DrAlexis |Academic Success
Region: US
Monday 28 September 2026 11:00:00 GMT
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JB Fletcher :
My comprehensive qualifying exams were as follows: I had to write five article-length (20-25 pages) papers on a dedicated topic. I had 24 hours to write each paper. I got a 24 hour break in between. I got the question to respond to at 8 AM the day of that exam, and had 24 hours to turn it around. I repeated that four more times. It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. Comparatively, my dissertation defense was a cake walk. 😂
2026-09-28 14:29:24
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🐁Tiny Tank, PhD🐁 :
Yes yes yes!!! My advisor also called my dissertation a "fun talk" (as in: "oh! You should joke about XYZ, since this is a fun talk!" ). He was right. Also, your advisors and committee *WILL NOT LET YOU DEFEND* if there's a shadow of a possibility you won't pass.
2026-09-28 19:19:33
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rx.pkpd :
Defense was kinda just a formality presentation when I did it lol. Committee typically don’t let you defend unless they’re confident that you’re ready
2026-09-28 16:35:02
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malalachi🗿 :
This freaked me out as a first year doctoral student thank you🙏
2026-09-28 21:05:25
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I-Will-Not-B-Silent :
my daughter defends october 8. she has worked so hard. congratulations on your PhD
2026-09-28 17:44:54
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M G :
my quals exam was a 5 page research strategy f31 style followed by a freaking Chalk Talk and nothing is harder than a Chalk talk getting grilled by 4 faculty members
2026-09-30 11:34:25
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Noneya :
These comments are how I know I will NEVER be getting a PhD 😭. No thank you. Pass. But I’m so proud of yall who do it lmao
2026-09-29 03:25:04
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dr.audrizzle :
I just walked into my defense saying a bunch of shiii
2026-09-28 17:41:42
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FIexecution, Ph.D. :
my quals were 2 days 8 hours each, 2-3 questions max per day. 10 page answers from memory. plus you should NEVER be allowed to go into a defense unless your advisor is 100% sure youll pass
2026-09-28 17:37:07
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ron :
great way to see this. I wish I saw this before my qualifying exams.
2026-09-30 15:17:39
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therocketscientess :
also the qualifying exam is our chance to dig in, give constructive criticism and find out your blind spots, while you still have an opportunity to address them. honestly a defense should be a formality if your committee has been doing its job along the way.
2026-09-30 11:08:20
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Kayla❤️🔥 :
My committee had me ON THE ROPES during qualifying exam😭. I’m hoping my dissertation defense is much smoother
2026-09-28 13:39:56
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sierra :
I’m in the APPLICATION stage and I’m already scared of qualifying exams 😂
2026-09-29 00:27:23
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katharine :
i cried harder than i ever had before after my quals. soul crushing. defending in may and i genuinely think it’ll be a walk in the park in comparison.
2026-09-28 19:38:41
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Angela🌻 :
I pray you’re right 😭 comps were awful. Now that I’m almost done with my dissertation I’m already stressing about the defense
2026-09-30 07:01:52
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Laura2726636276336 :
agrees. As someone who has done both, comps were definitely way harder.
2026-09-28 14:03:27
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Kristen 👩🏽🔬 :
Or go to Berkeley where there is no defense 😅
2026-09-28 23:05:14
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mbhoyes :
One of my committee members was part of the ideation of one of the theories I referenced in my quals. She would mention specific page numbers in the articles where she wrote things. Terrifying amount of knowledge. My defense...hush mouth.
2026-09-28 14:14:02
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UNHINGED X THERAPY :
Whole heartedly agree
2026-09-28 13:15:08
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A |-/ :
My defense is coming up in a few weeks and this made me feel a lot better 😅 I’m trying to view the defense as an opportunity to teach my committee something new instead of the other way around!
2026-09-29 21:07:30
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Maia Papaya :
DUDE!!! For me it was a 4.5 hour oral examination with my entire committee testing my proficiency from my reading list that I had to divide into four major themes of my proposed research covering 184 unique titles. Had to be read inside 3 months. For each theme, I submitted a one page synthesis before I even got in the exam room. Opened the questioning by having to give a no more than 10 minute breakdown of the theoretical understanding I developed from the list.
2026-09-29 09:15:09
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assmosisjones :
The qualifying exam was the most humiliating experience of my life 😭
2026-09-29 03:10:45
0
Tess :
Yes! My advisor told me that this is the hardest part, IF you do it right. Because your goal should be to set up a comprehensive roadmap to follow for the next couple of years
2026-09-29 16:40:45
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madi b :
oh my gosh girl. i’m an undergrad applying for programs right now and if i do get in, i am SO nervous about prelims. i’m in a grad class and when the prof talked about that step of grad school i actually got so nauseous
2026-09-29 21:21:15
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Kam :
That qualifying exam stress was the worst I’ve ever experienced in my life 😓😣
2026-09-29 23:02:41
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