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qual_lore [2017/01/04 18:34] – jwang | qual_lore [2018/06/25 21:47] – jwang | ||
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Remember that the purpose of your qual committee is to advise **you** on **your** research to help you succeed. | Remember that the purpose of your qual committee is to advise **you** on **your** research to help you succeed. | ||
- | It is very useful to talk to each member of your committee 1-2 weeks before the exam. The purpose of these meetings should be to briefly familiarize your committee with your thesis topic and proposal. | + | It is **very useful** to talk to each member of your committee 1-2 weeks before the exam. The purpose of these meetings should be to briefly familiarize your committee with your thesis topic and proposal. |
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+ | As with the prelim, it is important to schedule your Qual way in advance to maximize faculty availability. Typically, allocate three hours of time for your qual. The large majority of quals are shorter ( <= 2 hours), but some Quals have lasted the full three hours. | ||
See the Berkeley Graduate Division Policies website [[http:// | See the Berkeley Graduate Division Policies website [[http:// | ||
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==== Making Your Presentation ==== | ==== Making Your Presentation ==== | ||
- | The structure of the qualifying exam is different from the prelim. | + | The structure of the qualifying exam is different from the prelim. |
Formally (according to UC Berkeley), the qual focuses on 3 subjects related to your research. | Formally (according to UC Berkeley), the qual focuses on 3 subjects related to your research. | ||
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There is also some flexibility in the amount of background you give; in some cases a little more background is appropriate. For my talk, I had two different research projects to talk about. I gave one 5 minute general introduction/ | There is also some flexibility in the amount of background you give; in some cases a little more background is appropriate. For my talk, I had two different research projects to talk about. I gave one 5 minute general introduction/ | ||
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+ | It's a good idea to have a timeline of your thesis plan in your presentation. This typically comes at the end when discussing how all the research you have done/will do fits together into your thesis. You don't need to stick to your timeline after your Qual, but it should be believable. The timeline can be however detailed as you want (e.g., dividing when you are doing data analysis vs writing for a project, or just bunching it all together in a block); it just needs to convey that you have a plan for your thesis. It's a good idea to go over this with your advisor beforehand. | ||
Every person has their own strategy for preparing for the qual. A few things that come to mind for me: | Every person has their own strategy for preparing for the qual. A few things that come to mind for me: | ||
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-Like any talk, don't overcrowd it. Less is more. And if it's in your talk, understand it thoroughly (know how they made that figure!) | -Like any talk, don't overcrowd it. Less is more. And if it's in your talk, understand it thoroughly (know how they made that figure!) | ||
- | -Don't stress about the random questions at the end. Most questions will be related to what you show in your talk, so focus on that. In general, it is more important to understand the general properties and behavior of something than to be able to write down/derive an equation for it (i.e. know that changing A increases/ | + | -Don't stress about the random questions at the end. Most questions will be related to what you show in your talk, so focus on that. In general, it is more important to understand the general properties and behavior of something than to be able to write down/derive an equation for it (i.e. know that changing A increases/ |
- Treat the qual as a chance to take a step back from the nitty gritty work that is research and look at your thesis as a big picture. I found the experience tremendously useful and has given me much more direction for finishing my thesis work. | - Treat the qual as a chance to take a step back from the nitty gritty work that is research and look at your thesis as a big picture. I found the experience tremendously useful and has given me much more direction for finishing my thesis work. | ||
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===== Post-Qual ===== | ===== Post-Qual ===== | ||
- | Relax some more. You must now fill out an " | + | Relax some more. You must now fill out an " |
Note to those on NSF: | Note to those on NSF: | ||
NSF will cover the $90 fee as long as you submit the form during the 5-year fellowship year, whether or not you are "on tenure." | NSF will cover the $90 fee as long as you submit the form during the 5-year fellowship year, whether or not you are "on tenure." |