Success Stories
Dissertation Writer’s Retreats get great reviews from participants.
"It's difficult to concentrate on your dissertation when you're at home, with all that’s going on. I knew what I needed to do, but had problems getting there. The only thing stopping me from completing my dissertation was me. The Dissertation Writer’s Retreat was the tool that helped me get past that and finish.
The format of the retreat is simply wonderful. You have quiet space to work and the uninterrupted time to write. And the 1-to-1 support is great. If you have a question, you can get answers right away. By the time the retreat was over, I was confident and motivated. The most important thing was that I came home and I had regained the focus to finish my dissertation, and there’s so much joy in accomplishing that.
You've worked so hard to get through your doctoral program. When you get to that last door, there's nothing that should keep you from going through it. The Dissertation Writer's Retreat is the way you can complete the process. "
Linda C. Delgado, PhD
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"I attended the Dissertation Writer’s Retreat for 2 reasons: I was having a hard time staying motivated after the comprehensive exam and needed distraction-free time to work; and I was looking for specific feedback from research methodologists.
But what motivated me most at the retreat was a surprise—it was the people I met there who were working toward the same goal. The dissertation process can make you feel isolated, so making connections with others working on the same things was a great way to stay motivated. Regardless of how supportive colleagues and family are, there is nothing like the support of others going through the same stages. "
Diane Gutiw
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"Soon after I completed the comprehensive exam, I attended the Dissertation Writer's Retreat. I wanted to get a clear vision on my pre-proposal, and was able to complete that and parts of chapters 1 and 2 at the retreat. Starting early was extremely beneficial as I was able to better prepare and plan for the next phase in the dissertation.
Meeting with the research methodologist was very helpful. It was an area of weakness for me, and at the retreat I was able to gain a great deal of knowledge to support my writing and research design. The retreat sparked a flame and fueled my desire to keep pushing forward with my goal. Now I have the edge to drive my success past any obstacle. "
Kyle VonSchnase
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"Before the retreat, I felt like I was shooting in the dark and hoping that I’d hit something. But when I got there and talked to them, they said, ‘You’re really not as bad off as you think.’ They showed me what I needed to do with my literature review, how to use different techniques to see what I was missing. …If anyone is thinking about going to a writer’s retreat, my recommendation is wherever you’ve got to find the money, dig it up and go. It was miraculous for me."
Cherise Hall
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"When you have work and a family and a life to manage, this lets you drop out of that and go into hibernation. Believe it or not, the 5 days feels like taking 6 months off to work on your dissertation."
Diane Skene
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"The one-on-ones were so beneficial to me. The staff were readily available to us all day long. Some people write better in a group and some like myself were able to get more work done in our room. And then you’d come back down and the staff would be there to look at what you’d done and help out. I came back home and made a lot of progress."
Allison Hopkins
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"Before the retreat, I had bumped into a wall. I had to regroup. The retreat refreshed me so I could look at my dissertation differently. Now I’m writing with a new approach—I’m really seeing what’s needed. It left me feeling a lot more confident and with a clear sense of direction."
Patricia Harris-Prater
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"I can’t say enough good about it. It’s all taking place in the same room. Everyone works together. The focus is there and you have the resources there. Capella provides so much information that it can be hard to absorb it all, but this was a great way to get the information you needed for your work."
Ann Kaplan
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
"As Stone Shiflet says, you have to see this dissertation as your coming out as a PhD person. The retreat gives you a chance to step back from your work and evaluate how other people will see what you’re bringing to the table."
Wylette Tillman-Provo
Dissertation Writers' Retreat attendee
