Applying to Doctoral Programs:Discussing the Decision With Others

by Laurie Prange-Martin

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Agenda• Some sobering facts.• What are the top 3 reasons people don’t complete their doctoral programs?• So, what are your plans to make sure you’re ready to be resilient with all 3 challenges?• Regardless of your gender, you will likely have some sort of crisis during those years. What’s your plan for it?• What are your plans for the inevitable challenges that will come up working with a dissertation committee?• Consider seriously, what do you want out of your main research supervisor?

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Somewhere around 50% of PhD students do not complete their degrees.

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There’s even a term for it. ABD = All But Dissertation

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In the social sciences and humanities, non-completion rates are even higher.

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The process to getting a doctorate is more like an apprenticeship and very much unlike any type of university

degree earned by a typical student. This has its benefits and challenges.

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What are the top 3 reasons people don’t complete their doctoral programs?

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1. Financial, often handled by taking on work that ends up leaving the doctoral student without enough

time to complete their dissertation.cc: Iman Mosaad - https://www.flickr.com/photos/42030962@N07

2. Family pressures or crises, often quite serious.

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3. Losing momentum on the dissertation, for a variety of reasons including discord with dissertation

committee or learning one doesn’t like research.cc: Waifer X - https://www.flickr.com/photos/47327870@N00

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There are several books available to read on this topic. I recommend chapter 16 in:

Bruno, F. J. (2001). Going back to school (3rd ed.). Lawrenceville, NJ: Arco.

So, what are your plans to make sure you’re ready to be resilient with all 3 challenges?

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Talk with your family beforehand about how life will change.

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Plan for many years of less than ideal wage earning. In STEM, 3-5 years. In Social Sciences

and Humanities, 7-10 years.cc: Caro's Lines - https://www.flickr.com/photos/93382027@N00

The biggest financial pressure you will likely experience will be for family expenses.

(And housing some parts of Canada)

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Since employment for PhD students pays so poorly, don’t quit your day job if you help it. Also, explore other financing

options like borrowing from your RRSPs.cc: TaylorB90 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/61033722@N08

Then, plan on a yearly basis to allow for the peaks and valleys of teaching while handling a large

research agenda.

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Thinking about having a family one day? Plan when you will have babies.

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If you are woman, plan to have children while you are still a student.

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Unfortunately, research and anecdotal evidence shows you will pay a career price for motherhood, but during your student years the

payment is the lowest.cc: Nanagyei - https://www.flickr.com/photos/32876353@N04

There is little evidence showing men pay a price for parenthood in academia.

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There is new research showing that men actually benefit from parental leaves while on the tenure track compared to women taking the same leave.

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For members of the LGBTQ community and members of other equity groups, there are even greater challenges that cannot be covered in this presentation. Therefore, I suggest you seek one-on-one support to plan your doctoral studies.

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Regardless of your status, you will likely have some sort of crisis during those years. What’s

your plan for it?

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I recommend establishing a village to support you through it, as suggested by other

authors. http://bit.ly/2eDbDJWcc: JD Hancock - https://www.flickr.com/photos/83346641@N00

Make a list of all your commitments.

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See how many commitments you can start withdrawing from now and make a plan to step back

from others before beginning studies.

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Make a plan with family and friends that you will step back from commitments for those years of study, but commit to returning once completed.

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Choose to keep at least one commitment (but no more) that will support your mental health

during the stressful years ahead.

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Activities to support your mental health that you should consider building into your life as a doctoral student include low-commitment exercise, yoga, meditation, mindfulness,

spiritual practice, or religious worship.

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What are your plans for the inevitable challenges that will come up working with a

dissertation committee?cc: mripp - https://www.flickr.com/photos/56218409@N03

The best plan to deal with conflict with your dissertation committee is to give great consideration

to who you ask to be on your committee.

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Consider the possibility that the most brilliant and prolific researcher may not be the kindest communicator of

constructive criticism, and may not be timely either in communications.

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Consult the books out there on forming dissertation committees and make a plan for

what will work for you.

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Read books and take courses on Project Management.

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Adopt strategies that will help you keep the group focused on you completed your

dissertation.cc: Julian Partridge - https://www.flickr.com/photos/52285635@N08

Learn how to take good Minutes at meetings!

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Make a Gantt chart, post it somewhere you will see every day, and use it.

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Learn what Scope Creep is and make sure it doesn’t happen to your dissertation.

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Finally, always consider the fact that the most important person on your committee is your

main supervisor.

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So, when applying to a doctoral program, make sure to prioritizing finding this key

person first.cc: .-. Handle with care .-. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/43653593@N04

Discuss with the doctoral program you are interested in who is available to supervise

doctoral students at the next program start.

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Consider seriously, what do you want out of your main research supervisor?

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Review the profiles of potential candidates, read their publications,

watch any online presentations they have, and ask colleagues

about their working styles.

Think about how you like to be coached and look for someone with these skills.

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Prioritize finding a research supervisor who has done well supervising others doing their

own research.cc: caperberry.tj - https://www.flickr.com/photos/74778737@N07

Look for someone who uses approaches in their publications similar to what you want to

use.cc: Amen-Ra - https://www.flickr.com/photos/18384077@N00

Contact the faculty member you think would make for a good supervisor and ask to meet.

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You can meet in-person, by phone, or through video chat.

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Discuss your research interests and gauge the level of interest of your potential supervisor.

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Listen to what they say about how they like to supervise and communicate with students

and colleagues.

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Assess whether their way of handling the evitable challenges of working with dissertation committees

aligns with your working style.cc: frankieleon - https://www.flickr.com/photos/23307937@N04

But, always keep in mind that the only perfect research supervisor is you.

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In summary, make sure that everyone is on board with the next 3-10 years of you being a

student in doctoral students.cc: fabianmohr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/78101915@N00

And always, make sure that being a researcher is why you are pursuing a doctorate and that

the steep cost will be worth it to you!cc: Truthout.org - https://www.flickr.com/photos/42269094@N05

Questions? Comments?Feedback?

Contact me at the Learning & Teaching Centre at Capilano

University laurieprangemartin@capilanou.ca