5 Mistakes That Frustrate Your Dissertation Committee (and How to Avoid Them) - Dr. Lucy Wells-Johnson

Your dissertation committee plays a critical role in your journey to graduation. They review your work, offer feedback, and ultimately decide if you’re ready to defend. But here’s the thing, committees are made up of busy faculty who expect you to meet certain professional standards.

Unfortunately, some doctoral students develop habits that irritate their committee and slow down the entire process. The good news? These mistakes are 100% avoidable.

1. Missing Deadlines Without Communication

Why It’s a Problem: Committee members often plan their review time around the deadlines you’ve given them. When you miss a deadline without warning, it throws off their schedules and may make them less willing to prioritize your work in the future.

How to Avoid It: If you know you can’t meet a deadline, communicate early. Offer a new timeline and stick to it. Respecting their time earns respect in return.

2. Submitting Drafts Without Proofreading

Why It’s a Problem: Your committee’s job is to evaluate the substance of your research, not fix typos or basic formatting errors. Submitting sloppy drafts signals you’re not taking the process seriously.

How to Avoid It: Proofread before you submit. Run spell check, double-check formatting, and ensure your citations are correct. If possible, have a peer or coach review it first.

3. Ignoring Feedback or Repeating the Same Mistakes

Why It’s a Problem: Nothing frustrates a committee more than giving you detailed feedback, only to see the same issues in your next draft. It suggests you’re not applying what you’ve learned.

How to Avoid It: Create a feedback checklist for each round of revisions. Address each comment, and if you disagree with a suggestion, be prepared to explain why in scholarly terms.

4. Expecting the Committee to Teach Basic Skills

Why It’s a Problem: At the doctoral level, you’re expected to have mastered research, academic writing, and citation formats. Asking your committee to walk you through these basics wastes valuable time and undermines your credibility.

How to Avoid It: Use resources: style manuals, writing centers, or a dissertation coach to fill in skill gaps. Save your committee’s time for higher-level discussions.

5. Being Unprepared for Meetings

Why It’s a Problem: Showing up to a meeting without the latest version of your work, a clear agenda, or specific questions makes the meeting unproductive and may leave the impression you’re not committed.

How to Avoid It: Come prepared with an updated draft, a list of discussion points, and clear questions. Respect their time, and they’ll respect yours.

The Bottom Line

Your relationship with your dissertation committee can make or break your progress. By avoiding these five mistakes, you’ll maintain professionalism, earn your committee’s respect, and keep your path to graduation as smooth as possible.

If you need help staying on track, polishing your work, and navigating the dissertation process with confidence, Doctorate Done Right is here for you.

📅 Book Your Free Strategy Session today and take the guesswork out of your journey to “Doctor.”

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