Can You Pass Muster?

in Education by Kathy Teel — June 18, 2011 at 8:35 am | 0 comments

Could You Complete a Doctoral Program?

Many people who start the doctoral marathon never make it to the finish line.  Studies reveal that, in the humanities and social sciences for example, only one in six actually completes the work and receives the degree.

If you’re considering doctoral studies, you need to make an honest assessment of your personality and consider whether you have what it takes to finish the race.  While there needn’t be any shame in not completing the degree work, you don’t want to go through the trouble of applying, moving across country, or taking out loans for a degree you’ll never receive.

Consider honestly whether or not you have within you the traits that make for doctoral success.

• Intelligence

Maybe you were an honors student in college, maybe you weren’t—but at the very least, you have to be able to do the coursework required of a doctoral student.  You need to be able to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the ideas in your field, explain their significance, and make use of them.  If book-learning isn’t your strong suit, then you might do better to turn your attention elsewhere.

• Grace Under Pressure

How are you at juggling plates?  Not bad?  What about juggling plates while making dinner and vacuuming the rug?  Because remember: life won’t stop while you’re in a doctoral program.  In addition to learning new theories, meeting new people, and attending lectures, you’ll also be working under your adviser on a dissertation that could, if you’re lucky, make your name in the field.  All of that while you’re still negotiating relationships, raising children, taking care of a house, and the myriad other things that go into make a life. Do you have what it takes to hold up?

• Time Management Skills

Are you a self-starter?  Are you able to manage your time wisely when no one is looking over your shoulder?  A dissertation in particular can be difficult to manage, since there’s so much to do and most of it is done alone.  Deadlines set by your adviser must be met, and that means something must be done almost every day.  Can you commit to doing the work, even when the due date seems so far off, even when there are so many other things that need to be dealt with sooner?

• Originality

People—especially people with doctorates in hand—are going to tell you that “nobody reads your dissertation.”  That may or may not be true, but I sure wouldn’t bank on it.  The fact is, even if your mother is the only person who reads it, your dissertation needs to represent your own original research.  Remember that your dissertation will be available to most anyone who wants it; if you plagiarize words or ideas, someone somewhere at some point is going to figure it out.  If originality isn’t your strong suit, you can still right a darned good dissertation…just make sure that it’s original enough to pass muster.

 

Talk to an advisor today to start your online doctorate program!

Tags: academic skills doctorate PhD research