Mixing
How to deal with my thesis chair?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
I am a 2nd yr Master's student set to graduate this may. My plan is to pursue a PhD afterwards at another institution. In my program, you either have to do a Master's thesis or a 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned.
I always had the intention of doing a thesis and had a really cool one my first yr. We were collecting data over the summer and everything was going well. All of a sudden, my thesis chair told me she was leaving for another teaching position in a different state. B/c it was not possible to do this without her and no faculty wanted to take over, I dropped the thesis. This occurred the summer before my 2nd yr.
I still wanted to do a thesis, and so I asked a man (who was on my first thesis committee) if I could be his thesis student. He agreed and he had me print articles so I can get started reading over the summer before I started writing my proposal. Summer went by and everything was fine. School started in Aug. (2nd yr) and things were still okay. I had started writing a portion of my draft and had sent it to him for edits. He edited and sent it back. I edited it again and sent it to him before our meeting. He then emailed me, saying he needed to talk to me regarding his plans.
Just as background info, I felt completely dropped and abandoned by my first thesis chair. When I asked my 2nd (and current thesis chair) to take me on, he assured me he wasn't leaving.
Anyways, we meet and he told me he was leaving late Feb. on medical leave and wouldn't be coming back. We decided to continue on with the thesis, but tweak and shorten it in order to be ready to propose this Fall and defend early Jan.
I started to work harder and he would send me edits. We always seemed to get along, and we had a nice flow. However, something in him changed, like snapped. It was like he went from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jeckel. October came and it was complete radio silence which was SO unlike him! He never responded to any of my emails although I emailed him every week in Oct., he didn't edit any of my stuff, he forgot our meetings. He was just so radically different. After not hearing from him over email, I started to wonder if I had said something. I had texted him (he said I could text him any time) b/c I hadn't heard from him and he sent me this snippy, rude text, telling me not to text him this early.
Because he failed to respond to my emails and give me edits, it was about 4-5 weeks until we met again. Because of this gap in time, it is impossible for me to do a thesis with him.
What gets me is that he went from being kind to me to almost borderline rude. He isn't as nice, he's cold, snippy and distant. The 2 of us talked to the department head and it's decided that I will do the summary presentation instead of a thesis (my chair decided that for me not my decision).
The summary presentation is like a reflection. It doesn't involve drafts of edits or anything like a thesis requires. It's really easy. Since he doesn't know any of the rules, I've had to explain this to him.
Basically, my question is, how do I deal with him? I'm thinking of switching advisors although I dont know anyone who could take me on. My thesis chair is still demanding that I do lit reviews although it is pointless. He basically is telling me that if I don't do what he says (the lit reviews and other things that is ONLY necessary for a thesis and NOT the summary presentation), he won't sign off on it. I NEED this to graduate.
My question is, what do I do?! I'm usually very calm but lately I've been stressed and anxious, I'm breaking out and haven't taken care of myself in a while. I am perpetually stressed and fear hearing from him. I just want OUT. He's toxic and mean. It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me.
Also, if people are wondering, I have done NOTHING to him but be nice, obliging, etc. I always tell him if I can't make a meeting and am polite to him. People are telling me it's stuff in his personal life, but I just want him to stop treating me like trash.
thesis masters thesis-committee
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
I am a 2nd yr Master's student set to graduate this may. My plan is to pursue a PhD afterwards at another institution. In my program, you either have to do a Master's thesis or a 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned.
I always had the intention of doing a thesis and had a really cool one my first yr. We were collecting data over the summer and everything was going well. All of a sudden, my thesis chair told me she was leaving for another teaching position in a different state. B/c it was not possible to do this without her and no faculty wanted to take over, I dropped the thesis. This occurred the summer before my 2nd yr.
I still wanted to do a thesis, and so I asked a man (who was on my first thesis committee) if I could be his thesis student. He agreed and he had me print articles so I can get started reading over the summer before I started writing my proposal. Summer went by and everything was fine. School started in Aug. (2nd yr) and things were still okay. I had started writing a portion of my draft and had sent it to him for edits. He edited and sent it back. I edited it again and sent it to him before our meeting. He then emailed me, saying he needed to talk to me regarding his plans.
Just as background info, I felt completely dropped and abandoned by my first thesis chair. When I asked my 2nd (and current thesis chair) to take me on, he assured me he wasn't leaving.
