What is a Comp (Comprehensive) Exam?

[@sushantnaidu7596]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make such a detailed video. I loved all the examples you gave. I’d never heard about having a citation list; that was great to hear about. Also, your pronunciation of my name was perfect!

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@adnaninbox]

Thanks mam. Thats really helpful as I am up for PhD Comp. This is great video.

[@adnaninbox]

Cleared ❤🎉

[@DoctorFashion]

Thank you for this great informative video

[@ProductofGodmercy]

Thank you for explaining this better.. Bless you ❤

[@bignose3639]

Thank you

[@tevinheath3997]

Hi Dr.Maiden, a video that I believe would be very helpful for incoming graduate students in either Ph.D. or Master's specifically in Political Science or Public Administration are "Apps that every incoming Master's/Ph.D. Student should know/use to save time." I bring this up, for example, I would love to hear your thoughts on the comparison between the following (from a professor who would know more about the experience in Graduate school): 1. Reference Managers (Zotero, Mendeley etc..) - although you did address it in this video 2. Documents apps (Word, Evernote, etc...) 3. PRESENTATION apps (Keynote vs PowerPoint) 4. Editing Softwares!!!!!

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

There are all great content ideas! I'll try to think of ways to tackle some of these for you! It could actually make for a good collaboration video with some of my colleagues as we discuss what does and doesn't work for us!

[@brooketaylor902]

Hi, Dr. Maiden! Thank you for providing some much-needed info on the ends and outs of pursing a doctoral degree. This video was insightful and enlightening for me as a doctoral student in Texas. This past spring semester, I completed my first year as a doctoral student at Texas Southern University. Currently, I am studying Educational Administration in their Ed.D. program. As I continue into my second year, I grow inquisitive about what the latter part of my program will consist of. I understand that the comprehensive exam is administered towards the end of one’s degree plan. Does a student have the ability to solely prepare for the exam for an entire semester without being enrolled in other courses or does the student need to prepare for the exam while simultaneously studying other courses? Although HEIs may vary in their procedures, what was this process like for you? Thank you!

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

Hmm, this really depends on your program. I would look/ask around to see if anyone takes a whole semester to prep for their exam. In my case, the best way forward was to take the foundation class in comparative politics and then immediately take the exam. So I took the class in the fall and took my exam immediately that December. It may be that in your program people take prep time, but if you've got a class that will be designed to help you prepare, it could be worth it to time your exam to follow that class! Best of luck to you!

[@Life0fTech]

Hi Dr. Maiden! Huge thanks for all of these detailed videos. I'm a graduating senior looking to further my studies in American Government/Constitutional Studies at the Masters level, and was wondering if you might have some insight that you could share - what are some things I should be looking for when searching for Masters programs? How important is the GRE/prior work & internship experience? What advice could you lend about the application process? Should I reach out to individual faculty to gauge more depth of specific programs? Again, a huge thank you, and figured I would just ask since you're so knowledgeable about Political Science at the graduate level!

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

There's a lot of content to unpack here so I started with your first question about MA programs. New video is posted: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imjHeKWwZ954apI I'll get to more content themed on these questions as I'm able!

[@ayeishagreen1196]

Hey Emily, I came across your channel as I was trying to understand more about the comp exam. I am currently in a scholarship in the U.K. undergoing my phd, however I have been given an offer to move to the states and begin a 4 year phd scholarship. As I’m a year into my 3 year phd in London I’m trying to weigh up the pros and cons. I wondered if I could ask your opinion on brits with British phds getting jobs in the states and if it’s a likely scenario? I’d love to live and work in the states one day however I’m not sure if I’d like to start my phd from scratch, especially in a system I’m not so familiar with. Thanks in advance, Ayeisha (:

[@Attenoj]

My comp exam is due in 8 days. I'm so nervous!😭

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

Best of luck to you!!

[@SanDra-zr9he]

My school made me watch this, but I got totally distracted by the books on her shelf because I am one of those people who also own Patrick Rothfuss books... and we have waited in vain for the third volume 😭. I am also going to read Children of Blood and Bone and Circe .... wait, no, I need to prepare for my comprehensive exam

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

Bahaha, this was a pandemic era video so I was stuck in my home office. In my other life I'm a writer. I'm sorry I caused you pain with this shelf distraction. Also, can I ask what school you're at that this was a required video??

[@vipinchaudhary_12]

want to persue phd in political science could you please guide me. I am from India and i am in first year of my masters in political science the syllabus is almost same.

[@readingmode5342]

low pass! I knew I felt akin to you.

[@abhishek_raj]

We have this system in our institute- IIT Madras, India where the written part gets waived if you have a GPA greater than 8.5 out of 10. I have my oral part on 19th, could you give any suggestions to boost my preparation for the viva ?

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

So sorry, this slipped through the cracks! I hope you did well on your orals!

[@letimonreal9942]

Hi, I just failed my comp exam. I get a second chance to take it and pass. Do you have any advice?

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

First, I am so sorry that happened to you. Failing is never fun. Not ever. But you can recover! My main piece of advice is: Talk to your faculty!!! You need to understand in no uncertain terms WHY you failed the first time. Was it one question, was it weaknesses across all the questions? What advice can they give to help you try again? Do NOT sit around wondering why you failed. Ask questions, get answers. I would also think about HOW you took the test the first time and think about ways you can improve your test-taking strategy. Did you have your resources organized in a helpful way? Did you have a strong enough citation list that was easy to use? Were you wasting time looking things up, which weakened the time you had to edit your essay? Did you forget little things like, ya know, food? Food is brain fuel! Make sure you have a collection of various kinds of healthy, high energy snacks. For a major test like that, I think it's imortant to stay hydrated and to eat frequent snacks. Pair a carb with a protein for the best boost. You can have it be something you can snack on as you write rather than stopping to make food. Prep it that morning or the night before. I had trays of almonds, grapes, cheese sticks, etc ready and waiting. Without knowing more about how/why you failed, that's as specific as I can get, but talk to your faculty ASAP and definitely think reflectively about your testing strategy and how to improve it!

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

@@letimonreal9942 This happens more than you think actually. I know you're going to give yourself time to feel down/angry. Let yourself feel that. Have a cry, eat some ice cream, watch all your favorite rom-coms, and then get back to work! Comp exams are terrible. No way around it. I almost failed mine. I was pregnant at the time, suffering from sickness, feeling confused and tired, etc. We can think of strategies to have as much of your surroundings prepped and ready for you to have your best foot forward when you take it again! Are you a poli sci grad student?

[@letimonreal9942]

Dr. Emily Maiden really? I feel like all I’ve heard is that people don’t usually fail their comp. I am a criminal justice and criminology grad student.

[@DrEmilyMaiden]

@@letimonreal9942 I know mutiple people who failed their first time. I know even more who failed part but not a whole! I was told flat out one of my answers was a failing answer by one reviewer but the rest of the comp was strong enough to carry me through!

[@letimonreal9942]

Dr. Emily Maiden hi I spoke with the director and figured out where I went wrong. Part of me doesn’t feel like it was fair to fail me. I’m not sure if this would be weird but i would love to tell you everything if you would want to meet on zoom one day!

[@donharris8846]

Now I feel very unprepared 😳