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I know the feeling
Ladies...
I just completed my doctoral program in May of this year (took 4 years) and my degree will be conferred in 2 weeks. My last year was spent correcting the dissretation and it was done long distance in a new job, that I recently left. Long story behind that. As a 30 year old female with all my degrees and education behind me, I wish you all the best of luck and the best of wisdom. The road to a Ph.D. is truly not for the weak or unsure and it can be HELLISH (pardon the "french"). But the true intellectual and professional rewards are plentiful.
My solid gems of advice are as follows:
1) make sure this is what you want to do
2) enjoy the time. It will never come to you like this or in this way ever again
3) STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!
4) never leave your campus ABD! Because you will probably stay ABD. Try to get a close to your defense and submission of your final product as possible. (when I left, I had a successful defense and was left with corrections to make).
5) create a positive, stress free place in your life. remove all negative people, thoughts, and habits
6) connect with a mentor in your department or somewhere on campus
7) get involved in extrcirrcular activities
8) get to know people at the Grad School, they will help you out in more ways than you could ever realize
9) always carry $5.00 in change for the copier. You never know where you will come across an article that relates to your research
10) don't gain weight. I gained 30 lbs. during my 4 years of grad school and I am struggling to lose it now.
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