What to look for and expect in a PhD program

Programs seem to vary enough from institution to institution that I don't what to say. Look at several and find the one that feels right for you. That sounds like pretty lame advice, but it really is the best you can do.

One thing I would definitely recommend ... Get to know the upperclassmen and or very recent graduates. They know the "inside scoop" about classes, faculty, etc. That might mean hanging around the student lounge and/or computer lab, pariticpating in the student government organization, and/or going to a few social events -- but it is definitely time well-worth investing. The upperclassmen's inside information and support can make a world of difference.

I'm sorry this isn't the greatest post in the world ... but I am really tired right now. I wish you the best of luck.

llg

The 5 years I spent as a doctoral student were among the best of my life. I loved it! I was in my late-30's / early 40's and lived like a poor college student, hanging out with a great group of fellow students. I like intellectual pursuits, so all the reading, theorizing, and philosophizing was my dream lifestyle. I slept in late most mornings ... went to work in the computer lab &/or went to class in the afternoon and early evening ... then did my studying late into the night and on the weekends. I was really sorry when I graduated and had to leave the ivory tower and go back to the real world of actually trying to make the health care system work and be a leader of real nurses. That's much harder than grad school.

For money ... I began by spending all of my non-retirement savings (about $35,000 in cash -- I had spent 10 years "saving up" for my PhD). I also took out a $12,500 student loan. I also won $10,000 in competitive scholarship money and got a few thousand in other financial aid. Finally, I worked part time (earning about $15,000) per year as a research assistant. So ... I graduated at the age of 41 completely broke, except for about $35,000 in retirment savings that I did not touch -- but do not regret one moment of it ... or a single penny spent.

Academically, the program was not at all stressful except for a few bad days here and there. For a few people, it was tough -- mostly because they were not intellectually up to that level of independent thinking. They had gone to schools that required them merely to memorize a lot of stuff and report what they read in the literature -- but that did not teach to think for themselves and justify their positions. I had attended schools that required a higher level of thinking both as an undergraduate and as a Master's student. Also, I had actually practiced nursing for 12 years, most of that in leadership roles, and I was accustomed to analyzing things, drawing conclusions, defending my ideas, etc.

In short, I was more ready for doctoral level work than some of my classmates. That made it all a lot more fun.

Plus, I dedicated myself to going to school while some others had a lot of other committments and were only giving a small "piece" of their attention to their education and to the development of their thinking. The students who really committed themselves to their doctoral studies tended to do a lot better and enjoy it a lot more.

Since graduating 9 years ago, I have led a reasonable lifestyle and recovered financially -- no big splurges to make up for the 7 years I spent as a poor, struggling graduate student (MSN in my 20's and PhD in my 30's). Also, my parents have both died in the last few years and left me a little money. So I am financially fine, bu not rich. My fantasy is to save up enough money so that I can semi-retire around age 60 and spend my "golden years" as a senior-citizen scholar, philosopher, writer, etc. It won't be a luxurious retirement, but I should be OK.

Choosing an academic career involves long-term lifestyle choices that you have to think through. It's a big investment. For some of us, it's the right choice -- but it's not for everybody.

llg