Anyways, we meet and he told me he was leaving late Feb. on medical leave and wouldn't be coming back. We decided to continue on with the thesis, but tweak and shorten it in order to be ready to propose this Fall and defend early Jan.
I started to work harder and he would send me edits. We always seemed to get along, and we had a nice flow. However, something in him changed, like snapped. It was like he went from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jeckel. October came and it was complete radio silence which was SO unlike him! He never responded to any of my emails although I emailed him every week in Oct., he didn't edit any of my stuff, he forgot our meetings. He was just so radically different. After not hearing from him over email, I started to wonder if I had said something. I had texted him (he said I could text him any time) b/c I hadn't heard from him and he sent me this snippy, rude text, telling me not to text him this early.
Because he failed to respond to my emails and give me edits, it was about 4-5 weeks until we met again. Because of this gap in time, it is impossible for me to do a thesis with him.
What gets me is that he went from being kind to me to almost borderline rude. He isn't as nice, he's cold, snippy and distant. The 2 of us talked to the department head and it's decided that I will do the summary presentation instead of a thesis (my chair decided that for me not my decision).
The summary presentation is like a reflection. It doesn't involve drafts of edits or anything like a thesis requires. It's really easy. Since he doesn't know any of the rules, I've had to explain this to him.
Basically, my question is, how do I deal with him? I'm thinking of switching advisors although I dont know anyone who could take me on. My thesis chair is still demanding that I do lit reviews although it is pointless. He basically is telling me that if I don't do what he says (the lit reviews and other things that is ONLY necessary for a thesis and NOT the summary presentation), he won't sign off on it. I NEED this to graduate.
My question is, what do I do?! I'm usually very calm but lately I've been stressed and anxious, I'm breaking out and haven't taken care of myself in a while. I am perpetually stressed and fear hearing from him. I just want OUT. He's toxic and mean. It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me.
Also, if people are wondering, I have done NOTHING to him but be nice, obliging, etc. I always tell him if I can't make a meeting and am polite to him. People are telling me it's stuff in his personal life, but I just want him to stop treating me like trash.
thesis masters thesis-committee
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Massive illness can change people drastically. I assume you explored the possibility to get your thesis finished with remote supervision by the 1st superviser?
– Captain Emacs
9 hours ago
1
If you are on good terms with the department chair (or another senior prof), it might be worth trying to get a recommendation letter from him that explains all this. If you apply for further positions requiring letters, the "story of being dumped by two advisors" might be a tough sell coming from you, but an easier sell if a respected professor can explain what happened in his letter.
– cag51
7 hours ago
This has been asked before, may well be worth your time to do a search for it...
– Solar Mike
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
I am a 2nd yr Master's student set to graduate this may. My plan is to pursue a PhD afterwards at another institution. In my program, you either have to do a Master's thesis or a 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned.
I always had the intention of doing a thesis and had a really cool one my first yr. We were collecting data over the summer and everything was going well. All of a sudden, my thesis chair told me she was leaving for another teaching position in a different state. B/c it was not possible to do this without her and no faculty wanted to take over, I dropped the thesis. This occurred the summer before my 2nd yr.
I still wanted to do a thesis, and so I asked a man (who was on my first thesis committee) if I could be his thesis student. He agreed and he had me print articles so I can get started reading over the summer before I started writing my proposal. Summer went by and everything was fine. School started in Aug. (2nd yr) and things were still okay. I had started writing a portion of my draft and had sent it to him for edits. He edited and sent it back. I edited it again and sent it to him before our meeting. He then emailed me, saying he needed to talk to me regarding his plans.
Just as background info, I felt completely dropped and abandoned by my first thesis chair. When I asked my 2nd (and current thesis chair) to take me on, he assured me he wasn't leaving.
Anyways, we meet and he told me he was leaving late Feb. on medical leave and wouldn't be coming back. We decided to continue on with the thesis, but tweak and shorten it in order to be ready to propose this Fall and defend early Jan.
I started to work harder and he would send me edits. We always seemed to get along, and we had a nice flow. However, something in him changed, like snapped. It was like he went from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jeckel. October came and it was complete radio silence which was SO unlike him! He never responded to any of my emails although I emailed him every week in Oct., he didn't edit any of my stuff, he forgot our meetings. He was just so radically different. After not hearing from him over email, I started to wonder if I had said something. I had texted him (he said I could text him any time) b/c I hadn't heard from him and he sent me this snippy, rude text, telling me not to text him this early.
