Is getting a doctorate in education worth it? This question is one of the most popular posed to me by my mentees and individuals seeking direction in their career and educational pursuits. Obtaining a terminal degree is such a big commitment that requires a level of thoughtfulness and contemplation. Graduate school is not for the faint at heart and must be approached with a heightened level of discipline and focus. When helping others sort out if a doctorate in education is for them, I always start with “the compelling why.” Why do you desire a doctorate? I believe that assessing our “compelling why” should be the start and at the heart of everything we do in life. Furthermore, knowing your “compelling why” offers a sense of direction and purpose in life. Besides knowing your “why,” pursuing a terminal degree is a personal decision that has to be measured against your individual life circumstances. While my graduate school experiences may be comparative to others’, there were several factors that made my grad school plight very unique. At the start of grad school, I had to consider family dynamics, such as being a newlywed, and three years later, I had to balance being a new mother while also working full-time as a graduate student. Lastly, I challenge those contemplating graduate school to consider their career goals. Does getting a doctorate align with your career aspirations? Will getting a doctorate get you where you want to be? Earning a terminal degree requires a total investment of time, energy, and finances, just to name a few. The goal is not merely to start but to finish. With that in mind, I press my mentees to have a game plan for graduate school that will result in success. Remove barriers that will hinder success and establish new habits that will sustain you through a successful (and not always easy) journey through graduate school.
So just to recap, here are the guiding questions I offer to my mentees and others who are seeking advice about obtaining a terminal degree:
1. What is your compelling why?
2. Why do you desire a doctorate degree?
3. Do your life circumstances support pursuing a doctorate?
4. What are your career aspirations?
5. Does getting a doctorate align with your career aspirations?
6. While getting this degree, will you realistically be able to finish what you have started?
AGW
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