The graduate school guide: How to prepare for the qualifying exam and assemble a thesis/graduate committee

Crystal D Rogers; Annet Kirabo; Melanie McReynolds; Mariya T Sweetwyne; Celestine Wanjalla; Jazmine Benjamin; Edith M Williams; Jennifer A Gaddy; Clintoria R Williams; Steven M Damo; Sandra A Murray; Antentor Hinton Jr

doi:10.1002/jcp.31258

The graduate school guide: How to prepare for the qualifying exam and assemble a thesis/graduate committee

J Cell Physiol. 2024 Apr 9. doi: 10.1002/jcp.31258. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, State College, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁴ Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
⁶ Department of Public Health Sciences (SMD), University of Rochester, New York, Rochester, USA.
⁷ Department of Medicine Health and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
⁸ Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
⁹ Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare Systems, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
¹¹ Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
¹² Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
¹³ Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

PMID: 38595027
DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31258

Abstract

Qualifying exams and thesis committees are crucial components of a PhD candidate's journey. However, many candidates have trouble navigating these milestones and knowing what to expect. This article provides advice on meeting the requirements of the qualifying exam, understanding its format and components, choosing effective preparation strategies, retaking the qualifying exam, if necessary, and selecting a thesis committee, all while maintaining one's mental health. This comprehensive guide addresses components of the graduate school process that are often neglected.

Keywords: STEMM; dissertation; graduate school; mental health; qualifying exam.

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