This is more of a cathartic "rant" than a question...I'm supposed to have my VIVA soon, but don't have a date because my committee is incomplete. There has been a lot of back and forth between professors about who should be on the committee, and I'm off to the side waiting...and waiting...and waiting. The extra time to prepare is just making me more anxious. I even considered the idea of quitting.
I guess my question is: How do you stay the course when that last hurdle (the VIVA) keeps moving further away?
======= Date Modified 16 Feb 2012 14:52:12 =======
The external examiners.
I already have my internal examiners. It's the advisor and Chair who choose the external examiners. They ask my opinion, but at this point, my opinion is "anyone is fine."
The externals are supposed to be unaffiliated with the PhD candidate, so it's not as though I can move things along by making suggestions.
Thanks for the advice! On the positive side, it does give me more time to prepare, which is fortunate since I also work full-time.
I've prepared a list of weaknesses in the research, but you make a good point about demonstrating awareness of weaknesses without creating more work for myself. I've also started working on presentation skills so that my voice doesn't start cracking from nerves.
You're correct - I'm a United States candidate so there are five busy committee members who need to assemble in one room, at the same time.
You must have been so very relieved when your supervisor returned from the workshop, and you could get on with it!
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