Comprehensive Exams - Oral Defense

[theprincessleia]

I just took my general comprehensive exam a few weeks ago and my oral defense is coming up in a week.  The written portion of the exam was pretty tough and I am more confident about the first question compared to the second. I'm really nervous about the oral defense and I'm planning on writing out what I would've changed if I could go back, but I'm not sure if that's enough. It'd be great if I could have the writing center take a look to see if my argument answered the questions/overall clarity but I'm not sure that it's allowed. Does anyone have any other tips to prepare?

 

[Sigaba]

I would recommend that instead of writing out what you would have changed, you make a list of five to nine bullet points. I would tilt the balance towards what you would add rather than what you would change. During the exam itself, I would focus on the former and leave the latter category in reserve in case your examiners take the conversation in that direction.

Also, I would go into the exam with printed out copies of your written replies. I suggest that if you mark up one copy, you either have a second set of copies that are clean or that you write your comments on the back of the previous page. (The purpose of having clean text is in case an examiner wants to talk about a specific page -- it will be easier to find that page if it has no marking on it.)

I recommend that, if possible, you focus on developing a back up plan for your technology (if the oral exam is to be conducted remotely). I also suggest that you figure out how your body will respond as the exam progresses. Do you want to run the AC before the exam so you can stay cool during the discussion? Do you want to wear layered clothing that you can shed if you start to get nervous? Do you want to adjust your eating and sleep schedule so that you don't have that "I shouldn't have had that third espresso moment?"

Please keep in mind that in the moment, comprehensive exams are extraordinarily stressful. As I've said a few times, for me, quals were more stressful than having a loaded hand gun pointed at my face. But if one stops and thinks about it, the exams are not life threatening. No one is going to shoot you in the face. Just focus on doing the best you can so that you can pass.

(A tip. If you find that, during the course of the exam, the discussion becomes increasingly intense, it may be a sign that you're actually doing well and the members of the committee want to see how high you can jump intellectually.)

[Adelaide9216]

Good luck on your defense! I'm submitting the written portion of my exam in about a week. I'm excited! It was such a difficult process especially in the midst of a pandemic!