What is candidacy?
- The 6-week formal exam required by grad school
- Advisor/committee chooses a topic
- Typically not something you have worked on
- But good for you to know
- You do a literature review on the topic
- Deliverables: 15 – 20 page paper (at the end of 4 weeks) + Talk (at the end of 6 weeks)
Timing
- Professors are busy
- Ask to be on your committee >= 4 months in advance
- Schedule your exam on a day and time that works well for you – this is your candidacy
- Make sure oral exam is on committee members’ schedules
- If very hard-to-get professor such as the Chair of the department, talk to the assistant for scheduling
Once you get the topic remember you are not alone
- Not a lone journey
- you will need help and so get ready to ASK FOR HELP
- Ask clarification from the advisor/committee on the topic
- What are their expectations?
- Broadly, what outline should your paper follow?
- Communicate profusely with your advisor/committee
- They picked the topic, they want to see that you are interested in it
- Ask away, they will tell you when they cannot tell you something
On d-day
- Get to the exam early
- get familiar with the room, and whiteboards, and set up your talk
- During the exam
- Station yourself near a whiteboard
- No hiding behind talk
- Be very respectful, alert, and attentive
- Show willingness to work it out on the board
- Committee wants you to succeed
- If you get stuck/flustered under questioning
- They might throw you lifeline – recognize and utilize
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