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Here I talk about how to make a case for graduation with a Ph.D. including some techniques you can deploy towards that end.

On your relationship with time in graduate school

Finishing a Ph.D. in a shorter as opposed to a longer period of time does NOT mean that you get to do less work. You have to accomplish MORE to graduate faster than to graduate slower.

Why you need to do more to make a case

If you don’t accomplish MORE than others, you will not have a good CASE for graduating. You have to demonstrate that you have done enough stuff. You will know you have done enough only when it is MORE than enough, so do more than enough.

Your thesis will be your mightiest weapon when demonstrating that you have done a lot. This is why it is important to have a living document that you can readily present when/if challenged about whether you should graduate or not.

Do the work, but also be your own lawyer.

Learn to be your own advocate and demonstrate that you have made accomplishments. FOCUS is your best friend if you want to finish up as soon as possible, but also knowing that you might have to advocate for yourself is equally important.

Take initiative, be productive, and write papers. Basically, always be writing a paper. This will make putting your thesis together much, much easier. When I say “paper” I don’t mean it has to go to a journal. It can be any kind of documentation of your work. Documentation helps to make a case. 

I mean even in law, you have to document everything to make a case. I am talking about the same thing for getting out with your Ph.D. I am also assuming that you have somewhat of a toxic relationship with your advisor (maybe) in giving some of this advice. Bear with me.

To stress the point above, it doesn’t matter if not everything you write gets published in a journal. Documenting – and documenting in an organized and intentional way – still has the highest payoffs out of everything you do in graduate school.

Your thesis needs to have the information, so it’s not about making it the most elegant document. It can be a living document. Only YOU care about your thesis. 

The Problem You Might Face While Trying to Make a Case For Graduation With a PhD

I am not actually worried at all that you are good at your job of doing research. In fact, I am worried that you are too good.

Because being good at your job is tricky! You might become invaluable to your research group. In this case, your advisor is likely to not let you graduate, as you are so darned useful and highly trained!

It might seem there is always more and more and more that you can do. Because you can! But, should you? That is the question. If you want to ever graduate, doing everything your advisor wants you to do is not the way to go.

Just like only you truly care about your thesis, only you truly care about your career, even if you don’t know what that career is. People are generally pretty self-serving and your advisor is no different.

The Solution For Making a Case For Graduation With a PhD

First things first, you need to learn to protect yourself and your career by saying NO. 

I bought myself a No! Button during my last year! The No! Button really is an amazing product. Even if half-jokingly used, the emphatic “No!” emitted when the button is pressed is really, really helpful. It normalizes and acknowledges the great importance of using this underrated word.

Why is it so important to say No?

Because saying “No” will help you do the things that are actually critical to making a case for graduation. Writing your thesis, being the most important of these things.

When you enter the wrapping-up phase of your Ph.D., be sure to actually PRIORITIZE wrapping-up over everything else. Wondering how to do that? Here are some ways:

• Do NOT answer emails from group members quickly.
• Do NOT give updates to your advisor every hour.
• Do NOT volunteer to do things for the group.
• Do NOT take on new responsibilities.
• Do NOT be friendly and approachable.

Your research group needs to KNOW that you are BUSY and otherwise occupied. Do not let them feel like you are as available as always.

Academics believe that you need to be a certain level of miserable before it is time for you to graduate. So, do not be friendly and welcoming. I might sound crazy when I write this, but I only care about YOU, the graduate student, and your success. This is why I am sharing what I know works. 

Endgame is time for you to be disgruntled and wonder why the heck you are still here. And that needs to show.

When you are trying to wrap up your Ph.D., it is NOT the time to take on new group duties. Be extremely selfish and only do things that will directly translate to contents in your thesis.

If you have been keeping good notes, putting your thesis together should not take more than a couple of months. Do not put off writing. Block off time to write every day.

Giving too many updates to your advisor can derail your progress.

You cannot let anything derail you, not even your advisor. You want to update them regularly, maybe daily. But much more than that would almost definitely distract you away from getting things done.

Advisors can become extra needy when you are wrapping up your Ph.D. You want to strike a balance between getting continuous feedback to help ensure that you are on the right track and not getting so much feedback that you cannot even begin to get things done.

During the endgame, do not allow anyone or anything to derail you.

Be aware that your advisor might potentially derail you and be intentional about minimizing such distractions.

If your advisor is demoralizing you, acknowledge it, and strategize to mitigate their negative impact.

Instead of wasting time arguing with or getting stressed out by your advisor, focus on getting EVERYONE ELSE on the same page first. That means everyone else on your committee. More on this in the next post.

Just know that YOU have to be your own advocate and take steps to make your case. Be prepared to do that and you will greatly increase your chance of graduating successfully with a Ph.D. sooner rather than later.

Any questions let me know in the comments below.

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