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• Attend your orientation. Orientation is not optional. It sets the tone for your capstone journey and clarifies expectations, clear instructions, and deadlines. Catch up with the recording if you missed it.
• Keep your forms intact. If the coordinator uploads forms on BigSky (or any platform), download them immediately and store them properly. Disorganized forms cause delays and unnecessary stress.
• Submit complete forms. Any form you send for signature must be fully filled out. Do not leave blanks for your adviser or panelist to complete, like the date, name of the paper, your names - unless it is really a field that they are required to fill out. Incomplete submissions reflect poor preparation.
• Use consultations wisely. You have 8-9 consults before your defense. As much as possible, utilize it. Adviser consultations are for clarifications, guidance, and paper run-throughs—not for us to dictate your work. Remember: you will face the panel, not your adviser. Our role is to challenge you with the questions you’re likely to encounter.
• Listen to your adviser. You may choose your own path, but if you ignore advice, be ready to defend your decisions. Advisers are not accountable when you get grilled during defense—you are.
• Know your topic by heart. You cannot defend your own paper if you do not even know what your business does or what the foundations of your topic come from.
• Use AI responsibly. AI tools are tempting, but they are not everything. We use Turnitin for similarity and AI detection, and I personally have a premium AI-detection software when reviewing papers. Based on experience, I have seen students who cannot even understand the basic foundation of what their paper is during the defense, which shows where they got most of their info from.
• Respect instructions and deadlines. Instructions are consistently given to you to ensure that you can catch up and take down notes. Deadlines are firm. If the panelist’s signature deadline is 11:59 PM, it is not acceptable to send your paper at 8:00 PM on the same day. Expecting us to sign without proper review undermines the process.

Final Note: These tips are not meant to discourage you—they’re meant to prepare you. As someone who also experienced where you are now, I know the challenges. Discipline, respect for process, and accountability will carry you through. This is your paper - it's on you whether you make it or break it.

Best of luck!