The senior thesis can be a daunting project for incoming students, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Having two months of my senior year under my belt, I have compiled my top tips for getting started on the senior thesis!
- Pick a topic you’re interested in. This may sound obvious, but it’s important to remember that the thesis is a yearlong project. You will want to make sure you find a topic that will keep you engaged for months.
- Be proactive about meeting with your advisor! Advisor meetings are a good opportunity to set deadlines for yourself. I find that I work better under a schedule.
- Get started early. Things only become more busy as the school year progresses. Get a head start while your class work is lighter—it will go a long way.
- Discuss your ideas with others. I usually find that it is helpful to workshop my ideas with friends when I get stuck. Talking through your thesis aloud will help you with your writing in the future.
- Take it day by day. While the thesis is a large project, you have a lot of time to complete it. If you focus on setting little goals for yourself, you can avoid getting overwhelmed by the big picture.
- Give yourself mental breaks. Sometimes it's easy to work yourself into a rut. Especially in the early stages, I have found it to be super helpful to take a week or two off. The mental breaks allow me to come back to the thesis refreshed with new perspectives.
- Find your writing groove. Work wherever you are most comfortable. Sometimes, if the weather is nice, I feel extra inspired to work on my thesis outdoors. Positive settings significantly contribute to the quality of your written materials.
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These are just a few pieces of wisdom I have gained from my experience so far! I look forward to seeing how my thesis progresses over the course of the school year.