UMBC Dissertation House

The Dissertation House is sponsored by PROMISE, The UMBC Graduate School, The UMCP Division of Graduate Studies, and the Council of Graduate Schools’ Ph.D. Completion Project.

To participate,  start by posting answers to these questions:

• What will you work on?
• How much time will you spend daily working on it?
• Tell us how much progress you are making, or problems you are having.
• At the end of everyday plan what you want to accomplish the following day

Here are some helpful tips:

• Breakdown your tasks into bite-size manageable chunks and make a list and post that list in a public space.
• Make a daily commitment to work on your thesis or dissertation. Set aside a reasonable amount of time each day to work on your thesis or dissertation. You can get a lot done in 15 minutes a day.
• Work within your limitations . . . if you are a morning person by all means make yourself some coffee and spend 15 minutes with your dissertation before everyone else rises . . . if you are a night owl . . . turn the TV off 15 minutes earlier and write for 15 minutes.
• Celebrate small victories when you accomplish your tasks for the day. Spend the rest of the day guilt-free enjoying your  break knowing that you have done something (no matter how small) on your dissertation.
• Whatever you do, don’t spend the week constantly worrying and saying to yourself ‘I really should be working’. Above all, enjoy your break.