Deciding Whether to Get Your Doctorate
Are you thinking about pursuing your doctorate degree? The fall semester is the time when most start thinking about and preparing to apply to graduate school. Since we’re in the middle of the semester, I want to share some of the things that you should consider when thinking about a doctorate.
Should you go - The old adage says that college isn’t for everyone and the same can be extended to the doctorate degree. Getting a EdD or PhD is such a huge decision and commitment and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Pursuing a doctorate degree requires a great deal of time, energy, and sacrifice. When the road gets tough, you will have to lean on your motivation for why you started your program to keep you going. Deciding on whether to go or not should really be tied to your personal and career goals. Is a doctorate degree required for the roles that you are interested? Will a doctorate degree get you to the place that you are striving for? Do you have the time and support to help you push through a doctorate program? If the answer is yes, then going after a doctorate degree might make sense for you.
Where to Go - Your options might be limited depending on your situation. One thing that could influence your available options is again your career goals. Is there a dissertation topic that you are particularly interested in exploring? You may be drawn to specific programs that are tied to researchers that you admire or are conducting similar studies. Perhaps you want to go to some of the top programs in your chosen field. Additionally, you might be tied geographically due to your job or other family obligations. Be sure to weight all of your options because all schools are not created equal. And all schools won’t get you to the goals that you have for yourself.
Paying for Graduate School - Paying for school is another big part of deciding whether or not to pursue your doctorate degree. Student debt is at an all time high and graduate school can be super expensive. There are scholarships and grants that can offset the cost so you’ll definitely want to do your research on the options available to you. Personally, I work at a university that provided a tuition waiver that paid for almost all of my tuition and school fees. That was a fortunate situation for me but I know that everyone doesn’t have that situation. Depending on your situation, you may consider taking on a graduate assistantship, working your way through school, and/or scholarship and grants.
Applying to Graduate School - Start early. Most programs will have an application deadline as early as December 1st. Applications will usually require a personal statement and at least 3 recommendation letters. Ask for recommendation letters months in advance so that you are able to meet the deadline. Also, don’t forget to ask others for feedback on your personal statement. Take the necessary GRE, MCAT, etc. as early and as often as you can until you get the score that you desire. Some programs require a panel interview with current faculty, others require you to complete some form of assessment, and others ask applicants to do a combination. Be prepared for any of the options by practicing with someone whose opinion you value.
I hope that this helps you as you think through if a doctorate is right for you. What questions do you have about the process?
