Advice on Capstone

[studiousimp]

I am trying to wrap my arms around doing the TESU Capstone, which I’m scheduled to start today.

I just spent 9 days in critical care with sepsis from freak infection (aspiration pneumonia) from going to Mexico for dental work. Anyway, it was an intense week... never have experienced anything like it. Now I’m home and recovering - Mostly I’m exhausted from the mega-steroids that got me through, and I’m wondering...

Should I postpone the Capstone?

I think I still have to take something by February to keep my catalog and if I can do the Capstone, I really want to.

I’m not thinking too clearly still but am vastly improved from yesterday. Anything I should be considering? I know I have some time before I need to withdraw - but again, would like to get this behind me... And I’m asking, what would you do?

Thanks.

[DIGI-212]

I am trying to wrap my arms around doing the TESU Capstone, which I’m scheduled to start today.

I just spent 9 days in critical care with sepsis from freak infection (aspiration pneumonia) from going to Mexico for dental work. Anyway, it was an intense week... never have experienced anything like it. Now I’m home and recovering - Mostly I’m exhausted from the mega-steroids that got me through, and I’m wondering...

Should I postpone the Capstone?

I think I still have to take something by February to keep my catalog and if I can do the Capstone, I really want to.

I’m not thinking too clearly still but am vastly improved from yesterday. Anything I should be considering? I know I have some time before I need to withdraw - but again, would like to get this behind me... And I’m asking, what would you do?

Thanks.

Ouch! I've had some scary Mexico medical experiences as well! Hope you recover quickly!

The first two weeks of the capstone are pretty chill, you are just posting introductions and ideas for your topic. But, don't wait too long to start writing chapter 1 because the topic message board closes one day and the chapter draft is due the next day, if I remember correctly. You could rest up this week and hit chapter 1 hard next week. Weeks 3 and 4 were the worst for me. I recommend you get a head start on finding and reading research articles/sources before you get too far into week 3. The week 4 message board is pretty easy. By then you will be at February and should be feeling better as you head into your first-hand research planning.

[studiousimp]

Soooooo helpful. Thank you!

[davewill]

It really depends on how you're feeling and whether you're likely to relapse. One thing to remember if you do run into problems is to let your mentor know BEFORE you are late with any assignment. My mentor explained that he was free to accept work late only in that circumstance. If you didn't let him know in advance, by school rule he had to dock points.

My new job put me under mega pressure shortly after I started my capstone and I fell steadily behind as the term went on. I ended up paying a couple hundred dollars for an extension, finished about 2 weeks late, got an A and still graduated on schedule. The thing is not to panic.

[studiousimp]

OK Dave, got it. Great advice.

[dfrecore]

I had to ask for an extension as well, I just could not finish by the end. I talked to the mentor, he actually gave me an unofficial extension (2 weeks) if I wanted it, but I really needed the official one.

He was very nice all along if I had an issue and contacted him about it ahead of time. Very nice and understanding.

I would ask your mentor if you should postpone until next term, or if he/she thinks you can catch up along the way, with some leeway for the beginning couple of weeks until you're feeling better.

[DavidHume]

Do you already have a topic in mind? If so, I'd let the mentor know where you are with that when you contact about your situation. If you do have to reschedule for February, you may be able to contact the registration office directly about your situation to avoid waiting for a refund. Honestly, if you think you'll be at working capacity by February, I'd push for working with your current mentor for this term.

[studiousimp]

Thank you all. Saw docs today and feel
ready to contact my mentor tomorrow. My infection is gone and now it’s likely just a couple weeks to get my strength back.

I’m going to have a conversation with my mentor with the intention to stay in the class, as long as I can have a little leeway the next couple weeks.

Many thanks. As always, I heart this group!

[rlw74]

Good luck! I hope your mentor will work with you (most do) because I would hate to see you have to delay the class. As long as you are up for it, having down time for a couple weeks might be a good thing. I would pick a topic quickly, find a few online sources and just take notes. Then you'll even be a bit ahead as most students just spend the first couple of weeks trying to decide on a topic.

[High_Order1]

Hell,

In my cohort, there were a handful of people completely changing their topic over the last few weeks. I think, as alluded to above, is it is a question of your real life. If you gotta beat the streets making some dough for your lost time, and family, and extracurricular... might be tough. (I don't remember your exact story).

But, the first month isn't bad, looking retrospectively. You basically fart around until you do a literature review. (this is where people went, hm, hard to find relational stuff, so now my thesis is...)

I've refined my subquestions almost continuously the entire process.

The poster above gave the greatest info, hit your forum requirements, and just devote at least an hour or two a day, and you should be able to muddle through all the way to chapter three. Then it picks up a little steam.

But, I have learned it can put you way ahead of the game IF you get a mentor that allows real flexibility in topic selection AND you already did your legwork prior to class, so pushing your timetable ahead a month or two has clear advantages.

Get well!
(and, was the procedure in MX worth it?)