ABD (I think)

I passed my Preliminary Oral Exam today. I've also passed the Qualifying Exams (back in August of 2000) and the language exam (back in 2001 if I recall correctly, which I may not).

I think that makes me ABD (All But Dissertation), but I'm not sure. That's a fun little designation that graduate students toss about; it bears no official, conventional meaning — although I have seen some universities advertise for professors with the requirement "PhD or ABD."

In any case, what really matters is the PhD: for that, I have to finish the dissertation. That will occupy the next few months, as will applying for jobs and trying to finish a paper I'm writing with my advisor.

Nevertheless, I can finally relax a few minutes and exclaim:

Woo-hoo!