Should I join a dissertation support group? I'm scared

[EricGerman]

I'm considering joining a dissertation support group but I'm not sure if it'll help or just be more social anxiety. A blog for grad students has TWO posts about this .

One student said: "I couldn't write. I'd be in the library, staring at the portrait of the bearded benefactor, and the time would just tick by. That's when I decided to join the group" . She wasn't alone in her struggle.

The blog says groups can be excellent for "solace, support and motivation" and "sharing of information and writing techniques" . That sounds good.

But Part 1 warns about "some of the dangers of a group" . Like what? I'm worried about:

• Comparing myself to others and feeling worse
• Wasting time chatting instead of writing
• Feeling obligated to attend when I'm not in the mood

Part 2 apparently describes a "successful group in the words of its founders and members" and their "philosophies and method may help graduate students seeking support groups" .

For PhD students who've done these groups: did they help? What made them work? What made them fail? I need to know before I commit.

 

[Shawn]

I'm in a humanities program and I joined a group that was interdisciplinary. That actually helped because nobody knew enough about my field to judge my progress. We set goals at the beginning of each session (e.g., "I will write 500 words on chapter three") and then did 45-minute sprints. At the end we'd report back. No critique, just accountability.
What made it work: we all had the same expectations. We all agreed no unsolicited feedback. We all showed up consistently.
What makes groups fail: mismatched goals. If some people want accountability and others want emotional support and others want feedback, nobody gets what they need. Be clear about what you want before you join.