For most students, the thesis is the culmination of a long journey in the campus world. However, without realizing it, many make mistakes while working on the thesis so that this final project turns into a scary specter. Stress, anxiety, laziness, loss of direction, and even frustration are not new to this phase. The problem is often not because students are incapable, but because they fall into the same hole: mistakes that could have been avoided from the start.
These mistakes are not big things like failed trials or invalid data. Instead, they arise from things that seem trivial: choosing a topic without careful consideration, procrastinating unconsciously, or ignoring lecturer feedback. When these small things accumulate, they turn into a burden that makes the thesis feel heavy, tiring, and even impossible to complete.
Through this article, we will break down 5 mistakes when working on a thesis that students often make when working on a thesis. Not only to show where the pitfalls are, but also to offer concrete ways to avoid them. We will discuss it in a flowing, relevant style, and still based on valid references. Because thesis is not a matter of who graduates the fastest, but who is best prepared to go through it the right way.
1. Choosing the Wrong Thesis Topic
The first and arguably most decisive mistake to make from day one is topic selection. Many students think that the topic can be chosen later, or just as long as it looks cool in the ears of the lecturer. There are also those who just follow their friends“ topics so that they can ”work together" on it. Unfortunately, topics chosen in this way tend to have no emotional or academic attachment to the researcher. The result? The process feels bland, and enthusiasm easily dies out halfway through.
A good topic is not only specific, but also relevant to your skills, interests, and access to data. Ideally, students should have an outline by the 6th or 7th semester, then start refining the idea into a problem formulation once they enter the final semester.
2. Procrastination (Academic Procrastination)
If thesis is a marathon, then procrastination is a hole in the road that looks small but deep. Many students know what to do, have the materials, have even discussed it with their lecturers - but still procrastinate. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months. Next thing you know, the deadline is approaching and everyone is panicking.
According to Paul Steel (2007) in his research published in Psychological Bulletin, Around 80-95% students procrastinate, especially when it comes to coursework and it has a direct impact on their performance. The solution is not to force yourself to work 8 hours a day, but to establish a realistic rhythm. Pomodoro Method (25 minutes focused work, 5 minutes break) or a 2-hour block of time each morning can be much more effective than waiting for the “mood to come”.
3. Rarely or Afraid to Consult with Supervisors
This is probably the most dangerous mental trap: you're too scared to meet your own supervisor, so you end up going your own way without direction, without correction. The longer you wait for the consultation, the further you go. And finally, your lecturer asks you to revise from scratch/rewrite.
Remember, the mentor is not an enemy. In fact, regular consultations can make the writing process smoother and more focused. You can also discuss or tell them the obstacles you face, and often they provide insights that you can't get from any book.
Don't wait for everything to be “perfect” before consulting. Instead, you consult so you can fix it from the start.
Remember: lecturers like active students, not passive ones. They prefer to guide students who are proactive and serious about completing their thesis.
4. Origin Paste Method: Wrong Track Since Chapter 3
There are many students who write Chapter 3 with the approach of “what's important.” They choose quantitative methods because their friends do too, or because “it's easier to find data.” In fact, the research method is not a matter of easy or difficult but a matter of whether or not it fits the formulation of the problem you are proposing.
If you want to know what that happens, quantitative can be an option. But if you want to know why If you want to explore the meaning behind the numbers, a qualitative approach might be more appropriate. The problem is, many people don't understand this from the start, and only realize after collecting data that can't be answered using the chosen analysis.
The most realistic advice: reread your Chapter 1, especially the problem formulation and research objectives. Then, match the characteristics of the methods in Sugiyono or Neuman's book. Don't hesitate to discuss with your supervisor before getting into data collection.
5. Stuck But Shy to Ask for Help
Every thesis student must have been stuck. There's only one difference: some stay quiet and stress themselves, while others actively seek help. You might be confused about how to write an instrument, don't understand validity tests in SPSS or SmartPLS, or have written Chapter 2 three times and are still being revised.
The problem is, many students feel embarrassed or feel that they have to do it alone. In fact, thesis is not an individual proving ground. You can and should ask for help, whether it's from friends, the research community, or professional mentors.
If you're stuck, don't wait. Join a thesis community, ask your seniors, or take advantage of guidance services from organizations such as maubisa.id. The important thing is that it's all done ethically, not instantaneously or haphazardly.
Additional Tips to Make Your Thesis Smoother
Here are some quick tips that you can apply right away:
Keep a daily thesis journal: Write down what you do every day. This can help you feel like you're making progress.
Find a non-academic mentor: It can be from friends who have graduated, seniors, or alumni.
Reward yourself: After writing a chapter, treat yourself to a movie, coffee, or thin healing but don't do it often, you'll end up broke!
Thesis doesn't need to be perfect, but it must be done
No thesis is perfect. Even a thesis that gets an A must have flaws. What makes you graduate is not because you made a revolutionary scientific work, but because you are consistent, willing to learn from mistakes, and continue to move even though it is slow.
Thesis is a marathon, not a sprint. You need a strategy, you need support, and you need courage to deal with discomfort. But the good news: you don't have to go it alone.
If you need direction, technical assistance, or a mentor to review the content of your thesis, the academic team at maubisa.id ready to help. Not to cheat, but to help you understand, develop, and complete this final project in an ethical, intelligent, and humane way.
📩 Click here for a free consultation now
