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Waiting to Get Your Dissertation Accepted?
Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 02:37 am
As much as your dissertation may have been a battle, and as much as members of your committee may have seemed unreasonable at times, their ultimate goal was to help you be a better researcher and finish your degree. They were your allies. So when you do finish, a strong thank you is important.
You may even dislike members of your committee, but remember that after you finish your dissertation, your committee members don’t just disappear. You will be working in a related field to them and having a good relationship with them may be important for your career later on. For example…
- You may need a recommendation from them
- They may be able to introduce you to potential data sources for research
- They may know people that ask them about you
- You may do joint research with some of them in the future
Or, maybe you’ve received a ton of support from your committee members and feel nothing but gratitude for how they’ve guided you. In that case, all the more reason to express your gratitude!
Either way, an academic field is a small world. Maintaining good relationships with members of the field is important for your career. And saying “thank you” is just good manners, after all.
Here’s how to write a thank-you note to dissertation committee members who’ve helped you along the way.
Thank Them in the Acknowledgments Section
It’s important to include a thank you note for your dissertation committee members in the acknowledgments section of your dissertation. It doesn’t have to be very long–one or two sentences is enough. It’s vital to do this because it’s expected, and not doing so may seem like an intentional snub.
Get Your Dissertation Accepted On Your Next Submission
Thank Your Committee Members Personally
It’s also kind to thank your committee members personally as well. Even the person who’s been hardest on you has helped you get to where you are. A personal thank-you often feels more genuine, personal, and real than what can be communicated by written words. Even if it’s as simple as looking them in the eye, shaking their hand, and saying “thank you for everything,” it matters.
Write a Thank You Note for Dissertation Committee Members
Even if you’ve already done everything above, it’s best to write a separate thank you note for your dissertation committee members as well. There are a couple of reasons to send an additional thank you note. First, they may never look at the acknowledgments section of your dissertation. And secondly, it shows that you went just a little above and beyond.
With handwriting being what it is today, I’d say it’s acceptable to write it on a computer. Print it out, sign it, and deliver it (slide it under their door, put it in their mailbox, mail it to them).
Tips for Writing a Thank You Note for Your Dissertation Committee
Be specific. Show them that you paid attention by thanking them for the specific roles that they played and the specific ways that they helped you get to the end. Saying something like, “thank you for being on my committee, without you I would have had to have somebody else on my committee,” isn’t going to endear you to them.
Address them properly. Even though you’re technically a doctor now too, still say, “Thank you Dr. ___” Unless they’ve explicitly asked you to call them by their first name, default to calling them “doctor” until they tell you otherwise.
Be genuine. It’s important not to have your letter sound like a form letter. While it should still be professional, it shouldn’t be sanitized of any personal touch. If you have funny memories of your time working with them, it would be appropriate to recount these with a tone of appreciation.
Example Thank You Note for Dissertation Committee
Example 1
Dear Dr. ___,
Saying thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough now that you’ve helped me complete this journey. You were an integral part of me being able to make it to the end.
Without the help that you gave me in developing my methodology and the emotional support you gave me, I wouldn’t have made it.
I hope that I can “pay forward” what you’ve done for me by helping other people. I will use your selfless support as a model as I move forward.
Best wishes,
Name
Example 2
Dear Dr. ____
I’m writing to offer my deepest gratitude for the guidance you provided me as part of my dissertation committee. From the time I took your History of Education in the Progressive Era course, I knew you would be the one to help me sort out my thinking on my topic. Your suggestions brought in threads of thought that made my research so much richer, and my dissertation something I can be proud of having written. You’ve also inspired me with your own body of research and the gift of helping me visualize a similar trajectory for myself. I feel confident that I can succeed, standing on your shoulders.
I look forward to working with you again in the future, as our research interests will undoubtedly invite future collaboration. No doubt, we’ll be at the same conferences year after year! May you continue to inspire and enrich your students. I will miss being among them!
With Deepest Gratitude,
Me
Final Thoughts
Now that you have your degree and are moving into the world of an academic career, you will be met with a host of new challenges. If you’re looking for someone who knows the territory, feel free to take a look at my Academic Career Coaching services and reach out for a free 30-minute consultation.
