Oral Exam Experience
Oral exams were the scariest part of the PhD process for me. How did I prepare? 1- Discussion-heavy lunchtime with colleagues 2- Standing in front of hundreds, singing into a microphone. Daily Discussions I had lunch with Dr. Jim Hickey and Dr. Mike Vincent nearly every day. They helped me to feel more prepared for my comprehensive exams. I asked them to quiz me, debate with me and help me prep. They loved that kind of challenge. I asked Dr. Hickey specifically because he had made me cry when I took a class from him before. Because he was the scariest and most skeptical person I could think of. And I needed to face that fear daily. You see, the first time I tried doing my comprehensive exams I went mute. It felt like stagefright. Being in a closed room with a handful of critical older men was terrifying for me. Everything I knew went out of my mind and I couldn't function. Even the most basic questions - asked in a kind manner - made me shut down. They sent me ou...