Because he failed to respond to my emails and give me edits, it was about 4-5 weeks until we met again. Because of this gap in time, it is impossible for me to do a thesis with him.
What gets me is that he went from being kind to me to almost borderline rude. He isn't as nice, he's cold, snippy and distant. The 2 of us talked to the department head and it's decided that I will do the summary presentation instead of a thesis (my chair decided that for me not my decision).
The summary presentation is like a reflection. It doesn't involve drafts of edits or anything like a thesis requires. It's really easy. Since he doesn't know any of the rules, I've had to explain this to him.
Basically, my question is, how do I deal with him? I'm thinking of switching advisors although I dont know anyone who could take me on. My thesis chair is still demanding that I do lit reviews although it is pointless. He basically is telling me that if I don't do what he says (the lit reviews and other things that is ONLY necessary for a thesis and NOT the summary presentation), he won't sign off on it. I NEED this to graduate.
My question is, what do I do?! I'm usually very calm but lately I've been stressed and anxious, I'm breaking out and haven't taken care of myself in a while. I am perpetually stressed and fear hearing from him. I just want OUT. He's toxic and mean. It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me.
Also, if people are wondering, I have done NOTHING to him but be nice, obliging, etc. I always tell him if I can't make a meeting and am polite to him. People are telling me it's stuff in his personal life, but I just want him to stop treating me like trash.
thesis masters thesis-committee
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am a 2nd yr Master's student set to graduate this may. My plan is to pursue a PhD afterwards at another institution. In my program, you either have to do a Master's thesis or a 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned.
I always had the intention of doing a thesis and had a really cool one my first yr. We were collecting data over the summer and everything was going well. All of a sudden, my thesis chair told me she was leaving for another teaching position in a different state. B/c it was not possible to do this without her and no faculty wanted to take over, I dropped the thesis. This occurred the summer before my 2nd yr.
I still wanted to do a thesis, and so I asked a man (who was on my first thesis committee) if I could be his thesis student. He agreed and he had me print articles so I can get started reading over the summer before I started writing my proposal. Summer went by and everything was fine. School started in Aug. (2nd yr) and things were still okay. I had started writing a portion of my draft and had sent it to him for edits. He edited and sent it back. I edited it again and sent it to him before our meeting. He then emailed me, saying he needed to talk to me regarding his plans.
Just as background info, I felt completely dropped and abandoned by my first thesis chair. When I asked my 2nd (and current thesis chair) to take me on, he assured me he wasn't leaving.
Anyways, we meet and he told me he was leaving late Feb. on medical leave and wouldn't be coming back. We decided to continue on with the thesis, but tweak and shorten it in order to be ready to propose this Fall and defend early Jan.
I started to work harder and he would send me edits. We always seemed to get along, and we had a nice flow. However, something in him changed, like snapped. It was like he went from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jeckel. October came and it was complete radio silence which was SO unlike him! He never responded to any of my emails although I emailed him every week in Oct., he didn't edit any of my stuff, he forgot our meetings. He was just so radically different. After not hearing from him over email, I started to wonder if I had said something. I had texted him (he said I could text him any time) b/c I hadn't heard from him and he sent me this snippy, rude text, telling me not to text him this early.
Because he failed to respond to my emails and give me edits, it was about 4-5 weeks until we met again. Because of this gap in time, it is impossible for me to do a thesis with him.
What gets me is that he went from being kind to me to almost borderline rude. He isn't as nice, he's cold, snippy and distant. The 2 of us talked to the department head and it's decided that I will do the summary presentation instead of a thesis (my chair decided that for me not my decision).
The summary presentation is like a reflection. It doesn't involve drafts of edits or anything like a thesis requires. It's really easy. Since he doesn't know any of the rules, I've had to explain this to him.
Basically, my question is, how do I deal with him? I'm thinking of switching advisors although I dont know anyone who could take me on. My thesis chair is still demanding that I do lit reviews although it is pointless. He basically is telling me that if I don't do what he says (the lit reviews and other things that is ONLY necessary for a thesis and NOT the summary presentation), he won't sign off on it. I NEED this to graduate.
