Sometimes, just when you need it, you get a boost to your professional self-esteem. I got such a boost recently. Practically since I filed my dissertation, I have been conducting searches for it on Digital Dissertations. It was never there. At first I was unconcerned. Even in this digital age, afterall, there will be some time lag between submitting a document and seeing it posted on-line. But as time went on I became slightly worried. What if they lost it? What if they decided not to post it?
Those were exaggerated and irrational thoughts, to be sure. I knew it would just take more time. But I still kept checking. And began to experience some species of "buyer's remorse" as I saw the cool-sounding dissertation topics of some other dissertators with portions and combinations of my name. ("The molecular genetics of autosomal dominant hypocalcemia" by Yvette Perry Conley PhD--coooool!)
But then--FINALLY! My dissertation is now posted!
If you so desire, you can download a 24-page preview. If your library subscribes, you can even download the whole kit and caboodle for free!
I now fully feel like a legitimate author of an actual dissertation: it is not just my committee and my family members who can read it, but the whole wide world. I can now continue forth into the world of academia with knowledge of my full documentation as a PhD.
Posted by perry032 at May 9, 2007 12:31 PM