PhD defense coming up soon! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

PhD defense coming up soon!

crazyone

Veteran

I've been away from YLF recently (though still occasionally lurking), and that's because I have my PhD defense coming up, on Monday. Eeeek! It's been a frantic several weeks of writing and now preparing slides for the presentation.

I'm also wondering what to wear...

Wish me luck! I've missed you all.

Off Topic

28 replies

Latest reply was from Sylvie

Diana

Veteran

Congratulations on finishing the dissertation and good luck on the defense! I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all.

I think for mine (over 5 years ago now, eek) I wore a striped button-down shirt, black pencil skirt, and kitten heels. Make sure you wear something you can clip a microphone pack to for the talk. (My skirt was heavy enough that I just clipped it to the waistband).

Inge

(website)

Oooh!! Wishing you the best of luck, CO!! I'll send extra good vibes on Monday. And let us know how it went?

Gaylene

Veteran

Congratulations; you're almost there!

My defense was so long ago that I can't remember what I wore, but, because I now sit on the other side of the table, I can tell you what not to wear. Keep it simple and business-like; the focus is on your intelligence and work, not your fashion sense. Don't wear anything that you will fiddle with, or have to constantly adjust, during the presentation. Wear something that makes you feel confident and comfortable so you can forget about your clothes. Keep your hair and makeup simple and natural; a defense is more a business occasion than a social one.

And remember that the purpose of the defense is to give you a chance to discuss your research with colleagues. You've worked hard to get to this point and now is your opportunity to share your knowledge with others who are also interested in this area.

Sylvie

Veteran

Good luck! Wear something comfortable and remember that no one in the room knows as much about your thesis as you.

Kristin L

Veteran

Good luck! And remember you are the expert on your dissertation. And when in doubt, say that it's beyond the scope of your project.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

My defence was 12 years ago, but I'm pretty sure I wore a black suit, aka my job interview suit, because I would've had nothing else but jeans to wear.

A defence is a ritual - a rite of passage - not an exam. So enjoy it. And make sure to celebrate properly afterwards!

Makrame

Veteran

Totally agree with Gaylene - wear something relatively simple and business-like (and if you are in STEM, no need to be overly dressy or formal). Something along the lines of nice dress pants and a button-down or a nice sweater is usually perfect for STEM PhD defense; might be more formal for humanities or other fields.

Also agree with DIana - you need a lapel or a collar to clip the microphone to and a pocket or a belt for the microphone pack.

Yes on you being the expert! And always say "That's a great question!" or "So your question is", then restate the initial question - gives you time to think of the best answer.

Good luck!

crazyone

Veteran

thanks, ladies! Both for the good wishes and the wisdom. I'm planning on wearing a very plain black sheath (high necked and knee-length), plus a grey blazer on top. Despite how many clothes I have, I don't have that many "professional" ones. I'm in STEM (Electrical engineering/applied physics) so I could get away with wearing jeans (several of the defenses I've been to have involved the (male) presenter in jeans and a buttondown), but I somehow don't feel that's appropriate.

Mochi

Veteran

Good luck! I know you'll knock 'em dead!

deb

Veteran

Good luck!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I've never done a PhD, but I've defended a thesis!

Good luck, and hopefully you wont' have any faculty members who ask you really stupid questions.

My thesis was on social behaviour in fish, and I was asked about spider mating patterns. ARE YOU SERIOUS?! How would I know. :p

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Just make sure it's comfortable and not too fiddly and you'll be fine. And wear shoes that you can walk to the pubs in after your success without getting blisters (ask me how I know about that one...).

Good luck, soon-to-be Doc!

Isabel

Veteran

OMG, no way ! It is time already ? It has been 3 years since we met, it seemed so far away. I am so happy and you must be so relieved. GOOD LUCK....and CONGRATULATIONS, Dr. Crazyone .

crazyone

Veteran

Lyn: that's hilarious. What did you respond to that question?

Mander: My defense is at 10 am, so I'm assuming there won't be any pubbing directly after my defense anyway...

Isabel: yes, it has been 3 years since we've met...hopefully we can have the pleasure of meeting again soon. I'm sorry that the last few years have been so rough for you, health-wise, but I'm amazed at your resiliency through it all.

anne

Veteran

All the best for the defense, C1!

Isabel

Veteran

Crazyone, thank you, you are so sweet. But I expect you to design some sort of electrical wizardry to make me bionic : ) You go girl !

Tanya

Veteran

Oh wow, congratulations and good luck on Monday! My defense was 3.5 years ago (wow, time flies) and I am also in a STEM field. I think I wore a white wrap shirt , black Theory pants and classic black pumps - nothing to write home about, but it was appropriate. I only regret not putting a little bit of make up on ( I am very pale and tend to look sickly without it), I was to stressed out. I looked like a vampire in all the subsequent photos, very pale with red-rimed eyes.
Knock them dead, and remember, you are the best expert in the world when it comes to the topic of your thesis.

crazyone

Veteran

Tanya: thanks! I think I remember being on the forum (possibly as a lurker) when you defended (it stuck out to me, of course, because I am a PhD student myself). Your outfit does sound very appropriate. I almost never wear makeup so I don't think I will for my defense, though I probably will put my contacts in.

Kristin L

Veteran

@lyn* - Where do these people find their questions? At my MS defense, one of my committee members complained that my thesis "wasn't exciting enough." Thankfully, my major prof stepped in and asked when has he ever read an exciting thesis.

Isis

Veteran

Congrats Crazyone! How exciting!

Your outfit sounds perfect! Usually PhD defenses are fun---less of an exam and more of a thoughtful discussion of the newly-minted expert (you!) with colleagues (the committee). I'm sure yours will be great.

I hope you celebrate afterwards; it's a remarkable occasion, so relish it!

Diana

Veteran

Just wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow! Hope you have something fun planned to celebrate afterwards.

crazyone

Veteran

hello lovely YLF ladies, I am now writing this post from the other side--I successfully defended my PhD! While I got a lot of questions, most of them were very easy for me to handle and were asked in a friendly spirit.

The only bad thing was that I got really stressed out about it last night and broke into hives all over my face because of it. I had a lot of hive issues last year (not stress related, for the most part), but I hadn't been getting them at all, recently, until yesterday night/today. So I wore foundation to try to cover them up, since this morning I ended up being more stressed about going in front of everyone with a hive-y face than about the defense itself.

Ended up wearing the black dress but with a purple silk blouse underneath.

Thanks again for all your advice and well-wishes!

Isis

Veteran

Congratulations Dr. Crazyone!!!!!!

I hope you are out celebrating!

Tanya

Veteran

Yay!!! Congratulations!

anne

Veteran

Well Done Doctor!! So glad it went well. Have a great celebration and hope the hives disappear now the stress is over!

Kristin L

Veteran

Congrats Dr. Crazyone!!!

crazyone

Veteran

thanks, ladies! Hives are all gone now, thankfully. I'm actually easing my way back into working...

Sylvie

Veteran

Congratulations!! Bet it feels good to be DONE! Hope you have some time off planned now.