It’s graduation season, and you’re front row on social media watching all the newly minted doctoral students share their journeys to defense, hooding and commencement. Maybe you feel intrigued or motivated, and now you want to get a Ph.D. Either way, welcome! Glad to have you.
If you’re thinking about a Ph.D. (doctorate of philosophy), congratulations! It takes a lot to wrap your mind around the idea of getting a terminal degree of any kind. The first step to achieving the goal is to make a conscious decision to seek it. Step one complete!
Now, I’m not an expert in all fields, but I know a little something-something about the Ph.D. journey having embarked on one myself in 2018. I wrote a list of tips that helped me navigate the process from acceptance to graduation. They may seem simple and small now, but they are what helped me transition from Arianna C. Stokes, M.Ed. to Arianna C. Stokes, Ph.D. (Purrrr.)
Believe In Yourself. I know this sounds simple, but when the going gets tough, and it will, that mustard-seed faith will be more than necessary. Write affirmations for yourself. Affirmations are considered to be an age-old proven booster of self-confidence and self-esteem. Being on a journey full of unfamiliarity and uncertainty can cause you to lose trust in yourself, and in those moments, you’ll need to reaffirm. Speak your goals out loud. Put the positivity into the atmosphere.
Journeying to the 2% is not for the weak. You need to program your mind to believe you can and that you will. Defeat that imposter syndrome. You belong.
Know Your Field. This is important. Don’t just apply to a program all “willy nilly.” You should be knowledgeable about how your intended or current industry works, the current issues, areas needing improvement and possible research topics. This is called preparation. Know the prominent researchers and studies in your field; they’ve laid the groundwork that scholars, including yourself, have echoed and will continue to echo for years to come.
“Reading as a Ph.D. student is not simply glossing over the pages,” Dr.
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