Expectations for Candidacy Exam

Timing (assuming summer semester exam)

Early spring semester (or one semester before your exam)

• Review candidacy information – PGSC, department webpage

• Discuss your candidacy timing with Zeke.

• Reach out to potential committee members.

  • Pay special attention to the narrowest committee pools, often CMT. Doing this later may be fine but it is much easier before professors are booked up for the summer.

• Middle/End of spring semester (ideally):

  • Finalize committee members and oral exam date.

1-2 weeks before candidacy starts:

• Finalize oral exam day and time, this informs the paper timeline as well.

  • Pay attention to ends of semester and various university deadlines.

  • This bullet may need to be completed earlier based on availability

• Fill out Candidacy form (ASAP once oral exam date is determined)

  • Student is responsible for submitting the "Application for Candidacy" form online via gradforms.osu.edu at least two weeks (10 business days, ideally 12 to allow for approvals) prior to oral exam date. Missing this deadline forces you to reschedule your oral exam.

• Send Zeke regular reminders over slack or email about the upcoming date of the start of your candidacy exam. This helps ensure he has had ample time to prepare your topic and confirm it with the rest of your committee. 

First day of exam

• Expect your topic by 5pm.

1-2 weeks into the exam

•  Narrow the scope of your topic, begin drafting your paper.

  • Iterate w/ Zeke on your outline

3 weeks into the exam

• Students are responsible for submitting the "Application for Candidacy" form online via gradforms.osu.edu at least two weeks (10 business days, ideally 12, to allow for approvals) prior to oral exam date.

  • Missing this deadline forces you to reschedule your oral exam.

3-4 weeks after start.

• Iterate drafts or at minimum paper outlines of written exam with Zeke.

4-5 weeks after start

• Written exam due (typically due 5 weeks into the exam in the JH group)

•  Schedule practice oral exam with JH graduate students and friends.

6 weeks into the exam

• Day of oral exam. Good luck and have fun!

After the exam

• In the unfortunate case where you do not immediately pass your exam, you may be asked to rewrite portions of your paper or have an additional meeting with your committee. This will be determined on a case by case basis by your committee. 

What can you expect from Zeke?

•  He is available as a resource to answer some procedural and departmental questions or to direct you to another source. 

• You can schedule meetings with Zeke about progress and procedural questions. He encourages you to use your committee for further scientific discussions. Discussions with other graduate students (JH group and beyond) are also encouraged. 

•  He will provide high level edits on an outline or draft of your paper or presentation. Assume 1–3-day turn-around for each round of edits. 

• If you are unsure if Zeke is allowed to answer your question or give feedback on a specific portion of your exam, bring the question to Zeke and allow him to mediate the feedback he is willing or able to give. 

What is expected of you?

• You are expected to manage your own committee, timeline, and paperwork independently.

  •  Don’t forget a room reservation for your oral exam.

• You are expected to seek out the information, support and resources to get the most of the candidacy exam experience. This is a great opportunity to find mentors beyond Zeke, both in the JH group and outside of it.