PhD post-viva revision works

U

Dear fellow
I am working on my post-viva revision works. i have recieved a deadline for 6 months to resubmit (march 17). some corrections are very straightforward- some are re-shuffle with critical reflection. getting demotivated for this doing again. kind of feeling that I have written my own thesis before, now I am writing for other from examiner's directions.

How could I get this correction perfect?
Uttara

I

Hi Uttara,
Did you get a revise and resubmit or a pass with 6-months corrections?

I got a pass with minor corrections and while my corrections have been approved recently, I had a rough time getting my internal to look at them and approve them. To get this correction perfect, the best way is to FOLLOW EACH AND EVERY POINT raised by the examiners in the Joint Report. Don't go for partial solutions: if they say delete a comma in page X, do it. Once you're done, make sure you document the changes you made in the thesis itself (using margins and insert comments) and write a separate report outlining exactly how you addressed each of the points raised in the Joint Report. Once you do this, you are guaranteed to go thru with it without problems.

As for the motivation. I went through a similar scenario: passing with minor corrections felt like an anti-climax. My examiners congratulated me, as did my supervisor, the department secretary, and my friends and PhD candidate colleagues. But I felt like I still didn't really pass (even though I still remember the letter from my uni congratulating me on the "conditional approval" to the degree). To motivate yourself, just remember that in the end, you'll be a doctor in your field, you can get to take some time off if you can (without thinking so much about the next step), and that you're 90% there already,and that some changes are so easy. I say focus on the "more difficult" changes first and get them out of the way (how many changes do u have btw?) That helped me: I had 2 content changes (very minor though based on extra reading which I already had but didn't include) and 4 were grammar/tone changes. so I started with the 2 first.

Hope that helps- if you need any help PM me as well as I've been there and know what it feels like.

D

I understand. You deliver the best copy you can for the viva, where the document gets 'locked' and set down. The corrections process then asks you to re-wire that complex instrument, without it collapsing! I had 3 month minors. My thesis was written mostly in word 2003, and then at the end 2010. So unstable!

Incognito gave great advice. Chip away at them and you will be there soon. Keep your supervisor sweet; they can really help you now.

This is limbo land. Most people think you pass the viva you are finished. Maybe you start getting called doctor by friends. But you are not done. Not yet. So you have to make one last big push. When you submit your corrections for sign off, you may have to wait. Again, this is part of the process, but the end is worth it. You will have that qualification

I

Quote From DrStrangelove:
Keep your supervisor sweet; they can really help you now.

This is limbo land. Most people think you pass the viva you are finished. Maybe you start getting called doctor by friends. But you are not done. Not yet. So you have to make one last big push. When you submit your corrections for sign off, you may have to wait.


Thank you DrStrangelove: forgot to mention that having a friendly and cooperative supervisor is fundamental...it helped me very much, even when I waited 6 months for my examiner to approve the corrections.

B

The corrections don't need to be perfect, so don't worry about that. They just need to be good enough to satisfy the examiners. And the examiners should have given you very precise instructions on what they are not happy with and want fixed.

You have not passed your PhD properly - even if you were given a pass with minor corrections - until those corrections are submitted and approved, so get on with them. I found that very motivating myself!

Draw up a list - based on the examiners' report - of what you need to do. Start with the easy things, and cross them off as you do them. Then move onto the slightly trickier things. Give yourself treats/rewards for completing tasks on your list. And that way you will get there, probably much quicker than the time you are allowed.

Best of luck!

U

Thanks Incognito - Drstrangelove- Bilbobaggins for your inspirational words. :)

I have got my viva last month and have got a revision of works and will submit within next 6 months. the award will be approved after satisfaction approval of my correction version. my viva is on assured defence ( they said it was good) - so i dont need any more viva. I am just wondering what is the chance of not approving my correction version and how long it takes for examiner's satisfaction for approval? Since I found my nominated examiner is very critical and has got her PhD very recently.

Thanks again and please stay in touch! Love you all :)

Uttara.

I

Hey Uttara just wanted to see how you're getting on with the corrections? I'm also revising a publication I've submitted and am close to finishing the revisions before sending them to the journal's editor. Be + and stay motivated (advice for both of us :))

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