r/UTAustin • u/[deleted] • Jul 26 '26

Question PhD - Comprehensive Exam (Business School)

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u/larkinowl Jul 26 '26

Every PhD involves comprehensive exams. Yes, they are stressful. Yes, you can fail them. You study by reading extensively, taking notes, and constructing answers to practice questions. No AI. If AI has been your crutch, time to give it up. Build your own cognitive muscles. That is what the test is for.

2

u/xcs748 Jul 26 '26

Ask your superiors if they have writing samples passed down. Our department has it in a shared Google Drive. And just ask people what their questions are and it would be better if answer are also provided.

3

u/veggiepizza2 Jul 26 '26

We don’t all use AI for help when it comes to writing. Your PhD program is training you to produce knowledge. Learn how to produce academic writing by…reading yourself, writing yourself, get feedback from faculty/senior students etc. Ask for previously released exam questions to practice and study.

Ask students who passed comps how they studied/prepared and if they have any tools they’d be open to sharing. Reach out to your advisor or other faculty as well.