Earning my Ph.D. was one of the best journeys I ever took, providing so much academically, personally and professionally. Based on my experience, and also on the experiences of many of my Ph.D. coaching clients, here are seven important tips for you to consider as you contemplate doctoral study.
Tip One: Honest Assessment. Be brutally candid about why you are doing this, and equally candid in determining if your responses to certain questions are realistic and achievable. For example: Why are you really interested in earning a Ph.D.? Is this a must in order to accomplish your career goal(s)? Have you made a list of the pros and cons of a four to five year extremely intense educational undertaking? Do you know what most Ph.D. graduates from the program you are considering end up doing following the completion of their studies? Have you identified programs and faculty who would embrace the kind of research you want to do? Are you fairly determined and persistent? Are you able to handle constructive feedback, and quite often-strong criticism?
Tip Two: Start Out With Eyes Wide Open. Have you taken in to account the time and financial constraints you will assume? Is your spouse/partner and family on board with this journey? Have you spoken with a few current or very recent Ph.D. students, asking what the positives and negatives are/were for them? From my vantage point this is absolutely essential. By all means encourage them to be honest with you. There are wonderful, but no perfect doctoral programs out there. I have yet to meet anyone who had no complaints about their student experience, no matter how good it was.
Tip Three: Research. Research. Research. Have you spent quality time learning as much as you can about the programs you are considering? Have you gone beyond rankings and prestige and evaluated well more than the top five programs (from my experience, you should start out with at least 20 options)? Have you created a spreadsheet, listing each institution in alphabetical order, and then comparing what each program offers based on your criteria – i.e., faculty research and advising availability, student resources/activities, financial support, opportunities to be a TA or research assistant, career preparation assistance, location, etc.
Tip Four: Reaching Out to Faculty. This is one of the two most critical parts of your Ph.D. application process. Unlike undergraduate and most master’s degree programs, faculty members make admission decisions on doctoral applications. Having contact with them well before you apply is very important. There are some important protocols to be followed. I was in regular contact with several faculty members in my program for over a year before applying. While you usually do not need a whole year, you should be conducting faculty outreach at least six months before submitting your applications.
Tip Five: Preparing Your CV. This is also something you should be working on well before applying. Most Ph.D. admission requirements include a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as opposed to a resume. In short, a CV is more focused on credentials, and provides a comprehensive listing of education, employment, certifications, research experience, professional affiliations and memberships. A resume is more competency-focused, and provides an overview of skills, education, employment and noteworthy achievements.
Tip Six: Starting Your Personal Statement. Along with faculty outreach, this is the other most important part of your application. Do some research on what a Ph.D. personal statement most often includes, and afterward start working on an outline of what you would like to say. Then translate your outline to a written document, which will help you greatly when it comes time to prepare your official statement(s).
Tip Seven: Developing an Application Plan. Having a “calendar of events,” if you will, is a tremendous stress reliever as you move through the application process. One way of doing this is to take a wall or desk calendar, and start writing in what you need to do at what time. For example, plug in research on your program options, faculty research and outreach, taking standardized tests, and when you will work on your CV and personal statement, open your online application accounts, confirm recommenders, request transcripts, etc.
Extra Tip: Be Yourself. As this quote so aptly suggests, “Be yourself – everyone else is already taken.” You are not perfect, but you are especially unique. You are not like anyone else; so do not try to be. The best applicants are authentic, real, and true to themselves. Persistence is the goal, not perfection. Always do your best and be yourself.
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