Should we finish everything we start?

When I was a teenager, I would start sewing a garment, make a total mess of it, realize the endeavor was hopeless, and consign the pile of abused fabric to the trash in disgust. What might I have learned, what might have I created from the debacle if I had kept working at it, seeking creative ways to turn my mistakes into something useful? Back in the 1970s, fashion trends being that they were, if nothing else, I could have made several pairs of hot pants.

I can think of some things that are obviously best abandoned as soon as possible. For example, consuming a big plate of peas—I don’t care that much for peas. (I recommend dropping them under the table for the cat—that worked when I was a kid), or walking two miles if my bladder starts to tingle at mile 1 (I never argue with my bladder). Life does not have to be a torturous slog unless I want it to be, not if I was lucky enough to be born in this place and time. Misery is optional.

Now that I’m old(er), I recognize that some battles aren’t worth fighting. For example, jobs that didn’t suit me, relationships that weren’t working… I don’t like to admit defeat, but I’ve learned sometimes it is best to call it a day. Twisting myself into a pretzel to maintain a job or relationship might give me a sense of grim accomplishment in the short term; however, in the long term, I will regret the time I spent trying to save something that wasn’t worth saving. In other words, fish or cut bait. Have you heard that expression? I’ve only been fishing once, and it was not a successful or gratifying experience, but I like the idea behind the metaphor. Either do it, that thing I am whining about, or give it up and move on.

Some big dreams are hard to abandon, even when pursuing them seems to drag me further into disappointment—for example, my elusive art “career.” When I was young and naïve, some friends I trusted told me painting was dead. Around that same time, my parents warned me I’d better learn how to type if I wanted to support myself. I believed them.

In contrast, some dreams I wish I had jettisoned when there was still time to take another path—I’m thinking of my pursuit of a doctorate. Where were my friends and family then? They encouraged and supported my dream. You can do it, they said, and I believed them. If I had spent the last forty years working on my art instead of bouncing from job to job, school to school, I wonder where I’d be now.

On the other hand, persisting in the face of obstacles can be character-building. Maybe I wish I hadn’t spent eight years and $50,000 on a doctorate, but the dogged determination I developed along the way serves me daily as I work to create my next adventure. What can we learn by not giving up too soon?

I wish we had a way to tell the future, so we could know if it was time to persist or time to pivot. If you have an Magic 8 ball that gives you more than “Future cloudy, try again later,” lucky you, and where can I get one?

Every day we get the choice: continue toward that dream or pivot toward a new one. As long as we are pursuing something that interests us, does it really matter what dream we attain? Does the destination matter? Maybe we are only fully alive when we are on the journey.

Do you have a dream waiting for your attention? Is it time to finish that doctorate? Or is it time to pivot to a new dream?

=====================================

Applying Theory

Dissertators often struggle to choose and apply a theoretical framework to their research projects. In this helpful guide, I offer suggestions from my own experience. In addition, I reveal how other dissertators have applied theory successfully and earned their doctorates.

Written in a friendly, nonscholarly manner, I demystify the challenges of applying academic theory to a research project. You will learn that theory is nothing to fear—in fact, we all use theory all the time! With the help of this powerful little book, you will learn to master theory and achieve your dream of earning your Ph.D.

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Resubmit! 28 ½ Reasons Why You Can’t Get Your Dissertation Proposal Approved

This comprehensive book is the missing link for dissertators who have struggled to get their proposals approved. This indispensable book bulges with insights, suggestions, examples, diagrams, and practical tips, written especially for the online dissertator who may receive little support during the proposal process.

I present solutions to address twenty-eight potential reasons why you might be struggling to get your proposal approved. For example, you will learn how to write a clear problem statement, devise research questions and hypotheses, and align the elements of the proposal to facilitate speedy approval. I unlock the mysteries of Word and Excel to show you specifically how to use these tools for your proposals. Over 200 tables and figures show you exactly what to do. As a bonus, you will learn how to design a web-based survey and make a plan for fielding and analyzing the data. In this book, I cover it all to help you overcome obstacles and finish your dissertation.

Free templates and worksheets are available here.

Print version $29.99
Kindle version $9.99

June 25, 2018

Seven reasons you might want to get a Ph.D.—or not

Are you considering enrolling in graduate school? Do you have a secret yearning to get a Ph.D.? Are you wondering if you should enroll? Enrolling in graduate school is not a casual decision. Graduate programs can be lengthy, expensive, and disruptive. On the other hand, they can launch careers, increase earning, and boost self-esteem. Here are seven considerations to help you decide if you want to get a Ph.D.

1. My employer requires me to have a Ph.D.

Some employers require employees to get a Ph.D. For example, to teach at the university level, depending on your field, you will likely need a doctoral or professional degree of some kind (e.g., a Ph.D., D.B.A., or Ed.D.). Some research positions require doctoral degrees—biologists, anthropologists, earth scientists, and medical scientists, for instance. If you seek leadership positions in education, government, economics, or management, you may need a doctoral degree.

Educational institutions may differentiate between doctoral degrees and professional degrees. Doctoral candidates typically must conduct original research; candidates for professional degrees typically focus on practice rather than on research.

However, if you just want to teach somewhere, you may not actually need a doctoral degree. For example, many community colleges and vocational institutions require you to hold only a Master’s degree to teach. If teaching appeals to you, you may be able to satisfy your desire to teach without the investment of time and money needed to get the doctoral or professional degree.

