Supporting dissertators

By Jennifer Polk. As a graduate student I had relatively little support and guidance. I say this not to denigrate my supervisors or imply lesser service from my department or university. Not at all. In fact, I would have told you back then that all was well — I much preferred the hands-off approach to dissertating, feeling strongly that if I was left to get things done, they would indeed get done the way they needed to be. Well, I was partly right. What I didn’t realize was that a different kind of help would have likely gotten me through my dissertation quicker and easier, while still allowing me the autonomy I valued. More...