My question is, what do I do?! I'm usually very calm but lately I've been stressed and anxious, I'm breaking out and haven't taken care of myself in a while. I am perpetually stressed and fear hearing from him. I just want OUT. He's toxic and mean. It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me.
Also, if people are wondering, I have done NOTHING to him but be nice, obliging, etc. I always tell him if I can't make a meeting and am polite to him. People are telling me it's stuff in his personal life, but I just want him to stop treating me like trash.
thesis masters thesis-committee
thesis masters thesis-committee
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
edited 20 mins ago
Nat
5,22731338
5,22731338
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
asked 9 hours ago
user100197
361
361
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
user100197 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Massive illness can change people drastically. I assume you explored the possibility to get your thesis finished with remote supervision by the 1st superviser?
– Captain Emacs
9 hours ago
1
If you are on good terms with the department chair (or another senior prof), it might be worth trying to get a recommendation letter from him that explains all this. If you apply for further positions requiring letters, the "story of being dumped by two advisors" might be a tough sell coming from you, but an easier sell if a respected professor can explain what happened in his letter.
– cag51
7 hours ago
This has been asked before, may well be worth your time to do a search for it...
– Solar Mike
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
Massive illness can change people drastically. I assume you explored the possibility to get your thesis finished with remote supervision by the 1st superviser?
– Captain Emacs
9 hours ago
1
If you are on good terms with the department chair (or another senior prof), it might be worth trying to get a recommendation letter from him that explains all this. If you apply for further positions requiring letters, the "story of being dumped by two advisors" might be a tough sell coming from you, but an easier sell if a respected professor can explain what happened in his letter.
– cag51
7 hours ago
This has been asked before, may well be worth your time to do a search for it...
– Solar Mike
4 hours ago
1
1
Massive illness can change people drastically. I assume you explored the possibility to get your thesis finished with remote supervision by the 1st superviser?
– Captain Emacs
9 hours ago
Massive illness can change people drastically. I assume you explored the possibility to get your thesis finished with remote supervision by the 1st superviser?
– Captain Emacs
9 hours ago
1
1
If you are on good terms with the department chair (or another senior prof), it might be worth trying to get a recommendation letter from him that explains all this. If you apply for further positions requiring letters, the "story of being dumped by two advisors" might be a tough sell coming from you, but an easier sell if a respected professor can explain what happened in his letter.
– cag51
7 hours ago
If you are on good terms with the department chair (or another senior prof), it might be worth trying to get a recommendation letter from him that explains all this. If you apply for further positions requiring letters, the "story of being dumped by two advisors" might be a tough sell coming from you, but an easier sell if a respected professor can explain what happened in his letter.
– cag51
7 hours ago
This has been asked before, may well be worth your time to do a search for it...
– Solar Mike
4 hours ago
This has been asked before, may well be worth your time to do a search for it...
– Solar Mike
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
The thing that stands out here is that the new advisor is going on medical leave and won't be back. This sounds serious. Maybe he is facing his impending death. This would make his work very unpredictable.
It sounds like the department head was trying to make the best possible decision for you, though probably shouldn't have done so unilaterally. But starting over again will probably just delay your completion, which I assume you don't want.
You've been caught in two bad situations which is very unfortunate. Work with the head to find a good way to reach completion and also get good recommendation letters to support your future.
At least ask if the head can find a way to give some stipend to your first advisor to permit her to continue to work with you. Even if that isn't possible it may get the department head to start thinking of better solutions. It is a situation that is uncomfortable for the head as well.
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
I think you have at least two choices
- Find the third thesis chair
- 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned
For the first option, you'll need the help from your department. They can help you to do that. But, I won't go this route if I were you because it means you rely on other people to control your future. What if the third chair wants you to do a topic that you don't like? Or the topic is very hard? Or something happens to the third again?
The second option is much easier and only depends on yourself. You have taken graduate level courses. You have been doing two these. You have more than 45 minute materials to present. Everybody would understand why you can't take the thesis option. You tried, it didn't work and it's not your fault.
I understand you wanted to do the thesis. Please think of it this way. We need to be practical sometimes. You already tried twice. You did your best. They failed only because of your tough luck. Accept this reality and move on. If you really want to do a thesis, do a PhD thesis after you get the masters degree.
