Should I be more ambitious?

8 replies

saagaloha · 04/06/2018 23:36

(name changed)

Hi, I received an email last week saying that my supervisor thinks my undergrad dissertation is really good and would I consider writing it as a research paper in order for it to be published in a journal. I'm beyond relieved that I didn't cock up the thesis and my degree in general.

But the only thing is that I HATED the writing/research process, I have so many negative associations and memories with this thesis that I swore to myself I would never read another sentence on the topic I investigated. When I discussed this with my husband he was almost appalled by the fact that I was not interested in taking up this opportunity. Do you think it's worth the effort especially given how traumatizing I've found the whole thing (I know I'm being dramatic but I can't overstate how much a toll it has taken on me)? Is there really that much to be gained?

OP posts:

mimibunz · 04/06/2018 23:40

It’s great that your supervisor is so impressed with your research and writing. My only question would be whether the subject is their specialty? Published research papers usually have more than one writer. Would you be first or last named, or somewhere in the middle? And would your supervisor get any credit?

LighthouseSouth · 05/06/2018 01:18

Is it just for the prestige? I wouldn't go through all that again just for that. I know it means a lot to some people but it sounds like you hated it, so I'm going with no.

Monty27 · 05/06/2018 01:42

I have found it very hard to work in a field I find tedious.
It is a compliment but it could mean people will try to collaborate with your ideas. Maybe the thing to do is attach a caveat to its publication in so far as its a one off.
Well done you though

MmeButtox · 05/06/2018 06:55

What do you mean by a caveat, @monty27 ?

VogueVVague · 05/06/2018 07:04

I think you should do it.

Who knows where it might lead?

And you wont havr the same pressure.

rollingonariver · 05/06/2018 07:25

I'd do it you've already done the hard bit!

LighthouseSouth · 05/06/2018 10:17

"Who knows where it might lead"

well that's the missing info from the OP. If she has no career interest relative to this paper, then it's a total waste of time.

but then if she had a linked interest, I'm thinking she would have said so.

one thing I've learned over a long and boring career - don't do anything that doesn't have a tangible immediate result - usually pay!

Monty27 · 06/06/2018 02:46

OP the caveat that it's one off so that you don't get hounded to deliver other stuff in a field you don't enjoy

Flip