Studying at Columbia GSAPP is itself an achievement. The university is ranked #2 for architecture and has an admit rate of 6%. Columbia GSAPP provides PhD architecture programs, planning, and preservation. This means that writing a Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation is a true challenge because you are competing with the best. This is where an advisor comes in as a key to a student’s success in the dissertation.
In this article, we will discuss what role an advisor can play in your PhD Dissertation success and why choosing the right one is important. But first, let’s learn what this dissertation actually is.
What Is Columbia GSAPP PhD Dissertation?
It is the PhD dissertation attempted by the students studying in Graduate School of Architecture, Preservation, or Planning (GSAPP) in Columbia. These dissertations usually cover topics like urban planning, cultural architecture, and more.
Because subjects taught in Columbia GSAPP are more of a practical approach, you should also focus on practical learning. If you are focusing on research work and practical learning and looking for someone to help you with your write-ups, then you can avail yourself of services from PhD dissertation writing firms. Now, let’s learn why it is important to get the right advisor for your work.
Why Choosing the Right Advisor Is Key to Success for Columbia GSAPP PhD Dissertation?
If there is one choice which can make or break your PhD career, that’s choosing the thesis advisor for your dissertation. This guide is about informing you the importance of selecting the right advisor and what role he/she can play in your success in dissertation.
So, before you get overwhelmed, let’s start with the main topic:
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Help You Refine the Topic
Topic, the first and foremost part of the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation. If you get it wrong, you will be the eyewitness to your hard work, which is going wasted. Your thesis advisor can play a vital role in refining and fine tuning your topic.
Here are some go-to qualities your advisor can help you determine in a topic to write a dissertation on:
- Researchable
- Feasible
- Fills a gap in the research field
- Relevant
- Interesting
- Falls in the ethical boundaries
- Novel
If the topic does not fulfil any of the above qualities, it might get rejected by the supervisor or dissertation committee. So, while selecting the dissertation advisor, make sure he has the capability and track record to help GSAPP PhD students. You can talk to his past students and ask about the results of their dissertations, plus what they are doing now in their fields.
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Helps Develop a Research Plan
Before you write a dissertation, you do not only need to get your topic and research plan approved, but they also have impacts on your outcomes. A thesis advisor is usually the person who has the portfolio helping hundreds of students get their research plans approved; he can help you, too.
Thesis advisor plays a crucial role in developing a solid research plan according to the requirement of the topic. Choosing the right research methodology between qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods can be tricky sometimes, based on your research requirements. Thesis advisor can help you finalise the right methodology.
Help Deciding the Data Collection Methods
Another thing that’s included in the research plan is deciding the data collection methods. These methods vary according to topic requirements and what kind of information you are seeking. It’s a time-consuming step and can take years of your time, especially if you are not aware of the best practices.
Your advisor can play a key role on this step as well, which has the potential to transform your entire Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation journey.
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Provide Critical Feedback on Your Work
Students often make major mistakes in their dissertations which can lead them going off track of their main topic and goals. As dissertations are the important assignments and your PhD degree depends on them, students always need critical analysis of their work.
Sometimes, there are certain mistakes that the students can ignore, but due to the immense experience of professional advisors, they can catch minor but crucial errors more accurately. Remember, getting feedback is not the key; having someone who is capable and has the authority to give you feedback is the key.
Think of it this way: you get reviews on your work from your mates and your teacher; which will be more important? Of Course, the second one is right. Your advisor will do this for you, provide you with a critical analysis of your writing at every step and help you improve promptly.
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Interdisciplinary Approaches
Interdisciplinary approaches might make you think, what’s that, mate? Columbia GSAPP University specialises in architecture, preservation, and planning studies. Getting an advisor who also specialises in similar subjects for the same institute can give you an advantage over your mates.
If you choose a mentor from the Columbia GSAPP’s faculty of advisors, you can finalise a highly qualified and experienced mentor who can provide you with personalised and specific guidance. Imagine the assistance an advisor can provide you who has not only made hundreds of students succeed in writing dissertations on the same subject as yours.
But make sure, the advisor you choose is not “Prof. Superstar” as he might be short on time and also not willing to put efforts in for you.
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Helps Bringing Innovative Thinking
Suppose you are writing a Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation on your own; you will definitely try to follow a certain track to avoid mistakes. While writing the thesis, you will have a fixed mindset on what to do and what not. But if you have an advisor who is there to help you with each step, anything you do can be reviewed by an expert. You will most probably have a relaxed and creative approach.
Remember, when you are not scared of doing things wrong and their consequences, you can bring innovative thinking and creative approaches to your work. Your writing will be more groomed, and you will be able to add your own essence to the work. If writing a thesis is your problem, you can buy PhD dissertation online from experts.
However, to gain the benefit of innovation, you need to choose an advisor who lets you utilise your creative and innovative thinking to its fullest. Not the one who compels you to follow his frameworks, but rather the one who just advises and corrects you on mistakes.
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Helps Improve Research Quality
An advisor will not let you settle for less. From a literature review to research methods, data collection and data analysis, everything can be top notch if you get help from the best. Remember, the difference in work quality between a beginner and one who has been doing it for years will be immense.
An advisor will help you select the right literature to review and assist you in finding the gaps. He/she will also provide assistance with choosing the right research and data collection methods and drawing conclusions from that data.
All these efforts will improve the quality of research and depth of Columbia GSAPP PhD Dissertations. Your advisor will also review the quality of your writing and presentation of the information and surveys you gathered. This will ensure you did not just research the information well but also presented it in the best possible way.
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Increases Self Confidence
Although self-confidence is something that comes from inside, there are certain factors that can influence and increase your confidence in yourself. If you are writing a dissertation, one of those factors can be choosing the right advisor for academic assistance.
We often experience instant confidence and even good performance if someone approves of our actions. Although we believe self-confidence should come from self-acceptance and must not require others’ approval, in some scenarios where expert advice is necessary and big things are at stake, self-confidence is sometimes someone else’s prerogative.
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Enhances Networking Opportunities
Thesis advisors have special connections within the community and can increase networking opportunities for you as well. Remember, writing the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation is not the only thing to bother about. You will also be required to get good funding for the research process and get it published as well.
By having good networking, you might be able to win good fundings for your research. Plus, getting your research published will also become easier. Apart from these benefits, you will also have the opportunity to learn new trends and developments in the industry. Getting access to important resources and learning about new data analysis or interviewing techniques is another benefit.
Conclusion
To wrap up the discussion, choosing the right advisor for your Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation is not a piece of cake. You need to cater to many things including looking for the experienced person in the same area, having a track record of successful students, and being willing to help.
In addition, you also need to avoid getting into the trap of a prof superstar who does not put in considerable effort for your degree. If you are feeling challenged while finding the right advisor, you can also get help from British Dissertation Writers who not only assist you with writing your document but also provide unlimited free revisions.
In this article, we have covered everything regarding how choosing the right advisor can be helpful in achieving success in your PhD dissertation. So, excel in your career with the right guidance.