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
You can be accepted to start a PhD with or without a master's thesis, or even a masters...
Much depends on how you present at interview if they interview in person or how many apply to the PhD you want. It happens that only one applies and gets it. It also happens that two people who have similar profiles on paper that one gets it based on enthusiasm or some other thing.
Completing the master's is what will be judged and the topics covered, not exactly what the list of assessments was.
Best of luck.
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
"It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me."
This is a normal feeling, because ultimately that is the situation. If you were a self-employed musician, athlete, or any other profession, your skill and your effort gets placed into the free market of labour and you will be rewarded accordingly. Certainly luck and initial resources makes a huge difference, as they would also do in Academia - particularly at the higher levels. But at the lower levels, Academia is unlike any other job in the world. You are not merely subordinate to your supervisor, but you are also submissive. You are not two cogs in a machine working together, even though one cog drives the other, rather a pre-PhD individual has yet to be determined if they will be allowed to work in the machine at all. As such, you can't cash in your work and effort for it's free market value at any time and leave like your supervisors are doing, instead you are entirely dependant on the good graces of your supervisors for progression - for the opportunity to work.
If you don't accept this, rationalise why it is the way it is, and consciously decide to continue regardless, then you will find yourself in the exact same position as you are now for your PhD at the other institute. The only difference is it will be 4+ years of your life on the table, not 2.
From personal experience I can suggest that there's no point in taking your matter to court or similar. The judge will deem it an academic issue, and under the domain of the University's judgement, and they will side with faculty. So if I were you, if you still have 6 months until you graduate, do the most you can to get that Masters and get out with something to show for your efforts :) The best way to do that is pester someone high up in the hierarchy about your plight.
EDIT: I should point out that this is an unpopular anti-status-quo opinion, and will likely be labeled trolling. The answer is already on -1. All I ask those who disagree and downvote this answer is to justify why they think the game-theory dynamics of the Masters-Supervisor relationship isn't as described, and why they think the OP's feelings of being held hostage are actually not normal in Academia.
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
The thing that stands out here is that the new advisor is going on medical leave and won't be back. This sounds serious. Maybe he is facing his impending death. This would make his work very unpredictable.
It sounds like the department head was trying to make the best possible decision for you, though probably shouldn't have done so unilaterally. But starting over again will probably just delay your completion, which I assume you don't want.
You've been caught in two bad situations which is very unfortunate. Work with the head to find a good way to reach completion and also get good recommendation letters to support your future.
At least ask if the head can find a way to give some stipend to your first advisor to permit her to continue to work with you. Even if that isn't possible it may get the department head to start thinking of better solutions. It is a situation that is uncomfortable for the head as well.
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
The thing that stands out here is that the new advisor is going on medical leave and won't be back. This sounds serious. Maybe he is facing his impending death. This would make his work very unpredictable.
It sounds like the department head was trying to make the best possible decision for you, though probably shouldn't have done so unilaterally. But starting over again will probably just delay your completion, which I assume you don't want.
You've been caught in two bad situations which is very unfortunate. Work with the head to find a good way to reach completion and also get good recommendation letters to support your future.
At least ask if the head can find a way to give some stipend to your first advisor to permit her to continue to work with you. Even if that isn't possible it may get the department head to start thinking of better solutions. It is a situation that is uncomfortable for the head as well.
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
The thing that stands out here is that the new advisor is going on medical leave and won't be back. This sounds serious. Maybe he is facing his impending death. This would make his work very unpredictable.
It sounds like the department head was trying to make the best possible decision for you, though probably shouldn't have done so unilaterally. But starting over again will probably just delay your completion, which I assume you don't want.
You've been caught in two bad situations which is very unfortunate. Work with the head to find a good way to reach completion and also get good recommendation letters to support your future.
At least ask if the head can find a way to give some stipend to your first advisor to permit her to continue to work with you. Even if that isn't possible it may get the department head to start thinking of better solutions. It is a situation that is uncomfortable for the head as well.
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
The thing that stands out here is that the new advisor is going on medical leave and won't be back. This sounds serious. Maybe he is facing his impending death. This would make his work very unpredictable.
It sounds like the department head was trying to make the best possible decision for you, though probably shouldn't have done so unilaterally. But starting over again will probably just delay your completion, which I assume you don't want.
