It's been a few months since I posted, in spite of my 2025 New Year's Resolution to be more engaged through blog posts. But of course the best-laid plans are often interrupted by life, and illness and helping friends and family. As I said, it's been a while since I posted.
But here I am again and determined to try and post more regularly, so that I can share some of the knowledge I've gained over years of working with the most brilliant minds on the planet -- that's you and your academic peers.
So for today, here's a reminder of the best way to get ahead on your graduate journey: Do what your university wants you to do. Ideally, what's needed will be transmitted via supportive, helpful supervisors. If that's not happening then find other ways of sorting out what needs to be done.
Some candidates tell me that they're going to be creative and innovative in their approach to writing a thesis. Unless they're in the visual, literary or performing arts, I usually groan at that news. Most universities can't handle a thesis that doesn't conform to the norm, especially in the large disciplines like sciences, social sciences, education, law, and so on. So if you're planning to take a non-conformist path to preparing a dissertation, please think again.
After you've graduated, you'll be able to write with authority on any topic in your field, and you will have more freedom to say what you want, using the approach you want. But until you walk across the stage in that hat, please just follow the guidelines.
I've found that the standards are more-or-less the same worldwide, and I'll discuss some of those soon. I promise!