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Just finished
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« on: December 10, 2005, 07:35:21 PM » |
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Well, I just finished--or defended anyway. And I'm looking for some advice on what to do now. How did you (or how do you plan to) celebrate? How did you relax afterward?
I'm also wondering if it is appropriate or expected to honor committee members with a gift--a bottle of wine, perhaps. Any thoughts?
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fin
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« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2005, 09:34:00 PM » |
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Congrats on defending! It's been four and a half years, but I don't recall what I did to celebrate. As for your gift question, I think it depends on your relationship with your committee. I did give my advisor a gift after I successfully defended, but our relationship was very close - as much a friendship as an advisor-advisee relationship. If you feel it's appropriate in your situation, by all means do it. But I don't think you should feel obligated.
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anon
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« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2005, 04:17:26 AM » |
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if you can afford it, leave the country for a month this summer, go to with a whole different culture and outlook on life. try to make some new friends there and build some relationships. plus it makes a great story.... 'after my dissertation, i went to 'xxxxxxx' and did some thinking, then i met yyyyy and we've been friends since' one other thing, try to laugh more often.
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asst_prof
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« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2005, 05:05:19 AM » |
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First of all, congratulations on your successful defense. It's a major accomplishment, and you should be proud of yourself.
I was already a college instructor when I defended, and it was in the middle of a semester, so I didn't do any sort of celebrating. I had to prepare for the next day's classes. I did, however, feel an overwhelming sense of relief (like a ton of bricks had been lifted from my shoulders). Two months later, after I marched in the graduation ceremony, family and friends did gather at my place to celebrate. As for my committee members, I didn't feel like having any additional contact with them (they had put me through hell for many years), so I definitely didn't get them wine or any other gifts.
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Pretzel
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« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2005, 01:27:02 AM » |
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I went to grad school out of state (= in a state that I didn't grow up in), and I defended in February. During Christmas break, while I was at home, I bought gifts for my 5 committee members. It was a food item locally produced in my home state. I think it cost about $15 or $20 each (???). I gave this to all 5 of them at the post-defense dinner that I also paid for. It was, and still is, the most expensive dinner I had/have ever paid for in my life. The bill was a bit higher than I had expected, but I'm glad I did this.
For my advisor and another professor who helped me a LOT, I really wanted to get something else, but I couldn't find anything appropriate. I ended up buying a ridiculously expensive Calvin Klein serving tray (now that I think about it, I bet it cost more than everything in my kitchen all together) ... more for their wife than for them.
It was a lot of money, but it's once in a lifetime, and I'm glad I did it.
PS: BTW, I thought this was tradition at my school, or at least department. Later when I told a friend of mine who had graduated the year before, she was quite surprised that I had so much money.
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anon2
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« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2005, 10:37:28 AM » |
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I did not get my professors anything though not because I didn't get along with them. Rather, they got me stuff! My supervisor bought me dinner; another committee member treated me and others to tea. I know of other grad students whose advisor did similar things for them. As a new faculty member I was surprised when serving on a PhD committe and my colleague (the director) did not buy the student who defended dinner or beer or something to celebrate. Perhaps a different culture? I did give my advisors a copy of the diss, and plan to give my them a copy of my book when it comes out.
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anon3733
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« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2005, 01:00:52 PM » |
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I guess different departments have different defense traditions. In the department I graduated from, it was traditional for the department to pay for a nice dinner for the committee and a few students, and then to have anyone interested meet later for drinks. I did buy my advisor a gift because I wanted to, and because as we got close to my deadline she went out of her way to be sure I had her feedback on my latest drafts, etc. But I don't think that's usual (or expected) in my department to get gifts for the committee.
As for doing something special to celebrate... Go for it! Definitely spend some time (and money if you've got it) pampering yourself and relaxing.
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