Doctoral Experiences
Lisa Paulson (2021-Present)
What is it like being a doctoral student? Being a doctoral student is different than any other academic experience. While there are likely many common emotions and encounters among PhD students, there are also several factors related to everyone’s experience. Every doctoral student will experience feelings like overwhelm, nervousness, and stress, but as life and school continue to ebb and flow as they will, every student will experience feelings of accomplishment upon completion of rewarding and personalized work, and gratitude for the experience to grow and learn. A deeper passion for their work develops through the grit of learning how to do research and recognizing the difference it can make in the field and in the world. That being said, what is it like to be a doctoral student is largely dependent on one’s mentors, the program, and the institution. My advice would be to find the right mentor(s) first, and the rest will fall into place.
What are my classes like? There is no sliding by un-noticed. Small. Discussion based, but the time always flies by because no faculty or doc student lacks enthusiasm and passion for the conversations at hand. Coursework can be tough, but you learn to prioritize homework based on its content, your schedule, and mental energy. For example, I write in the morning and read in the evening.
What are comprehensive exams like? I will complete comps this spring, but I hear different programs have different procedures for comprehensive exams. In our program, you have one week to write about 80 pages* to answer four questions and support your responses based on research. Then, once you pass the written portion, you take the oral exam. It sounds like it will be a bit stressful considering you need to keep up with other classes and teaching responsibilities as normal but preparing as much as possible will help ease the process. Wish me luck!
What are dissertations like? I am entering my second year as a doc student, and I am on track to complete my PhD in a total of three years. I will complete all course work and comprehensive exams within the first two years, and the third year, I will mostly work on my dissertation. So, while I haven’t “started” writing my dissertation yet, I have an idea of what it will be about. You’ll work with your advisor to determine a topic that you will research, and the dissertation will be a long academic paper, likely split into chapters, discussing your study. Once finished, you will defend your dissertation as a final assignment to earn your PhD.
What is an assistantship? A graduate assistantship is a type of employment in which the graduate student earns a salary and a tuition waiver and assumes responsibilities related to research or teaching, or both. Typically, if you are accepted into a PhD program and there is a graduate assistant position available, you must apply and be accepted, usually based on academic performance, experience, and/or referral from a faculty member. Basically, you want a graduate assistantship. Why? Being a graduate assistant not only allows you to earn money while waiving most of your tuition fees, but it also provides you with practical experience in the field. For me, teaching classes within the PETE program is my favorite part of the experience.
What is an assistantship workload like? My graduate assistantship covers the tuition for 10 credits/semester. Aside from coursework, I teach about 4-6 credits per semester and participate in a variety of research projects with our team. At the University of Northern Colorado, our team consists of three faculty members and three doctoral students, but every program is different. The workload keeps you very busy, so prioritizing your time is important so that you can be successful in your coursework, teaching, and research while still finding time for self-care.
Can I work part-time outside of university and still pursue a degree? Is it feasible? You can try? I don’t recommend it. Perhaps if you are a full-time student and you don’t have a graduate assistantship, you might be able to pull off working a part-time job. But, if you have an assistantship and a full course load, I advise focusing your energy on those responsibilities in order to keep some sort of balance and perform at your best. I personally have applied for scholarships and have taken out loans to help ease financial stressors.
Advice? Don’t settle for a generic program like curriculum and instruction if your passion lies within the field of physical education. Find the right program with the right mentors and get started. You won’t regret it. The time will pass anyway, you might as well earn a PhD.
Also read this article Stories from the Trenches: An Overview of the Ph.D. Journey for another perspective.