First Post :)

[Toon]

I just finished writing my thesis. I am really happy!

Since I don't have a job now, I am going to have a lot of time for painting now

[jchaos79]

Congratulation PhD Toon. Enjoy painting and I'm sure you will find something soon !

Writting a Thesis could be very stressing time, so now is time to relax.

[horizon]

Hey,
what was the thesis about?

And happy painting to you.

[CyberShadow]

Was it a PhD thesis, or Masters? Have you had your viva yet? Mine was a nightmare.... but I am sure that yours will be fine! 

[Toon]

Hey,

thanks JChaos. How did you know it was a PhD?

I just finished writing it. Now I still have to submit it (which actually is not easy, since one needs quite many different documents). Then it's going to be evaluated, and I will have to pass an exam (which is just a formal thing, since all pass ). I think my defense will be without any serious problems, since I made sure to pick only cuddly professors for it.

It's about distributed primal-dual approximation algorithms for online optimization problems. Thats stuff from theoretical computer science (i.e.,  computer science where it is forbidden to ever touch an actual computer; including practical stuff in your dissertation means that you have failed ).

CyberShadow, what subjects did you choose?

 

[jchaos79]

Hey,

thanks JChaos. How did you know it was a PhD?

I know it was a PhD because you transmit happiness in your message.

In the moment of the defence be quiet, and enjoy the day. This day you will marriage with Science, so it is like a wedding, the audience, the godfathers, the ritual, the questions and the answers, the final applause and congratulation to "non-participants" (that usually hurts) and finally party with friends including some beers and whiskies.

[CyberShadow]

I just finished writing it. Now I still have to submit it (which actually is not easy, since one needs quite many different documents). Then it's going to be evaluated, and I will have to pass an exam (which is just a formal thing, since all pass ). I think my defense will be without any serious problems, since I made sure to pick only cuddly professors for it.

It's about distributed primal-dual approximation algorithms for online optimization problems. Thats stuff from theoretical computer science (i.e.,  computer science where it is forbidden to ever touch an actual computer; including practical stuff in your dissertation means that you have failed ).

CyberShadow, what subjects did you choose?

I got mine in Cybernetics and Mobile Robotics in Autism Rehabilitation.

Not everyone passes, but most do. Its really more about how many corrections you end up getting, so good luck with it. My advice would be to pause before answering each question and think about what they are asking and what you want to say before you say it, and read your thesis a couple of times before you go in. Not having an answer is not too bad. Not knowing what you wrote is a lot worse! Good luck.

What will you do next?

[captPiett]

Despite your post giving me flashbacks, congrats Toon! 

As theoretical as your subject is, at least it's more concrete than international relations/political science, heh.

Most pass our defenses, but they can be brutal. I'd echo cybershadow's advice. Also, sometimes there's just no way to please everyone. One of my committee members said I "raped" one of my case studies. Needless to say, I didn't get a reference from him. But I got out of there having to do some revisions and had my degree in hand a couple months later.

[Irisado]

I'll feeling extremely jealous reading this, as I still haven't finished mine, and I'm going to be late submitting to boot.  It doesn't help that I hate (and I don't use that word lightly) my thesis, and everything associated with research.  I'm supposed to be working on it now.....

Anyway, congratulations to you on finishing, and, based on the experiences of others in my department who have had their vivas, most tend to have very positive experiences, so I'm sure that will too .

[Toon]

Thanks for your advice guys!

@Jchaos: You have a really positive view of the world mate For me, this is more like a divorce from science. 

@CyberShadow: I am not sure what I will do later. Since I didn't learn anything useful in the last 4 years, I might try business consulting (one only needs ppl skills for that... ).

@captPiett: That committee member must be a total idiot. Good thing you passed and prolly will never see him again.

@Irisado: I can totally relate. Getting a PhD can be extremely frustrating. If I could go back in time, I would not attempt to do it again.

[jchaos79]

Hey, the last yard is the hardest, you are doing really good!!. Just focus in the presentation and the defence, then take some holidays.

Maybe you feel you have not learn anything useful (as you said), but you did for sure. You have acquire a way of facing problems and the skills to solve them alone. Now you are not seeing it because you are in the eye of the tornado.

My last advice is: Do not do nothing strange at this stage of your thesis, follow the Yellow Brick Road and then paint, relax your mind and you will not regret in the future. Then you will find a position or job for sure.

We need your mind relax to paint those beautiful warmaster figures to be show around here  and also your girlfriend's figures too!! 

[Toon]

Done! 

[captPiett]

Done! 

Right on man! Congrats!

[Stormwind]

Great work!

[jchaos79]

Congratulations!