Last year, I decided to take on the task of completing a senior thesis in my department. I figured it'd be a good experience— something to put on my CV and maybe get my foot in the door somewhere. I've done plenty of research projects in classes, so this would be a piece of cake, right?
Wrong.
As I'm finishing up my 50-page draft—single space, of course—I've been reflecting on this journey of academic discovery. It has been a roller coaster, to say the least. Here are 9 ways writing a thesis will absolutely destroy you—and 10 ways it'll build you back up.
1. You'll feel like you've read a thousand pages of background work before you even get started.
Sometimes, you actually have.
2. Despite binders and binders of notes and articles, you *still* feel like you know nothing.
3. If you're collecting data for your project, the process will be a lot longer and more tedious than you planned.
Bank on giving yourself more time, and be thorough the first time around!
4. Meetings with professors about the project are enough to keep you up for days.
5. Speaking of being up for days, you've probably spent several sleepless nights pining away over data and research that starts to blend together after 3 AM.
6. Coming up with ~new~ information is harder than you think.
Sure, I've written plenty of research papers in my academic career— but never one where I had to come up with a brand new idea.
7. When you *finally* sit down to write about your findings, you'll suddenly forget how to write.
Writer's Block always manages to hit at the worst possible time. I have a deadline to meet!
8. The thought of defending your project in front of other people makes your stomach turn.
I know I've spent the past year working on this, but am I really a master of this information?? I don't think so!
9. You both crave and dread any shred of feedback.
Please tell me how I can do better, but also be nice because this is my baby and I will cry about anything you say.
But as nerve-wracking as it is, there are some upsides to writing a thesis.
1. Your friends and family think you're wicked smart whenever you bring up the project.
2. It *does* look great on a CV.
3. You might even be able to get it published!
4. You get to spend your time researching something that (hopefully) really interests you.
My project has been super eye-opening, and has even helped me narrow down what I want to study in grad school!
5. You'll make a lot of friends who are also going through the process.
Misery loves company, am I right?
6. As time-consuming as it is, you'll learn how to manage your time effectively.
7. You might finally learn you can't procrastinate *everything* until the last minute.
Or, if you're like me, you'll keep procrastinating and then cry at 4 AM when you're still up late, typing away to meet your deadline, swearing over and over that you will never do this again—but then you do it again the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that... don't be like me, guys.
8. Not many people can say they wrote a 40+ page thesis as an undergrad.
Can you say, bragging rights?
