Who has gone on to get a Ph.D. and what are your words of wisdom?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 22:41:26 -0400

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2017 10:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 22:42:33 -0400

Time management and remember not to forsake your family during the dissertation phase.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2017 10:49 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 22:49:26 -0400

It's a long lonely road. I did my Ed.D and had to give up life for the duration of it. It's not that challenging as it is a huge load and keeping up and not getting behind is the key. My only words of wisdom is to do some soul searching and ask yourself the tough questions. Do I need this to be successful? What is my potential return on this investment? Be sure to take your age at graduation into consideration and what you earning potential is for the remainder of your career and determine if the financial investment including interest in student loans makes sense. Unless what you're trying to achieve actually requires a Doctoral Degtee, a Master Degree will probably suffice.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 14 at 2017 11:04 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 23:04:29 -0400

Thanks for posting this discussion. I ultimately will pursue my PhD with a detour through a professional engineer license. I need this to enter academia. I am having difficulty breaking into academia with two masters degrees.

I have seen in other forums that picking the right dissertation topic, the right advisor, and defending the dissertation successfully is what separates one from the PhD. I had an engineering professor that went up for the jump shot and got stuffed with his dissertation. DND did not dissertate on the transcript, thanks for playing, end of story. That's what haunts me late at night when the demons come.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 15 at 2017 12:43 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 00:43:45 -0400

Persistance!

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2017 7:04 AM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 07:04:06 -0400

SSG,

I'm working on my Ed.D now. Just started April 3rd, if you completed your masters then you can complete that Doctorate. Just more work and little bit more intensity but it's all about prioritizing. Good Luck.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Apr 15 at 2017 8:38 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 08:38:55 -0400

Good morning. First off, should you pursue it, best of luck in this academic endeavor. Obtaining a PhD is very challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. With that being said, here are my two words of wisdom.

1. Make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.
2. Mentally prepare for a long, but fulfilling grind.

First, many people go into a PhD program for the wrong reasons. They are simply seeking a credential ("I have a PhD"), or trying to obtain some higher level of standing ("Call me Dr. XYZ"), or using it as a means to get a specific type of job ("I want to teach at a university."). I think those are the wrong reasons, and they won't keep you motivated throughout the PhD program, nor will they motivate you throughout a career using that PhD. People should obtain a PhD in an area that genuinely interests them, where they have a strong desire to leverage that interest over the course of their career. That motivation becomes key in my second point.

Second, the PhD process is a marathon, normally taking between 3-7 years (assuming you're working on it full-time). It will grind on you over time, and throughout that process you will wonder if you made the right decision. So, be mentally prepared for a long, methodical, challenging, multi-year process. Your strong interest in your area(s) of interest will serve as your primary motivation to work through that long grind. Simply put, chasing a credential, higher standing, or a specific job won't motivate you throughout this journey, and you'll be less likely to complete the process with suboptimal motivation. Plus, once you earn the PhD, working within a career path won't be fulfilling, unless it's focusing on a topic that genuinely motivates you.

With all of that being said, what is your primary reason for earning a PhD, and how do you plan to leverage it once you graduate?

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 15 at 2017 1:47 PM

LTC John Shaw — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 13:47:37 -0400

I completed an MBA and Juris Doctorate more commonly known as a law degree.
The years of 1991 through 1998 are dead to me, all was work, reserve and study, school.
Let an employer pay, don't self fund, it took 15 years to pay of that school.
I am thankful for the knowledge and experiences even if I didn't choose to engage in the practice of law.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2017 5:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 17:48:51 -0400

The biggest tip that I got from one of my current undergrad professors is that a lot of online masters degrees are considered terminal, which means that doctorate programs will not accept them. While online masters programs will get you a good job, many will not move you into a doctorate. That tip has changed my whole approach to how I will get my graduate degree. Most definitely, I will stay brick and mortar to ensure that I have the option to move onto higher education, and I will supplement my experience with internships during the undergrad and graduate process.

Thank you for all your responses. I will not enter into the decision lightly about pursuing a Ph.D., simply because there is a significant cost to time and money. Your advice will be valuable.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Apr 16 at 2017 7:44 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 07:44:31 -0400

Would second the notion of asking if you really need it. I almost went for a MBA but happy I didn't BBA just fine and I am probably earning as much as most MBA's do.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2017 9:24 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:24:46 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member forget about seeing your family and friends unless they are helping to proof-read your paper/proposal.
In reality develop a plan for school work and for "freedom" so you get used to it during the classes and hopefully it will not be "as bad" when you get to the dissertation portion. It was worth it, but it takes total commitment and that is why most never attempt, or if they do many are ABD.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2017 9:09 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 09:09:05 -0400

I am working on the completion of my Doctorate. Be prepared to write a lot of papers and do research all the way through out the program

Response by MGySgt Douglas C. made Apr 19 at 2017 2:54 PM

MGySgt Douglas C. — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 14:54:30 -0400

Completed a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology (Food Safety and Food Microbiology). It was worth the trouble and work, but not sure if I would do it today.
MGySgt C.

Response by SFC Dr. Fred Lockard made May 6 at 2017 1:36 PM

SFC Dr. Fred Lockard — Sat, 06 May 2017 13:36:10 -0400

Make sure everything you do, everything you write, everything you research, can in some way be used for your dissertation. Make up your mind as early as you can, pick a dissertation topic, and start working on it right away. During my program, I would say I had to do 15 or so research papers for all my various classes. At least 10 of those had some connection to my dissertation. When it came time to start serious writing I had Chapter 2 almost completely done. Also make sure you have a well diversified Dissertation Committee. Have a good writer, a good researcher, and a good strategic thinker as members, then use them! I bugged the heck out of my committee!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2017 2:26 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:26:17 -0400

I earned my PhD in 2007. Before you even start, make sure it's something you *need*, not just something you want, for your career. For as many career doors that a PhD can open, even more are closed, because you become over-qualified.

Someone else said it already, but it's good advice and bears repeating. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Also, make sure you have the full support of your family. Our son was 3 when I started my program and we talked about wanting another child. As my wife was going to be the breadwinner for the family while I was a student, there were considerations beyond my own ambitions to take into account.

Good luck and best wishes SSG Metelski!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 1:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:30:52 -0400

Make sure everything you do is in Line with your research for your dissertation and be prepared to write a lot .Know APA format

Response by Lt Col Norman Herman made Jun 7 at 2017 9:12 AM

Lt Col Norman Herman — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:12:33 -0400

I earned both an MD and PhD; unfortunately at the same time...At the time, it felt like a big mistake. If you don't want to chuck it at least 500 times, there's something wrong with you or the PhD program. An academic PhD is a form of legal hazing to make sure you're meant to earn this high honor...pleasing a dissertation committee can be a near impossible task unless you have a strong advisor or understanding committee chair...I can say in reality I was given me MD, but I earned my PhD. It took me a long time after my dissertation defense to appreciate it, but I'll tell you that having a PhD with my MD opened the world to me both in my Air Force career and in my academic career at a major New York city medical school. So was it worth it....Yes. Was it difficult...without a doubt...Good luck...

Response by 1SG William Svoboda made Jun 8 at 2017 2:44 PM

1SG William Svoboda — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:44:27 -0400

I started my journey with little to no mentoring and I believe I would have had less issues had I had a mentor. Now having said that, set a schedule of time you can live with and stick with it.