Ten questions I wish I’d asked before I started my Ph.D. program

2. Having a Ph.D. will make me more employable

In some fields, having a doctoral degree may give you an advantage over those with only Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees. As the chart below shows, in 2015, the unemployment rate for people with doctoral degrees was 1.7%, compared to the average for all workers (4.3%).

Source: Vilorio, D. (2016, March). Education matters. Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/data-on-display/education-matters.htm

Note that the Bureau of Labor Statistics differentiated between doctoral degrees and professional degrees. The amount of time to earn a doctorate or professional degree is similar. Completion of a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) or a professional degree usually requires at least three years of full-time academic work beyond a bachelor’s degree (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017, Education and Data Definitions, para. 1). Like doctorates, professional degrees can lead to careers in healthcare, government, and education.

However, people with professional degrees had the lowest unemployment rate of all (1.5%). If you are interested in a particular field, you may have more luck finding employment with a specialized professional degree or certification.

3. A Ph.D. will increase my income

In some cases, having a Ph.D. means you can command larger salaries, compared to salaries earned by those with only Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees. As shown in the chart above, in 2015, the median earning for people with doctoral degrees was $1,623 per week, compared to the average for all workers ($860). Income will vary by field—for example, engineering and math Ph.D.s are likely to earn more than philosophy and biology Ph.D.s earn.

However, earnings for those with professional degrees exceeded earnings for those with doctoral degrees ($1,730 to $1,623, respectively). If maximizing your income is your goal, a professional degree might be your best option. In addition, consider the earning time you lose and the student loans you rack up to earn your Ph.D. Would you be better off financially to enter the workforce with a Master’s degree?

4. Having a Ph.D. will make me smart

Ph.D.s become an expert in one aspect of one small part of one field. Does that mean you are smart? You will certainly read a lot in the process of earning a Ph.D. You will learn about the research process. You will learn to organize your thoughts and present them verbally and in writing. However, people have claimed Ph.Ds. possess only average intelligence. Read You Must Be Very Intelligent—The Ph.D. Delusion by Karin Bodewits.

Moreover, if you were motivated, you could learn to do all those skills without enrolling in a Ph.D. program. Many people become scholars of note without earning doctorates. For one example, read Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar by James Marcus Bach.

5. I need a Ph.D. to make a difference in the world

Having a Ph.D. can open doors in some fields. Prospective funders, donors, employers, and clients may find you more credible with those three letters after your name.

However, people sometimes ascribe mythical powers to the Ph.D. degree. You don’t need a Ph.D. to make a difference in the world. You can find many ways to share your wisdom with those who want and need it. Just Google “Making a difference in the world” and get going.

6. Having a Ph.D. will make me seem cool

Advanced degrees impress some people. Does being addressed as “Doctor” seem like the pinnacle of success to you?

However, coolness is earned, not made. “The Ph.D. . . . only looks like a big deal when you don’t have one” (Lemire, 2014). In addition, the amount of prestige and status you gain will likely depend on the school you attended and the degree you earned. In traditional academe, your institutional affiliation will direct your career path. What happens after you get the Ph.D. is as important as getting the degree.

7. Having a Ph.D. will help me feel better about myself

Earning a Ph.D. can be a self-esteem booster. If getting a Ph.D. is your lifelong dream, you should go for it. You might not succeed, but you won’t know unless you try. Even if you fail, you can still be a scholar without a Ph.D., if that is your dream.

However, if your sense of self-worth depends on earning a Ph.D., you’ve signed up for some serious self-imposed pressure. What will you do if you don’t finish the Ph.D.? Many people who enroll in doctoral programs don’t finish.

If research doesn’t float your boat, quit trying to paddle the leaky canoe against the current. Find the thing that suits you and give your gifts to the world. Don’t waste your valuable life energy doing something that doesn’t bring you joy. The world needs more people to delve deeply into the questions that need answering.

Moreover, lots of people never feel drawn to earn a Ph.D. and feel just fine about themselves.

What it is like to be a nontraditional learner at an online for-profit university

Complete these phrases with whatever comes to mind:

Without a Ph.D., I am . . .

People who don’t have doctorates are . . .

When I think of not earning a Ph.D., I feel . . .

The main reason I want a Ph.D. is to avoid being . . .

Did you use words like useless, worthless, stupid, or boring? I hope not. After trudging through years of the doctoral journey, some people have observed, if they had jumped off the Ph.D. hamster wheel sooner, they would have been happier, healthier, and less obsessed. They would have had better relationships and a renewed interest in life.

Earning a doctorate is not for everyone. It’s not easy, it takes a long time, it costs a lot of money, and it may not help you achieve your career objectives. However, if it’s too late, and you are already committed, go for it! Do your best. Let me know if you need some help.

Sources

Bach, J. M. (2011). Secrets of a buccaneer-scholar. New York, NY: Scribner.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (2017, October 24). Occupational data definitions. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/emp/documentation/nem-definitions.htm

Lemire, D. (2014, March 17). Should you get a PhD? Retrieved from https://lemire.me/blog/2014/03/17/should-you-get-a-phd/

Vilorio, D. (2016, March). Education matters. Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/data-on-display/education-matters.htm

Applying Theory

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Resubmit! 28 ½ Reasons Why You Can’t Get Your Dissertation Proposal Approved

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January 19, 2017

10 questions I wish I’d asked before I started my Ph.D. program

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.

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