suomynona
Junior member
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« on: February 07, 2012, 10:41:43 AM » |
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I've successfully defended my dissertation and turned in a final copy with last revisions (typos, etc.); however, I won't get the piece of paper conferred to me until graduation. I'm sure this is a common scenario and I'm embarrassingly ignorant about how to handle this on my CV. Is it misleading to put 'PhD, X University, Month, Year' without a parenthetical qualifier (e.g. 'expected on x date' or 'all requirements for PhD fulfilled on x date')? Or is it all the same after defending and handing in the final copy? My concern is, for the next months of applications, ending up in the ABD pile (trash can) despite the fact that where I stand now is qualitatively the same as where I'll stand after the graduation ceremony. Thoughts?
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crowie
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« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2012, 10:47:58 AM » |
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I would make it a two line entry on your CV along the lines of this:
Ph.D. Suomynona University. Degree conferral May 5, 2012
[Dissertation defended November 30, 2011 and deposited December 15, 2011]
You can also make your situation clear in the first paragraph of your cover letter, but I would include the dates in the CV as well just in case people are looking at it without the cover letter alongside it (as sometimes might happen).
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sugaree
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« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2012, 10:51:28 AM » |
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Crowie is correct - to avoid any confusion about whether or not you've met the criteria to graduate, indicate on your CV when you defended (vs. when the degree will actually be conferred).
Most of us understand the time lag and the important detail here is that you have already defended successfully (meaning the degree is coming once the next graduation date happens). Congratulations!
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where's the bourbon?
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ruralguy
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« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2012, 10:52:25 AM » |
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I wouldn't bother with Crowie's suggestion (though it isn't a bad one).
When you defend, you have the PhD. Since its going to be conferred at graduation in the same year anyway, all you have to say is
Ph.D, 2012. There is no deception here at all.
The only issue MIGHT be if the official conferral had been in a different year, as it was with me. It didn't end up mattering, but I now say my Phd was conferred in 1994, though I defended in late 1993.
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whynotevolve
is testing the waters as a
Junior member
Posts: 50
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« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2012, 10:55:20 AM » |
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I agree with ruralguy. However, if your committee has not signed off on your dissertation, then you should hold off. Wait for the final signatures before you say you have completed the degree.
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ruralguy
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« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2012, 10:55:42 AM » |
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Anyway, the point isn't whether or not you really have the Ph.D. You do. Everyone would agree you do. You just don't want to end up putting potentially confusing information on your CV, such as putting "2011" now for your PhD, if you defended at the end of last year, and then 2012 later, when you "graduate". But if its all in the same year, and all in the can anyway, all the detail is probably not necessary.
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snowbound
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« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2012, 10:57:00 AM » |
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Nobody is interested in a piece of paper these days. That's just for framing if you so desire. IN fact often one is ceremoniously handed an empty fake leather folder, with the actual certificate arriving int he mail some time later. The electronic record matters more than a piece of paper. Go online and check what your transcript says. It may already have you with the degree.
ON review: what others say about the defense date being what really counts.
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ruralguy
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« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2012, 10:58:43 AM » |
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Yes, wait for the sigantures, and the acceptance by the Graduate School, or whoever officially accepts it as satisfying the requirements.
That usually comes within days of everyone saying the revisions are fine.
In all honesty though....no one will be calling anyone but your letter writers anyway....and all of them will say that you have the Ph.D.
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ruralguy
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« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2012, 11:01:33 AM » |
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The graduate transcript though will simply say that you have satisfied the requirements.
It doesn't say you have the degree though until the degree is CONFERRED. Unfortunately, that is usually restircted to specific "graduation" dates.
Things may have changed though in the last few years at some places....
In any case...I stick with my main point...it doesn't matter!
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data5112
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« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2012, 11:03:30 AM » |
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I wouldn't bother with Crowie's suggestion (though it isn't a bad one).
When you defend, you have the PhD. Since its going to be conferred at graduation in the same year anyway, all you have to say is
Ph.D, 2012. There is no deception here at all.
The only issue MIGHT be if the official conferral had been in a different year, as it was with me. It didn't end up mattering, but I now say my Phd was conferred in 1994, though I defended in late 1993.
I completely disagree and would go with the first suggestion. At my school, many people had paperwork issues that delayed degree conferral for months or years! I think it's safest to be honest about the status of your degree. You don't have Ph.D. in hand, so be sure to clarify that; your transcripts will not show that you completed the degree, and you should be realistic in case they want to see a copy of them. |
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crowie
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« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2012, 11:03:56 AM » |
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I wouldn't bother with Crowie's suggestion (though it isn't a bad one).
When you defend, you have the PhD. Since its going to be conferred at graduation in the same year anyway, all you have to say is
Ph.D, 2012. There is no deception here at all.
The problem is that we are right now halfway through the job market year/academic year, so if your CV says "Ph.D. 2012" or "Ph.D. May 5, 2012" and someone is reading that application on February 7, 2012 they will most likely want more details. "Ph.D. 2012" without a month/day could read as "this is the year in which I hope I'll graduate", and since we are only about one month into that year who knows if you did, while "Ph.D May 5, 2012" invites the query "ok, so since that date has not passed yet we have no idea how plausible that date is unless you give us more info, such as a defense and deposit date." Edited to add: Keep in mind that you will only need to keep the information about defense/deposit dates on your CV for the next X months until your degree conferral date has passed, so there is a clear endpoint to when these details can be dropped from the CV. I just think until then it's always better to be crystal clear about your situation and dates when you are simultaneously in the middle of your job search year and your degree earning year. Also edited to add that some universities, HR departments, grant-making organizations, and immigration departments are very much still concerned with the precise date of conferral and the defense/deposit date is not the only date that matters. |
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« Last Edit: February 07, 2012, 11:09:43 AM by crowie »
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suomynona
Junior member
Posts: 57
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« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2012, 11:29:53 AM » |
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Excellent. Thanks for your help, everyone!
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fedscholar
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« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2012, 11:42:55 AM » |
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Sounds like you made it over the hump. Congratulations and good luck on the market!
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ruralguy
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« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2012, 02:05:51 PM » |
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Well, I don't need to stick to my guns.
If you think it might be better to put all the details, it isn't bad to do so.
I just meant to say that since you have satisfied all requirements (or maybe I should say that once everyone has signed off on the diss, you have), in mind, you have the Ph.D. Nothing will "hold it up", save for arbitrary dates of conferral. You are not an ABD. You have a "D".
But those who say the "2012" thing might be even worse, as it might lead people to thinking you are an all too hopeful ABD might be right.
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