ABD is an acronym for "All But Dissertation," which refers to individuals who have completed all academic requirements for a doctoral degree, except for the dissertation. Synonyms for ABD include "doctoral candidate," "doctoral student," or "PhD candidate." However, these terms are not entirely interchangeable, as some students might choose to enter a doctoral program without the intention of completing the dissertation. In contrast, ABD status indicates that a student has completed years of rigorous academic coursework and is in the final stage of becoming a fully qualified expert in their field. Despite the demands of the dissertation, many ABD students persevere to become doctors and elites in academia.