Applying to be a senior thesis student
Doing a senior thesis is a serious commitment. You’re taking responsibility for a project of your own, and so it’s very important to have done the preparation needed to ensure you are ready for this. In addition, Smith College requires that you complete a detailed proposal before you can get authorization to do a thesis. Here are the steps (you can also find them outlined in detail on Smith’s website).
1. Calculate your GPA
Write to [email protected] to request the form for calculation of your GPA. In this email you need to include your ID number and your major--they will email you a form and you should use it to calculate your GPA and then send it to Casey.
2. Read some papers and decide what you want to work on
You don't have to have a really clear idea at this point, but Casey can send you a few things to read, you can tell her which seem most interesting to you, and she can send you more in that area. Part of the thesis includes reading a lot of the literature, and it’s important to start that process early to help you figure out the right project for you and also get you ahead on the work. You should take notes on the papers as you will need to refer to them when writing your thesis, and it's no fun trying to remember which paper had which equation in it four months after you read it.
This will be a sort of conversation back and forth between you and Casey and will help you narrow down an idea for you to work on, based on what you're interested in, what you want to learn, and what skills you already have that you'd like to apply.
3. Draft a project proposal
Note: this is due the first week of the semester!
Once you and Casey have together determined both the topic and the scope of your project, you will need to draft a proposal (Casey will help you with this, but you must do the drafting, as this process is really important to learning how to be a researcher). This proposal needs to contain the following (according to this page):
- a signed application as a cover sheet
- a 500-1000 word description of the topic
- an explanation of the specific issue you will discuss or investigate
- an explanation of your approach and evidence of your experience with this approach
- an account of your relevant preparation and skills (you can use previous coursework, previous research experience, internship work, etc here)
- a bibliography (this will include what you read over the summer and more books and papers that will be added for you to read during the year)
- a copy of the completed and signed calculation of GPA requirements form
The department will meet to vote on your proposal shortly after this.
4. Submit a certification letter
Once your proposal is done and approved, all that’s left are the logistical details. You have to submit an Honors Certification letter to certify that you haven’t been sanctioned by the Honor Board for a serious violation in your sophomore, junior or senior year. You can find more details about this on Smith’s website, where you will also find the letter and instructions on how to submit it.
Once you are a senior thesis student
1. Enroll in senior thesis credit
Once you’ve been approved to do a senior thesis, you must enroll in senior thesis credit.
2. Attend the weekly group meetings
If you are doing a senior thesis, then you are a leader in the group. You are a senior student, and you’re modeling to the students who are just beginning. You need to participate fully in the group, including mentoring and supporting the less experienced students.
3. Set up a regular meeting with Casey
In addition, you must set a regular meeting with Casey once every two weeks. In that meeting, you will create (or update) a plan and timeline for completing the thesis, troubleshoot the results, discuss the writing process, etc. These meetings are for you, both to help keep you on track and accountable, but also as an opportunity to dive into questions that we may not have time for in our weekly group meetings.
4. Extenuating circumstances
It is generally possible to back out of a senior thesis if needed (and if you’re not too far along in the process). If you have started on this path and are having doubts, please speak to Casey. There’s no shame in taking a step back if you need it, and together you can work out what is best under the circumstances.
Once you’ve been approved to do a senior thesis, you must enroll in senior thesis credit.
2. Attend the weekly group meetings
If you are doing a senior thesis, then you are a leader in the group. You are a senior student, and you’re modeling to the students who are just beginning. You need to participate fully in the group, including mentoring and supporting the less experienced students.
3. Set up a regular meeting with Casey
In addition, you must set a regular meeting with Casey once every two weeks. In that meeting, you will create (or update) a plan and timeline for completing the thesis, troubleshoot the results, discuss the writing process, etc. These meetings are for you, both to help keep you on track and accountable, but also as an opportunity to dive into questions that we may not have time for in our weekly group meetings.
4. Extenuating circumstances
It is generally possible to back out of a senior thesis if needed (and if you’re not too far along in the process). If you have started on this path and are having doubts, please speak to Casey. There’s no shame in taking a step back if you need it, and together you can work out what is best under the circumstances.
