Phd verse JD

The decision to enter a doctoral program really has to come from within. You may have a hard time finding any PhDs who regret their decision, but you might find some ABDs (all but dissertation) out there who can tell you what has prevented them from finishing.

Is there something you're passionate about that you'd like to focus on? Are you considering the JD, because you are interested in legal issues?

I think if you start there, you may find your answers. As for myself (and I am only a new doctoral student, so take that FWIW), I am passionate about teaching, research, and health policy. Taking that into consideration, the opportunity to immerse myself in these things is a dream. There is a PhD here (llg), who works in a hospital, so she can give you much more insight into other options out there.

I don't think it is really possible to understand what the amount of work is to do a PhD without being around people who are in the process. It is certainly not for everyone, and, as BBFRN, said, it has to be something you really want, or it'll likely be a waste of time and effort. Are you able to work in a non-structured environment? Are you able to self motivate? If you don't have these abilities in spades you're going to have a hard time completing your dissertation. And yes, getting funding, dealing w/IRBs (which really, depending on the institution is not necessarily that awful) etc is part of the process. There are positions outside of research and teaching, but that's not the norm and I think if you don't have a passion for either you'd be spending a lot of time, money and energy on something that might not get you where you want to go. I'd suggest you contact the graduate program where you think you might be interested in attending and see if they can connect you with some students who would be willing to discuss their experience.

http://www.discoverphd.com/articles/8/142

Here's some info that may help you in making your decision.

http://www.discoverphd.com/articles/8/142

Here's some info that may help you in making your decision.

Interesting site. I was amused by the discussion of making sure you can find faculty you can relate to -- while it's true, I think it's also helpful to see what the depth/breadth of faculty with your interests. I feel particularly blessed -- Of the 9 people in my cohort, there are three of us who have not had their chair leave, or changed their advisor/chair for other reasons. Looking at the other doctoral students, I know of one who fired their whole committee, and others who have made major changes.

I agree that it is important to feel you have someone who you can work with, but it's also important to recognize that things change and that it's good to know that there are others who you can work with.

I had no plan to do a PhD (i'm a older, second career RN who did an accelerated BS and then went into a BS to PhD program), but I was courted. OHSU has a very strong gero program (including a Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence), and had several faculty who had done EOL work. Basically, I decided that "these are people who I want to associate with" and that was part of the impetus to go on.

I also have mixed feelings about how much of an idea of your research focus one should have going in. Yes, you need to have an idea about your area of focus, but I think being too concrete too early makes it harder when the (almost inevitable) changes happen down the road.

My case in point: came in wanting to do somethign r/t EOL. Stimulated by the focus of several of the faculty, I started to recognize my own interest in family caregivers. As I moved further along both in my clinical experiences and what I was exposed to at school, I became pretty convinced that my dissertation would be around family caregivers of people with end-stage dementia. Then I was a GRA on a study of hospice in assisted living. Even though we didn't interview family members, as we prepared a presentation I looked at what the ALF and hospice participants were saying about families, and presented that data with the caveat that "these are other's perceptions of family caregivers, not the words of the family members themeselves" Which then prompted the question "well, why don't you go and talk to them then?"

And that's exectly what I am working on. I really had no interest in assisted living, but I now see that it is a possible direction for program of research.

Have ideas, and know what excites you, but be ready to grab opportunities when they come your way!

I see what you're saying, marachne. I pretty much expect to change advisors in the future after I get a better feel of what they're all currently working on, but I hope I don't end up firing my whole committee .

I see what you're saying, marachne. I pretty much expect to change advisors in the future after I get a better feel of what they're all currently working on, but I hope I don't end up firing my whole committee .

I think one of the best pieces of advice I had was make sure your committee all like each other.

Also, if you trust your committee (and if you don't maybe you should fire them!), then listen to them. I know of at least one person who had her time table and was sticking to it no matter what -- and she did not pass her proposal defense and wound up completely changing committees, methods, and focus! (same general subject area, but coming at it from a totally different direction).

All of the professors I've spoken with in my program seem to have the same philosophy regarding having a rigid research focus plan, thank goodness. I think having that kind of expectation especially for BSN-PhD students would be unrealistic, since that first year is meant to increase one's exposure to others' ideas and the research experience (in my program, at least).

That was the main reason I wanted to do that GRA this year. Total immersion would have been great, but I will have to wait until next year for that.