If I could get into a Wayback machine, I would set the controls for mid-2005, when I was pondering the idea of enrolling in graduate school. I remember the moment when I stood looking over my boss’s shoulder while he did a computer search for Ph.D. programs. He found a fully online Ph.D. program in marketing at a for-profit (fully accredited) online university. At that moment, if I could, I would have bopped myself upside the head and yelled, “What the heck do you think you are doing?” But I wasn’t there to stop myself from taking the bait. Without doing my homework, I applied and enrolled. Thus, I fell into the black hole of a fully online for-profit Ph.D. program.
In 2005, online education wasn’t exactly new, but earning a doctorate completely online was. Big traditional brick-and-mortar universities hadn’t yet tapped into the huge market of nontraditional learners slavering for degrees, I among them. The for-profits were there to meet the demand.
If I had been in my right mind, I would have asked the following questions:
1. Is this school reputable?
Back in 2005, I didn’t know anything about the panorama of higher education. That some schools were organized to earn a profit meant nothing to me. My previous learning experiences were at state universities. Had I done my homework, I would have quickly learned about the controversial nature of for-profit higher education. Oddly enough, if I had waited a couple years, I would have had many more choices of flexible schedule higher education options, even at local state universities. I urge you to read about the types of accreditation so you know the standards that schools must meet. Become informed so you can make informed decisions about your education. Read online reviews of the schools you are considering and talk directly to alumni if you can. I did not do this.
2. Is this program reputable?
I knew I had to choose an accredited institution, but I didn’t understand that programs can be accredited too. For example, business programs can be accredited through either AACSB or ACBSP. They sound almost the same, don’t they? It’s all alphabet soup if you aren’t informed. According to the for-profit universities, both accreditations seem great. Check into it further before you decide. You will find that there is a big difference between the two. Specifically, if you plan on teaching, find out which accreditation the institution you want to hire you prefers, before you enroll. I did not do this; I didn’t know I needed to until I filled out some applications for teaching jobs that required candidates to have attended AACSB-accredited schools. Those of us who attended ACBSP-accredited schools need not apply.
3. Will I need to incur huge student loan debt to get this degree?
Before I enrolled, I was determined I would not borrow any money to attend any university. I proudly paid cash as I went, one course at a time, but I had no clue how long it would take or ultimately cost, because tuition went up annually, sometimes by a lot. Thanks to relatively recent federal legislation, colleges and universities are required to post consumer information on their websites about the costs and outcomes of their programs. Unfortunately, if the programs are small, the schools get a pass. Read reviews on the schools you are considering. It will open your eyes to the real costs and outcomes. However, take it all with a grain of salt: most reviews are written by unhappy customers. The for-profits hire persistent recruiters (salespeople) who will promise you a lot to entice/persuade/motivate/coerce you to apply. If you feel like you are being pressured to enroll, you are. Don’t sign until you are sure you have made the best choice for you.
4. Will getting this degree make me more valuable to my employer?
I thought having a Ph.D. in Marketing would make me more valuable to my career college employer. Not long after I enrolled, the administrators at the career college cut the Marketing program. If your employer has promised you a promotion and tuition reimbursement, get it in writing. Consider the stability and growth of the organization for which you work. Look around and see how many other Ph.D.s have trod the path you intend to tread. If you are blazing a new trail, keep your eyes open. You might end up realizing that the only one who benefits from getting a Ph.D. is you—and possibly not financially… more along the lines of self-actualization.
5. Will this program challenge me?
Some of my online courses challenged me. However, assignments at my alma mater differed greatly in length, depth, and rigor. Some courses seemed full of make-work assignments. Some textbooks were excellent, others were mediocre. Most books were abysmally out of date (for example, e-commerce and pretty much anything to do with marketing and market research). The courses that challenged me were the dissertation courses, where I learned if I had the skills and persistence to become a scholar.
6. Will I get enough interaction and support from mentors and classmates?
At my online for-profit university, the level and quality of interaction with mentors varied greatly. A few mentors seemed fully present (virtually speaking), caring, and accessible. Most gave a bare minimum of feedback and encouragement—in their defense, I’m sure they mentored dozens of dissertators; I was just another faceless name in their email inbox. Only one was MIA, but her absence had serious repercussions on my timeline and pocketbook. As I progressed into my dissertation courses and textbooks were left behind, I felt keenly the lack of feedback and support, especially from fellow dissertators. Despite being an introvert, I missed talking things through with others.
7. Will I get value from earning this degree?
Define value any way you want. Will getting this Ph.D. make you rich? Happy? Smart? A better writer? Employable? Whatever it is, be clear on the benefits you expect from earning this degree. You might not get exactly what you imagined. Just saying.
8. How will members of my work community perceive the value of my degree?
Before you enroll at a for-profit higher education institution, ask around your workplace to get opinions of the school. Talk to people who hire people like you. Find out what they have to say about the reputation of the school and the caliber of its graduates. You may find out there are many alumni from for-profit institutions gradually infiltrating the workforce and paving the way for those of us who come after. Then again, you might find out that the for-profit university you were considering isn’t even on the lowest rung of the higher education ladder.
9. Do I need this degree to progress in my field?
If you need the terminal degree to teach or gain some exalted position in your organization, I guess your choice is clear. But if you are toying with the idea of attending a Ph.D. program because you think it might be cool or fun or because it would finally get your folks off your back, I urge you to rethink your goals. The Internet is rife with stories of disgruntled and disillusioned post docs who advise people like you in eloquent and bitter words to stop, stop, go do something else. Academe is not paradise. I wish I had read their stories before I embarked on my journey. I didn’t need a Ph.D. to teach at a rinky-dink career college. That means the whole eight-year, $50,000 debacle was unnecessary.
10. Do I need this degree to be happy?
I kept going because I’m not a quitter. When I start something, these days, I usually finish it, or have a darn good reason to abandon it. Eight years is a long time; I had many opportunities to reflect on my definitions of happiness and success. I don’t regret earning my doctoral degree, but if I could go back in time to mid-2005, I would have a heart-to-heart with myself. I would ask one more question: If money and time were no object, what would you like to do with the rest of your life? If earning a Ph.D. is part of the answer, then flail on, Dissertator. If not, well, it’s never too soon to start doing what you love.
Disclaimer
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn my dissertation topic was academic quality in for-profit vocational programs. I have some reservations about the commitment to education espoused by for-profit institutions whose first objective is to earn a return on the investment of shareholders—in other words, to make a profit. The profit motive and a commitment to providing quality education may be able to coexist in one organization—most likely in the classroom.
However, the ten faculty members I interviewed said quality often took a backseat as administrators and owners focused on wringing every last drop of profit from students, teachers, staff, books, computers, facilities, and systems. When generating profit is the goal and the product strategy to achieve that goal consists of providing education, you can’t excel at doing both. One has to give, and I fear students and faculty bear the cost.
If you are working on your dissertation proposal, I suppose it’s too late to back out now. You might as well keep going. The finish line is closer than the starting line. If you find yourself getting mired in methodology, unable to get your proposal approved, take a look at my book 28 ½ Reasons Why You Can’t Get Your Dissertation Proposal Approved. Maybe I can help.
