To Write or Not to Write (A Senior Thesis)

Flasks on top of a graduation cap. Creative Commons License.

‘Tis the season of senior theses. You can’t walk past a TV or bulletin board in Ford without seeing an ad for lunchtime thesis talks. Maybe you’re a first-year student who’s just forayed into the STEM world, or maybe you’re a lab rat junior with senior year looming. Either way, if you’re interested in research, the idea of doing a senior thesis can feel at once completely exciting and completely intimidating. It’s an overwhelming question to ask, so let’s ask it together: how do you know if doing a senior thesis is the right choice for you?

So, what does doing a senior thesis entail?

The exact requirements for a senior thesis vary by department, but a thesis generally involves a year-long independent research project that begins with a research proposal and culminates in a written thesis and oral presentation. In the presentation at the end of your senior year, you’ll “defend” your work to your department’s faculty members, typically by giving a talk about your research and then answering questions. It’s basically a mini-PhD. 

If you complete a thesis project, you’ll receive departmental honors, which means that your diploma will note “honors” next to your major. For most majors, you can choose to count your thesis as either a four-credit class each semester, meaning you should expect to spend about 16 hours a week on it, or a six-credit class each semester, meaning you should expect to spend about 20 hours a week on it. In either case, a senior thesis is an in-depth, time-intensive research project.

Why might I want to do a senior thesis?

A thesis allows you to devote your time to research you care about. Sky Smith is working on a thesis in the ES&P department, conducting a GIS-based evaluation of landslide hazard in Iceland. She decided to do a thesis after participating in research during her junior year abroad. Smith said, “I really liked the experience of just working on one project and having it be what I did every day.” If you like the idea of intensively dedicating your time to research, a thesis is a great way to do that. Grace Bullied, a biology major doing a thesis on the communication strategies of the Bornean Rock Frog, said, “If you like what you are doing, it is so much fun.”

A thesis is also a way to challenge yourself to try something new. Bullied said she chose to do a thesis for the challenges of being independent throughout the research process and exercising her communication skills. “I actually really applaud how many Smithies choose to do something hard and to put [themselves] out there in a way that is academically risky,” said Chemistry Professor Kevin Shea. There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes from this challenge, and it means you leave behind a legacy. The Smith Libraries keep an archive of the senior theses completed each year. 

Your career goals should also factor into your decision. If you’re planning to apply to PhD programs, a thesis is a way to show those programs that you’re serious about research. Shea said, “Grad school right now is in a bit of chaos, right? So, it's really important to differentiate yourself from the other people applying to grad school. One clear way to do that is to do a thesis.” A senior thesis also gives you a taste of what doing a doctoral thesis will be like. Whether or not you enjoy the process of doing a senior thesis will give you an idea of whether or not grad school is the right path for you. Shea said a senior thesis is “a pretty safe way to try it out.”

Why might I NOT want to do a senior thesis?

A thesis is a huge commitment, and it might not be what you want for your senior year. Ronin Akurosawa is a senior double major in Chemistry and Computer Science who has been doing research at Smith since her first year and is planning to pursue a PhD, but chose not to write a thesis. Akurosawa said, “All of the thesis students I have known basically live in the lab. And I, especially for my senior year, kind of wanted a bit more breathing room.” Since she’s planning to do research professionally, she said, “[a senior thesis] didn't feel like something I had to do, in the sense of, ‘this is my last opportunity to really get a good amount of research done in this type of environment,’ because that's what I'm planning on continuing doing.”

A thesis is not the only way to do research in your senior year. Some students choose to do three- or four-credit special studies, which are effectively the same amount of research as a thesis but without the added stress of the written thesis and final presentation. Akurosawa’s special studies has enabled her to dedicate considerable time to research while retaining more freedom than a senior thesis would allow her. You can also change your thesis to a special studies partway through your senior year. Shea said, “ I think if you're on the fence, opt in, and then at some point, if you're like, ‘this isn't right for me,’ it's very easy to go from a thesis to a special studies.”

A thesis is a way to devote your time to a project you care about, challenge yourself, and prepare for graduate school. While it’s also stressful and time-consuming, it is not the only way to conduct meaningful research. When deciding whether or not to undertake a thesis, you should talk with current seniors and your advisor, but ultimately, it is a decision only you should make for yourself. Shea said, “I think people should not feel pressure from their advisor or from the outside world. They should pick the path that's right for them.”

By Ada Fiala