Quote:
Originally Posted by RF5BPilot
...But, she was forced to be polite to him despite almost ad hominem attacks from him. She called me from her hotel room the night before the defense and was in tears worrying about the guy and trying to keep her anger about him under control, anticipating a scathing attack. I had her get out a magic marker and write, "F'k You" (no abbreviations) on her underwear. That way, the entire time she was sitting there being polite and smiling at the guy, her underwear was screaming, "F'k You!!" Oddly -- she came back thrilled. It worked. Got her to focus on the issues and not the personal relationships. Over the years, I think she's had no fewer than 14 other graduating students do the same thing when faced with an oral defense in front of unpleasant committee members.
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That is really quite something. Well done.
I have never defended a dissertation at the PhD level. I did have to defend my thesis for my masters at Johns Hopkins so this may help, in concert with all the really good advice already offered:
They can't take away your birthday.
She will be the same person coming out as she is going in regardless of the outcome.
Your description of your daughter and the calm demeanor you have exhibited here tilts the playing field a tad. She will do very well.
I would, however, invoke the RF5B rule
