Insights and Strategies: the PhD Reclassification/Qualification Exam Panel

The transition to a PhD program often involves a reclassification or qualification exam, which assesses a student's readiness and suitability for advancing their academic journey. Recently, a panel of PhD candidates—Amalia, Shanza, and Ryan—shared their experiences and advice on navigating this challenging phase. Their insights provide valuable guidance for prospective PhD candidates in our department.

This panel was organized through a joint effort by Jocelyn Nurtanto, the GSA's VP Internal, and Kyle Turner, the Learning Strategist. One of the main motivations behind these new GSA reclassification support initiatives is feedback from students in previous years. We want to emphasize that your feedback is important to us, and we are committed to enhancing your graduate school experience by incorporating your opinions and ideas.

In this article, we provide a summary of discussions by our panellists:

Exam Preparation Experience

The panellists compared their experience to regular committee meetings, noting similarities in format but a slower pace and more comprehensive questioning during the qualification/reclass exam. Amalia highlighted the usefulness of having a Designated Examiner as an external observer in pre-exam, while Ryan pointed out the value of the exam preparation in reaffirming his decision to pursue a PhD.

Studying for the Exam

All panelists agreed on the importance of dedicating significant time to study, with Shanza emphasizing the necessity to grasp the broader context of their research beyond daily experiments. Ryan shared his strategy of balancing research and study over an extended period rather than taking a complete pause from lab work.

Proposal Writing Tips

Writing a strong proposal is pivotal. Ryan advised simplifying complex ideas to make them accessible to those outside one's field. Amalia emphasized the importance of justifying why the research should be pursued at the PhD level rather than as a Master’s project. Shanza recommended consulting with senior students and having drafts reviewed by peers and postdocs.

Reading and Research Focus

The panellists shared different approaches to beginning their literature review, from starting with the most recent reviews to organizing readings around key terms mentioned in the proposal. Effective use of reference management tools like Mendeley and PaperPile was also discussed as essential for managing a large number of sources.

Handling the Examination

When facing the examination panel, Amalia recommended not relying on a scripted presentation, while Shanza stressed the importance of adhering to time limits and slide counts. Both highlighted the need to prepare for basic and complex questions alike, using supplementary slides for detailed explanations.