5 Common Dissertation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - by Dr. Lucy Wells-Johnson

Completing a dissertation is one of the most challenging milestones in your academic journey. It requires months (or even years) of research, writing, and revising all while balancing work, family, and personal responsibilities. Unfortunately, many students make avoidable mistakes that slow down progress, increase stress, and jeopardize their chances of graduating on time.

At Doctorate Done Right, we’ve guided countless graduate students from “stuck” to “successfully defended.” Here are five common dissertation mistakes and how you can avoid them.

1. Choosing a Topic That’s Too Broad

The Mistake: Selecting a research topic that’s too wide in scope, making it nearly impossible to finish within your timeframe.

How to Avoid It: Narrow your focus to a specific problem, population, or timeframe. Your topic should be manageable, relevant to your field, and supported by available research.

2. Skipping the Planning Stage

The Mistake: Diving straight into writing without a clear outline or research plan.

How to Avoid It: Create a detailed roadmap with deadlines for each chapter. Break your work into smaller, achievable milestones so you can track progress and adjust as needed.

3. Neglecting Advisor Communication

The Mistake: Working in isolation and only sending drafts when you think they’re “perfect.”

How to Avoid It: Maintain consistent communication with your advisor or committee. Regular feedback will save you from major rewrites later and keep you aligned with program expectations.

4. Overlooking Formatting and Guidelines

The Mistake: Ignoring your institution’s formatting requirements until the very end.

How to Avoid It: Review your school’s dissertation manual early and format as you go. This prevents time-consuming corrections right before submission.

5. Underestimating the Defense

The Mistake: Assuming your written dissertation will “speak for itself” during the defense.

How to Avoid It: Practice answering potential questions, refine your presentation slides, and seek mock defense feedback from peers or a coach. Preparation builds confidence and credibility.

Closing Call-to-Action:

Avoiding these common pitfalls can save you months of frustration and bring you closer to hearing the words, “Congratulations, Doctor.”

If you’re ready for personalized guidance, a proven completion roadmap, and high-touch accountability, Doctorate Done Right can help you finish faster, stress less, and defend with confidence.

Book Your Strategy Session and take the next step toward graduation.