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Updated by Chris Glass on Aug 25, 2014

Tips & Strategies for Success on the Comprehensive Exam

Listly by Chris Glass

A list of tips and strategies for comps created by students for students.

1

Keep a running list of trends and issues that keep coming up in the program.

Keep a running list of trends and issues that keep coming up in the program.

Put together a folder with relevant articles you find and pre-formatted references.

2

Plan to focus on nothing else for the weekend.

Plan to focus on nothing else for the weekend.

I took two days off work and focused only on the exam.

3

Play devil's advocate with your written comps.

Play devil's advocate with your written comps.

Write out all the questions you would ask if you wanted to poke holes in it.

13

Enjoy the journey of revealing how much you have learned.

Enjoy the journey of revealing how much you have learned.

14

Read over your comps after completing them.

Read over your comps after completing them.

17

Oral defense is about justifying the written product – Ph.D. only

Oral defense is about justifying the written product – Ph.D. only

18

Keep your mind in tune with what you wrote as you prepare for the oral defense – Ph.D. Only

Keep your mind in tune with what you wrote as you prepare for the oral defense – Ph.D. Only

Weeks will pass between written submission and oral defense; therefore, it is imperative that you keep your mind in tune with what you wrote. Try your best not to complete written comps and forget about it until right before your defense.

4

Stay organized from the start of your program.

Stay organized from the start of your program.

Journal articles, especially, should be organized for ease of access whether it be electronically or paper.

5

Create a strategy for how to utilize the time you are allotted, and be sure to include time to exercise and/or breaks.

Create a strategy for how to utilize the time you are allotted, and be sure to include time to exercise and/or breaks.

6

Explain the process to those in your immediate environment and solicit their support.

Explain the process to those in your immediate environment and solicit their support.

7

Create a space that has all of your materials in easy reach, and all the essentials you need to write in a way that i...

Create a space that has all of your materials in easy reach, and all the essentials you need to write in a way that i...

8

Pace yourself steadily.

Pace yourself steadily.

9

Read and reread what the questions are asking.

Read and reread what the questions are asking.

10

Generate an outline.

Generate an outline.

11

Select a topic that you are very familiar with.

Select a topic that you are very familiar with.

12

Take breaks periodically.

Take breaks periodically.

15

Ask family members to respect that time and take time off from work.

Ask family members to respect that time and take time off from work.

16

Isolate to max degree on that weekend.

Isolate to max degree on that weekend.