Let’s face it: Despite their support, guidance, and encouragement, dissertation chairs are neither dissertation coaches nor editors. University guidelines and rubrics only help you so much. You know what sections and subsections you need and you have an idea of what is expected to go in each. But how do you know, exactly, where to find that information and how to incorporate it into your dissertation? That’s where a dissertation coach and dissertation editor come in. Often, doctoral students struggle to present the right material in the right way and obtain committee approval. Not only are the multiple submissions frustrating and tiresome, but they lead to added tuition costs. Want to reduce the frustration and move through the program more quickly? Consider hiring a dissertation coach and an editor. Now there are some differences in what a dissertation coach and an editor does for you. Let’s break it down.

What Does a Dissertation Coach Do?

As a Dissertation Success Boot Camp scholar, you will receive unlimited, one-on-one support—phone/video calls, email exchanges, and document reviews—throughout the length of your plan. You can connect with other students in the Dissertation Success Facebook Forum, sharing advice, finding support and encouragement, and even making new friends in the process. Let’s walk through some reasons why hiring a dissertation coach is smart.

1. Dissertation coaches have been where you are

Dissertation coaches are people who have been where you are. They were doctoral students and researchers and then, after earning their degrees, went on to serve as professors and dissertation committee members. In other words, dissertation coaches know what it takes to make a strong, suitable product and can help you do the same.

2. Dissertation coaches are there for you

A dissertation coach is there for you. More than just a cheerleader, a coach provides one-on-one guidance and support. Coaches critique your work and suggest how to make it stronger. Not every coach is the same and every coach has their unique strengths.

What Does an Editor Do?

As helpful as dissertation coaches are, they are methodologists and structural/content guides. They might point out weaknesses in your writing, but they aren’t there to correct it for you. That’s where an editor comes in. A professional editor is one who provides full-service, comprehensive editing and formatting. Common areas addressed include grammar, academic language/tone, sentence/paragraph construction, weak writing/writing style violations (e.g., passive voice, anthropomorphism), wordiness, and word choice. So let’s walk through reasons why hiring an editor is smart.

3. Dissertation editors are unbiased

While it can be difficult to receive critiques, it is essential if we are going to continue to improve our writing. Why does a book writer higher an editor? So that they can correct their grammatical mistakes, and improve the overall flow, and formatting. Book writers are too close to their story to see all of the mistakes. In the same way, dissertation students are so engrossed in their content that they miss mistakes. You’ll want to hire an editor who is familiar with style guidelines (most often, APA 7th ed.) and your university’s formatting requirements. A good editor will provide a finessed written product and a properly formatted document. Your references and citations will also align and meet style guidelines.

Hiring a Dissertation Coach and an Editor is A Worthy Investment

Just like coaching, editing is an investment. However, both services are designed to minimize your tuition expense, frustration, and degree completion time. In other words, coaching and editing pay for themselves. But remember: You get what you pay for. Just like any other product or service you purchase, you’ll want to choose and invest wisely.