You've been caught in two bad situations which is very unfortunate. Work with the head to find a good way to reach completion and also get good recommendation letters to support your future.
At least ask if the head can find a way to give some stipend to your first advisor to permit her to continue to work with you. Even if that isn't possible it may get the department head to start thinking of better solutions. It is a situation that is uncomfortable for the head as well.
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
answered 9 hours ago
Buffy
26.6k685141
26.6k685141
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
I think you have at least two choices
- Find the third thesis chair
- 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned
For the first option, you'll need the help from your department. They can help you to do that. But, I won't go this route if I were you because it means you rely on other people to control your future. What if the third chair wants you to do a topic that you don't like? Or the topic is very hard? Or something happens to the third again?
The second option is much easier and only depends on yourself. You have taken graduate level courses. You have been doing two these. You have more than 45 minute materials to present. Everybody would understand why you can't take the thesis option. You tried, it didn't work and it's not your fault.
I understand you wanted to do the thesis. Please think of it this way. We need to be practical sometimes. You already tried twice. You did your best. They failed only because of your tough luck. Accept this reality and move on. If you really want to do a thesis, do a PhD thesis after you get the masters degree.
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
I think you have at least two choices
- Find the third thesis chair
- 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned
For the first option, you'll need the help from your department. They can help you to do that. But, I won't go this route if I were you because it means you rely on other people to control your future. What if the third chair wants you to do a topic that you don't like? Or the topic is very hard? Or something happens to the third again?
The second option is much easier and only depends on yourself. You have taken graduate level courses. You have been doing two these. You have more than 45 minute materials to present. Everybody would understand why you can't take the thesis option. You tried, it didn't work and it's not your fault.
I understand you wanted to do the thesis. Please think of it this way. We need to be practical sometimes. You already tried twice. You did your best. They failed only because of your tough luck. Accept this reality and move on. If you really want to do a thesis, do a PhD thesis after you get the masters degree.
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
I think you have at least two choices
- Find the third thesis chair
- 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned
For the first option, you'll need the help from your department. They can help you to do that. But, I won't go this route if I were you because it means you rely on other people to control your future. What if the third chair wants you to do a topic that you don't like? Or the topic is very hard? Or something happens to the third again?
The second option is much easier and only depends on yourself. You have taken graduate level courses. You have been doing two these. You have more than 45 minute materials to present. Everybody would understand why you can't take the thesis option. You tried, it didn't work and it's not your fault.
I understand you wanted to do the thesis. Please think of it this way. We need to be practical sometimes. You already tried twice. You did your best. They failed only because of your tough luck. Accept this reality and move on. If you really want to do a thesis, do a PhD thesis after you get the masters degree.
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
I think you have at least two choices
- Find the third thesis chair
- 45 min oral summary presentation of what you learned
For the first option, you'll need the help from your department. They can help you to do that. But, I won't go this route if I were you because it means you rely on other people to control your future. What if the third chair wants you to do a topic that you don't like? Or the topic is very hard? Or something happens to the third again?
The second option is much easier and only depends on yourself. You have taken graduate level courses. You have been doing two these. You have more than 45 minute materials to present. Everybody would understand why you can't take the thesis option. You tried, it didn't work and it's not your fault.
I understand you wanted to do the thesis. Please think of it this way. We need to be practical sometimes. You already tried twice. You did your best. They failed only because of your tough luck. Accept this reality and move on. If you really want to do a thesis, do a PhD thesis after you get the masters degree.
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
answered 7 hours ago
scaaahu
11.9k84094
11.9k84094
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
Op wants to do a phd and possibly fears they won't be able to without a thesis.
– DonQuiKong
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
@DonQuiKong Yes, I understand that. It's the choice between stuck in masters thesis and moving on to PhD. The other answer already mentions the recommendation letter, I did not want to repeat it. The recommendation letters from the faculty members can explain the OP's situation and hopefully can help the OP to get PhD admission somewhere.
– scaaahu
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
You can be accepted to start a PhD with or without a master's thesis, or even a masters...
Much depends on how you present at interview if they interview in person or how many apply to the PhD you want. It happens that only one applies and gets it. It also happens that two people who have similar profiles on paper that one gets it based on enthusiasm or some other thing.
Completing the master's is what will be judged and the topics covered, not exactly what the list of assessments was.
