What should I consider when choosing a doctoral (PhD) program?
I have completed my master's degree and am looking to take the next step. What should I be considering when searching out a potential doctorate program?
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Answers ( 1 )
A PhD is a pretty major undertaking (as I am sure you know from your Masters work), and I'd argue, not to be entered into without a direct goal in mind. Personally, I didn't think through the outcomes that would be available to me, and combining that with some pretty terrible luck in the job market when I finished meant that my PhD was not the career investment I'd hoped it would be. Since I was fortunate enough to be able to pivot into industry, I've been invited back to talk to Masters students about my career track, and offer the advice "know what you expect to get when you are finished before you start!" Or at least have a good idea. :) But that's not really your question, so I apologize for the digression. I'd only say "Why is the next step automatically a doctoral program?"
That said, the most important person you'll deal with over the next several years will be your dissertation advisor. Truly, they are the only person you absolutely have to make sure is happy with the quality of your work! Therefore, you should NOT enter a program where you have not identified an advisor you want to work with, and ideally held an initial conversation to ensure that they both want, and have the time, to take you on. This could be email-based, but in the modern age of video-calling, you should try for that. In person is of course best.
Then there's the rest of the program. Does the institution have a good reputation for placing graduates into tenure-track positions? OR excellent relations with industry, though that might be less relevant in Education, but might matter if you wanted to move into the administration or political end of the work? Not knowing where you want to land, I'd just say that you should check and see that the place you are going does in fact place people in positions similar to the one you are aiming for.
How does the school feel about timing? Some want you to be in and out in 4 years, others more, others less. Does that fit with your expectations? What kind of teaching load will they expect you to take on? What classes will you be asked to teach, and do they require that you teach to their syllabus, or that you create your own? Both have +/-, and its best to know up front.
Do they have any requirements for the stipend they will be giving you, how much will it be, and is that negotiable at all? Often there is a little wiggle room around the margins of what they offer to PhD students, and if you can make a persuasive case for the value you will bring, or a skillset they need that you posess, you can often do a little better, and often a little better is the difference between rent and rent + utilities.
What is the health plan? How much does it cost, what are the deductables, does it include child care (if appropriate, or heck even if not who knows what might happen in 2+ years and best to be prepared), don't forget dental and vision.
How many others will be in your cohort? Is that standard, or has it gone up or down recently, and if so, why? What has the performance been of the previous 5 years of cohorts? Ask that kind of question about your advisor as well - how many students are they advising, and what is the timeline and success rate of their advisees?
That's a start. It has been a dozen years since I finished my PhD so I am sure I'm forgetting stuff, and of course this is all based on my experience, so your miliage may vary. :) Let me know if you have any follow up questions, I'm happy to help any way I can!