conv: I just turned in my dissertation. I'm scared it will not pass and all my work toward my masters will be for nothing. I just turned in my dissertation. I'm scared it will not pass and all my work toward my masters will be for nothing. You only get to do it once? Yes_comma_ you turn it in then go in front of a board of people. In my case 10 people. If they don't like it I can't go one to work on my PhD and will need to write another. This one has taken 2 years to write. Oh no. I hope it goes well for you. That's a lot of hard work.