Best of luck.
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
You can be accepted to start a PhD with or without a master's thesis, or even a masters...
Much depends on how you present at interview if they interview in person or how many apply to the PhD you want. It happens that only one applies and gets it. It also happens that two people who have similar profiles on paper that one gets it based on enthusiasm or some other thing.
Completing the master's is what will be judged and the topics covered, not exactly what the list of assessments was.
Best of luck.
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
You can be accepted to start a PhD with or without a master's thesis, or even a masters...
Much depends on how you present at interview if they interview in person or how many apply to the PhD you want. It happens that only one applies and gets it. It also happens that two people who have similar profiles on paper that one gets it based on enthusiasm or some other thing.
Completing the master's is what will be judged and the topics covered, not exactly what the list of assessments was.
Best of luck.
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
You can be accepted to start a PhD with or without a master's thesis, or even a masters...
Much depends on how you present at interview if they interview in person or how many apply to the PhD you want. It happens that only one applies and gets it. It also happens that two people who have similar profiles on paper that one gets it based on enthusiasm or some other thing.
Completing the master's is what will be judged and the topics covered, not exactly what the list of assessments was.
Best of luck.
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
answered 41 mins ago
Solar Mike
10k32143
10k32143
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
"It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me."
This is a normal feeling, because ultimately that is the situation. If you were a self-employed musician, athlete, or any other profession, your skill and your effort gets placed into the free market of labour and you will be rewarded accordingly. Certainly luck and initial resources makes a huge difference, as they would also do in Academia - particularly at the higher levels. But at the lower levels, Academia is unlike any other job in the world. You are not merely subordinate to your supervisor, but you are also submissive. You are not two cogs in a machine working together, even though one cog drives the other, rather a pre-PhD individual has yet to be determined if they will be allowed to work in the machine at all. As such, you can't cash in your work and effort for it's free market value at any time and leave like your supervisors are doing, instead you are entirely dependant on the good graces of your supervisors for progression - for the opportunity to work.
If you don't accept this, rationalise why it is the way it is, and consciously decide to continue regardless, then you will find yourself in the exact same position as you are now for your PhD at the other institute. The only difference is it will be 4+ years of your life on the table, not 2.
From personal experience I can suggest that there's no point in taking your matter to court or similar. The judge will deem it an academic issue, and under the domain of the University's judgement, and they will side with faculty. So if I were you, if you still have 6 months until you graduate, do the most you can to get that Masters and get out with something to show for your efforts :) The best way to do that is pester someone high up in the hierarchy about your plight.
EDIT: I should point out that this is an unpopular anti-status-quo opinion, and will likely be labeled trolling. The answer is already on -1. All I ask those who disagree and downvote this answer is to justify why they think the game-theory dynamics of the Masters-Supervisor relationship isn't as described, and why they think the OP's feelings of being held hostage are actually not normal in Academia.
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
"It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me."
This is a normal feeling, because ultimately that is the situation. If you were a self-employed musician, athlete, or any other profession, your skill and your effort gets placed into the free market of labour and you will be rewarded accordingly. Certainly luck and initial resources makes a huge difference, as they would also do in Academia - particularly at the higher levels. But at the lower levels, Academia is unlike any other job in the world. You are not merely subordinate to your supervisor, but you are also submissive. You are not two cogs in a machine working together, even though one cog drives the other, rather a pre-PhD individual has yet to be determined if they will be allowed to work in the machine at all. As such, you can't cash in your work and effort for it's free market value at any time and leave like your supervisors are doing, instead you are entirely dependant on the good graces of your supervisors for progression - for the opportunity to work.
If you don't accept this, rationalise why it is the way it is, and consciously decide to continue regardless, then you will find yourself in the exact same position as you are now for your PhD at the other institute. The only difference is it will be 4+ years of your life on the table, not 2.
From personal experience I can suggest that there's no point in taking your matter to court or similar. The judge will deem it an academic issue, and under the domain of the University's judgement, and they will side with faculty. So if I were you, if you still have 6 months until you graduate, do the most you can to get that Masters and get out with something to show for your efforts :) The best way to do that is pester someone high up in the hierarchy about your plight.
