One Step Closer

I’m one step closer to being ABD–‘ABD’ stands for ‘All But Dissertation’, which refers to one’s status as a graduate student when one has completed all the requirements for one’s PhD except the dissertation. On Monday I passed my Area Exam, a 1.5-hour grilling, conducted by three faculty members, on about twenty books or papers relevant to my anticipated thesis topic. My Area Exam Committee worked me pretty hard, but I said enough of the right things for them to give me a passing grade. Woot!