Graduation research

Graduation research is stressful, but students gain confidence and pride when they succeed.

Transcript

At my university seniors do Graduation Research, which includes a formal thesis. They begin to prepare in junior seminars, and their seminar teachers then become their senior thesis advisers. This year I'm advising 14 seniors, all of whom are writing formal theses in English.

The final deadline this year is Monday, December 3rd. Seniors who fail to submit theses by 5 o'clock cannot graduate this academic year.

Graduation Research is a big deal, and for faculty advisers the end of November is exhausting. Most seniors are still working in the last week of November, so it's really hard to help them do their best possible work.

A few students are really slow. Every year quite a few seniors submit their theses on the last day, some within minutes of the deadline. I can't imagine why anyone would procrastinate so long and take such a big risk, but it's been like this for as long as I can remember.

This year I wanted to finish advising by Friday, November 30th, at the latest. Most of my 14 students finished with plenty of time to spare, and they did good work. Only three of them were unable to submit their theses by Friday. I met two of those three, and I think they'll be fine.

One has not shown up, although I've seen most of her work. I think she'll be okay, but still I worry about her. I suppose she'll appear on Monday morning.

Graduation Research is really good for students. The experience of doing a major research project with a firm deadline helps them learn a lot about doing big, important tasks. Nearly all of them gain confidence and pride. Their success means something because without considerable effort they will certainly fail to graduate. The very real possibility of failure is a nerve-wracking experience for all of us, but I think it teaches valuable lessons.