The Grad Students' Essential Timeline

I have to admit, when I was a PhD student, I created a timeline for myself ...and didn't stick to it.  Well, not exactly.  You see, I did have an idea of when I wanted to start my PhD program and when I wanted to finish, but as with most plans that are implemented, life gets in way.  That happened with me and, if you are pursuing a PhD, I think it will happen to you.  However, it's at least a good idea to have a tentative schedule for your PhD.  And that's what I did.  I finished my PhD a year later than I expected, but in the end, I turned out fine.  So, fellow grad students, please do not be dismayed.  Plan, plan, plan, and make adjustments where necessary.  Below is a proposed timeline for those who want to finish within 5-6 years. For those who want to finish earlier, feel free to combine semesters.

1st semester

• Take 3 or more classes required by your program.
• Create a calendar, writing down your temporary milestones (e.g. when you want to create your proposal, defend, graduate, etc...).  Use this timeline as a reference.
• Start a journal or blog.  Write down key topics that interest you off the top of your head (e.g. augmented reality in education, students in Hawaiian charter schools, etc...)
• Post any and all papers you had to write in your classes to your blog or into a single folder on your computer.

2nd semester

• Take 3 or more classes required by your program. 
• Continue to write down key topics that interest you off the top of your head (e.g. augmented reality in education, students in Hawaiian charter schools, etc...) in your journal or blog.
• Post any and all papers you had to write in your classes to your blog or into a single folder on your computer.
• Update your calendar when necessary.

3rd semester

• Take 2 or more classes required by your program. 
• Find your college's dissertation database online (usually within the library pages on your college's website).  
• Find dissertations that are similar to the topics that interest you.  
• Bookmark or download these dissertations into one place.
• Start thinking about which professors you want for your committee.

4th semester

• Take 2 or more classes required by your program. 
• Pick one of the dissertations that appeals to you and write a summary of that dissertation (hint: read the abstract, and chapters 1 & 5 of the dissertation).
• Alter the summary and incorporate the participants you want to study.  For example, a dissertation studying female students' performance in math the Seattle public school system could be changed to studying female students' performance in math in the Portland public school system.  Make any other changes you feel necessary (data collection tools, etc...).
• Ask your chosen professors to be on your committee. 

5th semester

• Take 2 or more classes required by your program. 
• Compose your dissertation prospectus (if applicable).  Base it on the summary you created last semester.
• Have 1-2 of your advisers review your prospectus before submitting it to your committee.
• Defend your prospectus sometime within the semester (if applicable).
•  

6th semester

• Take 2 or more classes required by your program. 
• Start composing Chapters 1-3 of your proposal.  Base it off your prospectus and other similar dissertations (use sources from those dissertations to construct your dissertation).
• Have your proposal reviewed by peers and committee members.  Make revisions by the end of the semester or over the summer.

7th semester

•  Take 2 or more classes required by your program (if still applicable). 
• Defend proposal.  
• Turn in Human Subjects forms.
• Start searching for study participants after approval from Human Subjects committee.
•  

8th semester

• Register for the 1 dissertation credit (if required).
• Gather data.
• Start coding.

9th semester

• Register for the 1 dissertation credit (if required).
• Write out Chapters 4-5.
• Get feedback and make revisions.

10th semester

• Register for the 1 dissertation credit (if required).
• Defend dissertation.
• Go to your graduate division's website and make sure you have completed and submitted all the necessary paperwork to graduate and participate in commencement.
• Graduate

Now in my timeline, I recommend choosing a study that interests you and then replacing it with your own participant types.  Some may balk at this for being "UN-original."  However, when I was grad student, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I needed to have structure and guidance.  In my opinion, there are so many factors and so many concepts that grad students have to take into consideration and remember, that it is practically impossible for them to compose a study that is completely original and unique to their particular field. 

 Most graduate students are new to the game.  In order to break the rules, you have to know the rules first, right?  Therefore, using another study as the basis for your own study is fine.  The only difference I would recommend, of course, is to change the participants.  Therefore, your methods are already backed up and you already have a list of sources to use.