Conquer the Comprehensive Exam: Your Roadmap to Success š£ļøš
- Trinity Johnson
- Nov 1, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 19
Before we dive in, Please allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Trinity, the doctoral candidate š„³ I have to give god all the glory, honor, and praise because he has been and continues to be so faithful šš¾
so let's insert a little praise break right here šš¾š
Okay, if all hearts and minds are clear, let's get down to business.
Disclaimer: long post alert ā ļø but get into it because i'm dropping gems š
Here are some strategies and tips that helped me to conquer my general exam:
Put your faith and trust in God, and know that He will carry you through any and everything šš¾
Reframe your perspective.
this is not a barrier but a significant milestone and accomplishment you can and will achieve š
Clock that tea āļø
Find out from your committee or your advisor what this process will look like for you.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. for example, 1. Will it be both a written and oral exam? 2. Will your exam be timed? 3. If so, how much time do you have? 4. Will you need to book a conference room for exam day?
Be sure to find out if you have any forms that need to be completed and submitted to your department and the graduate school at your university.
Always check your graduate student handbook for the departmental policies and guidelines.
Organization is everything.
Create a detailed study plan and timeline for yourself and prepare early ā°
Compile and summarize your research articles, make flashcards, and develop your daily lists to keep you on track.
Build a strong support system. yOU WILL NEED THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, MENTORS, AND COMMUNITY TO GET THROUGH THIS.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT TO OTHER GRADUATE STUDENTS or trusted faculty WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, whether they are in your department or not. We all have gems that we can share.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
My exam was timed, so I practiced writing under time constraints
Practice in front of different audiences. Start by practicing in front of your family and friends.
Then, shift to your labmates or grad students in your cohort.
Then, practice in front of a mentor in your field. This will help you learn how to adapt and refine your research for every audience. You will also enhance your confidence and comfort level.
Prioritize your mental/physical health and well-being.
Self-love and care Relax and get plenty of sleep.
Nourish your body by eating well-balanced meals.
Exercise and engage in mindful movement.
Avoid burnout by making time for hobbies and things that bring you joy.
Develop an exam plan.
A week before your exam, you should:
TAKE YOUR CLOTHES TO THE CLEANERS. Always have one to two suits ready to wear.
Order any catering that you'd like to have for your committee, like coffee, tea, and light bites.
Finalize your presentation so that you can practice.
Identify your glows & grows
Glows are the things you are doing well.
grows are the areas you need to work on improving. work on strengthening those areas.
meet with your advisor to Confirm and finalize any and all logistics.
the night before your exam, you should:
Not practice. give your brain a break.
Do something fun and light that brings you joy.
sET your alarms (yes plural ā°) so you don't oversleep.
Lay out your clothes.
pack your bag with your essentials (laptop, charger, water bottle, wallet, etc.)
Go to bed early and get plenty of rest. avoid screen time and caffeine before bed.
You survived! let's celebrate š„³šš¾
Hey candidate š is that you? Your hard work, effort, grit and resilience got you to this point. i knew you could do it!
regardless of the comments you received from your committee or how you may be feeling in this moment. give yourself some grace and celebrate yourself for making it this far!
be encouraged and remember We're almost to graduation š©š½āšš this is the closest we've ever been. next stop dissertation station š š®āšØ
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