About The Dissertation Compass

Our Mission

The Dissertation Compass exists for one reason: to help graduate students navigate every stage of the dissertation and thesis process with clarity, confidence, and practical support.

Writing a dissertation is one of the most demanding intellectual undertakings a person can face. It requires not only deep subject-matter expertise but also project management skills, emotional resilience, and the ability to sustain motivation over months or even years of independent work. Too many capable students struggle – not because they lack talent, but because they lack a clear roadmap.

That is the gap The Dissertation Compass was built to fill. Every guide, template, and resource on this site is designed to break the dissertation journey into manageable stages, demystify the process, and give students the practical tools they need to keep moving forward. Whether you are selecting a topic, drafting your literature review, preparing for your defense, or somewhere in between, this site meets you where you are and helps you take the next step.

We believe that graduate education should be accessible, that no student should feel lost in the process, and that the right guidance at the right time can make the difference between a student who finishes and one who stalls. The Dissertation Compass is our contribution to making that belief a reality.

About Angel Reyes

The Dissertation Compass was created by Angel Reyes, the founder of Subthesis.com and a collection of related educational properties dedicated to supporting graduate students and researchers.

Angel is passionate about making graduate education more accessible and less isolating. Having seen firsthand how many students struggle with the structural and logistical challenges of the dissertation process – challenges that have little to do with intellectual ability – he set out to build a network of free, high-quality resources that address the real obstacles students face.

That vision extends beyond any single website. Angel’s work spans research methodology, funding strategy, certification preparation, and public health education, all unified by a commitment to giving students the information and tools they need without paywalls or gatekeeping. His goal is simple: if a resource can help a student finish their degree, it should be freely available.

The Subthesis Ecosystem

The Dissertation Compass is part of the Subthesis ecosystem – a growing collection of free research tools, calculators, and educational resources built specifically for graduate students and researchers.

Each property in the ecosystem addresses a different dimension of the graduate student experience:

• Subthesis is the hub of the ecosystem, offering interactive research tools including the Research Question Builder, Literature Review Matrix, Effect Size Calculator, and more. These tools are designed to make the technical side of research faster and less error-prone.

• Study Healthcare Theory provides courses and guides on research methodology, theoretical frameworks, and study design – the conceptual foundations that underpin strong dissertations.

• Grant Writing Consultant offers guidance on securing funding for graduate research, from identifying grant opportunities to writing compelling proposals and managing awarded funds.

• Public Health Practicum serves MPH students with resources tailored to the unique requirements of public health graduate programs, including practicum planning and applied practice experiences.

• CHES Study Guide supports students and professionals preparing for the Certified Health Education Specialist examination, with study materials and practice resources.

Together, these sites form a comprehensive support system for the graduate research journey. No single resource can address every challenge a student faces, but an ecosystem of specialized tools and guides can come close.

Our Three-Layer Content Model

The Dissertation Compass and the broader Subthesis ecosystem operate on a simple but powerful principle: education works best when process guidance and practical tools work together.

This site teaches the process. It walks you through each stage of the dissertation journey, explains what to expect, highlights common pitfalls, and provides templates and checklists you can use immediately. The focus is on understanding – knowing what comes next, why it matters, and how to approach it.

Subthesis provides the tools. When you need to build a research question, organize your literature, calculate a sample size, or assess an effect size, Subthesis offers interactive instruments that handle the technical work so you can focus on the thinking.

Together, they support the complete graduate research journey. Process knowledge without tools leaves you doing tedious work by hand. Tools without process knowledge leave you unsure of when or why to use them. The combination gives you both the map and the vehicle.

Whether you are just beginning to think about your dissertation topic or preparing for your final defense, The Dissertation Compass and the Subthesis ecosystem are here to help you reach the finish line. Every resource is free, every guide is written with real students in mind, and every tool is built to save you time and reduce frustration. Welcome aboard.