EDIT: I should point out that this is an unpopular anti-status-quo opinion, and will likely be labeled trolling. The answer is already on -1. All I ask those who disagree and downvote this answer is to justify why they think the game-theory dynamics of the Masters-Supervisor relationship isn't as described, and why they think the OP's feelings of being held hostage are actually not normal in Academia.
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
"It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me."
This is a normal feeling, because ultimately that is the situation. If you were a self-employed musician, athlete, or any other profession, your skill and your effort gets placed into the free market of labour and you will be rewarded accordingly. Certainly luck and initial resources makes a huge difference, as they would also do in Academia - particularly at the higher levels. But at the lower levels, Academia is unlike any other job in the world. You are not merely subordinate to your supervisor, but you are also submissive. You are not two cogs in a machine working together, even though one cog drives the other, rather a pre-PhD individual has yet to be determined if they will be allowed to work in the machine at all. As such, you can't cash in your work and effort for it's free market value at any time and leave like your supervisors are doing, instead you are entirely dependant on the good graces of your supervisors for progression - for the opportunity to work.
If you don't accept this, rationalise why it is the way it is, and consciously decide to continue regardless, then you will find yourself in the exact same position as you are now for your PhD at the other institute. The only difference is it will be 4+ years of your life on the table, not 2.
From personal experience I can suggest that there's no point in taking your matter to court or similar. The judge will deem it an academic issue, and under the domain of the University's judgement, and they will side with faculty. So if I were you, if you still have 6 months until you graduate, do the most you can to get that Masters and get out with something to show for your efforts :) The best way to do that is pester someone high up in the hierarchy about your plight.
EDIT: I should point out that this is an unpopular anti-status-quo opinion, and will likely be labeled trolling. The answer is already on -1. All I ask those who disagree and downvote this answer is to justify why they think the game-theory dynamics of the Masters-Supervisor relationship isn't as described, and why they think the OP's feelings of being held hostage are actually not normal in Academia.
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
"It's like I'm being held hostage. Please help me."
This is a normal feeling, because ultimately that is the situation. If you were a self-employed musician, athlete, or any other profession, your skill and your effort gets placed into the free market of labour and you will be rewarded accordingly. Certainly luck and initial resources makes a huge difference, as they would also do in Academia - particularly at the higher levels. But at the lower levels, Academia is unlike any other job in the world. You are not merely subordinate to your supervisor, but you are also submissive. You are not two cogs in a machine working together, even though one cog drives the other, rather a pre-PhD individual has yet to be determined if they will be allowed to work in the machine at all. As such, you can't cash in your work and effort for it's free market value at any time and leave like your supervisors are doing, instead you are entirely dependant on the good graces of your supervisors for progression - for the opportunity to work.
If you don't accept this, rationalise why it is the way it is, and consciously decide to continue regardless, then you will find yourself in the exact same position as you are now for your PhD at the other institute. The only difference is it will be 4+ years of your life on the table, not 2.
From personal experience I can suggest that there's no point in taking your matter to court or similar. The judge will deem it an academic issue, and under the domain of the University's judgement, and they will side with faculty. So if I were you, if you still have 6 months until you graduate, do the most you can to get that Masters and get out with something to show for your efforts :) The best way to do that is pester someone high up in the hierarchy about your plight.
EDIT: I should point out that this is an unpopular anti-status-quo opinion, and will likely be labeled trolling. The answer is already on -1. All I ask those who disagree and downvote this answer is to justify why they think the game-theory dynamics of the Masters-Supervisor relationship isn't as described, and why they think the OP's feelings of being held hostage are actually not normal in Academia.
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
edited 24 mins ago
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
answered 58 mins ago
Wetlab Walter
4,54221127
4,54221127
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
user100197 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user100197 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user100197 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user100197 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2facademia.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f119504%2fhow-to-deal-with-my-thesis-chair%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
1
Massive illness can change people drastically. I assume you explored the possibility to get your thesis finished with remote supervision by the 1st superviser?
– Captain Emacs
9 hours ago
1
If you are on good terms with the department chair (or another senior prof), it might be worth trying to get a recommendation letter from him that explains all this. If you apply for further positions requiring letters, the "story of being dumped by two advisors" might be a tough sell coming from you, but an easier sell if a respected professor can explain what happened in his letter.
– cag51
7 hours ago
This has been asked before, may well be worth your time to do a search for it...
– Solar Mike
4 hours ago