Consult Faculty and Colleagues
“There are many opportunities for doctoral students to reach out to others for emotional and academic support. Informal networks are sometimes more influential than the formal ones established at universities. Along with providing additional perspectives, doctoral students travel to conferences, preparing for professional lives as conference attendees and presenters while increasing their familiarity with life in other cities. When you look beyond your dissertation committee, you will discover a rich and enthusiastic mix of new colleagues to meet worldwide. By drawing on the combined expertise of your dissertation committee along with student-colleagues, other university resources, colleagues at professional conferences, and on e-mail, you will have access to a broad range of perspectives which will facilitate the completion of your doctoral dissertation. You will also have the support of professional colleagues, which you may reciprocate. There is a large community of researchers to join. Welcome! Enjoy it!”
The excerpt above is from:
Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation: Invisible Rules for Success
by Brause, Rita S.
London ; New York : Falmer Press, 2000 page 78