The Perfect Defense: The Oral Defense of a Dissertation

I'm defending this upcoming Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 at 12pm. I am feeling very anxious, but this video helped me to have a fresh new perspective on what to expect in the next days. UPDATE: I succesfully defended my dissertation yesterday! I'm oficially a Dr!

This has to be THE greatest video to watch before you defend your dissertation.  No joke, I probably watched it 50 times before mine.  My committee told me it was one of the best defenses they have ever seen.  She is dead on what to do and say.  Three cheers for posting it!

My defense is in six hours, and I am reviewing your video for the 20th time Thank you for clarity and building my confidence all the more.

I passed my Ph.D. defense today in chemical engineering, at the University of Toronto. I used several of the concepts mentioned in this video. Huge thanks to Dr. Balester for these extremely practical tips. 😊❤

I have my defense tomorrow 14th March 2024 at noon... I woke up today a bag of nerves , however watching this video has calmed my nerves and changed my perspective. Thank you Dr. Valeria Balester.... @RobbinJane and others, congratulations

On Monday, April 3, 2023, I praise God that I successfully defended my dissertation. I want to say thank you to Dr. Balester for this video. This was one of the greatest videos to prepare me for my defense. I would say look view it several times as part of your preparation. Again, thank you Dr. Balester.

My defense is in 48 hours. This video is 12 years old and still extremely helpful. How come things haven't changed since then?!

Defended my paper yesterday (27/06/2022), I passed and this video helped me so much. Thank you Dr. Valerie Balester.

Having watched this, I believe I am ready to defend my thesis just 18 hours ahead!

Awesome presentation! It's been four years since I had my defense. My advice is, practice your slides to a point where you can go through the entire presentation without having to look at them.

This video is underrated. I watched this video and it built my confidence. I slayed my thesis defense.

Thank you Professor Valerie. The jury's demand was very strong, to the point of disconcerting me. But I got over the crisis. And in the end what you said happened: "Congratulations, you have passed, but it is recommended that you make adjustments to this" After a few hours of my dissertation, I remembered you and had the pleasure of seeing your video again. I am already from this day Doctor in Psychology. 😊

I would honestly pay for this advice. What a great speaker as well. Bravo Dr. Valerie!

As I prepare to defend my dissertation next week, I found this video to be helpful, encouraging, and succinct.  In my process of earning my Ph.D., I have had little guidance on how to defend my work (let alone how to write the chapters of the dissertation).  As you know if you're going through this process, it is a unique and steep learning curve.  Without educators like Dr. Valerie Balester who help make transparent the idiosyncrasies of this arduous process on the web, I would not be defending next week.  Thank you Dr. Balester for your kindness!

I can not thank You enough for this video. I went to my defense presentation and was so excited to present my research. My nervousness turned to enthusiasm and I had a easy breezy presentation for my masters defense. Thank you. Alhumdulilah⭐️ 10/10/2019 9a.m. 😁🙏💖

This video was posted 12 years ago but wil still help countless candiates for their big defences. You are truly a hero.

I experienced two (2) opportunities to defend doctoral degrees. I was not very well prepared for the first. As I listen to Dr. Balester, I was successful the second time around because I did many of the things she talks about in this video. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

OMG!! I wasn't nervous until I heard this woman.... theres so much more that I need to check, and rehearse... My defense is next week, and my native language is spanish.... I'm freaking out... !!!

I'm less than a week away from my defense.. I have to say that the most important thing I got out of this video is that this isn't a "grilling" but a conversation. Doing a scientific defense on something that hasn't been done before is terrifying but I feel more at peace with that fact. Thank you for this video! I wish everyone luck and strength for their defenses! You got this!!!!!

Will come back to this in about a year or so - all the very best to everyone here preparing for their defense. You've done the hard work now go get that degree, Doctors of the Future! 👍🏼