions from examiners. Jean's viva is scheduled for October with internal and external examiners.

Q: What challenges does Jean face during her final week?

Jean struggles with motivation, finding it difficult to care about the thesis after years of work. She also deals with personal and physical challenges, including the loss of her father and her period coinciding with the final week.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jean is vlogging her last seven days before submitting her PhD in ancient history and classics.

• She aims to capture the chaotic experience of the final week and hopes to have it as a record of her thoughts and emotions.

• Jean discusses the challenges she faces, including the closure of her university's arts and humanities departments.