My journey as a doctoral student began a little over three years ago. Having completed a master’s degree at Clemson University under the guidance of Dr. Anjali Joseph and having seen a few senior Ph.D. students work around me, I thought the two experiences would be similar, but boy was I wrong! Here are some takeaways for those who are embarking on the same journey soon.
Generally speaking, no matter what program you are in, doctoral life has two distinct phases: course work (year 1 and 2) and dissertation phase (year 3 onward). Doctoral coursework is similar in structure to a master’s program – juggling between classes, deadlines, homework, tests, group projects, and presentations. The only difference is that doctoral students are held to far more rigorous standards of participation, performance, and critical thinking.
Diving into the most advanced methods of research design and analysis during your coursework phase will build your foundations to be a skilled researcher and prepare you for your dissertation phase. Though some tools you learn may not be directly applicable to your dissertation, sign up for courses that interest you or even intimidate you. For instance, I detested advanced quantitative data analysis and statistics. One basic statistics course every semester helped me get over the fear. Clemson offers a wide range of relevant courses in various departments like psychology, public health, and industrial engineering, to name a few, and in collaboration with partner organizations like Prisma Health. Put these resources to good use. Refer to the course catalog or Clemson repository to find courses and their syllabi.
The nature of doctoral studies, especially research in healthcare, is such that things will not always go as planned. This does not say anything about you as a student. Discuss your failures with your peers and advisors, learn from your and their failures, and make a plan to quickly move on. Celebrate the smallest and biggest victories- be it finalizing your dissertation focus, your first conference presentation, first publication, or clearing doctoral candidacy exams.
While some advisors prefer to keep the relationship professional, others will be involved in even minor decisions related to your work. Some answer emails right away; others don’t for weeks. Some advisors support you to go to conferences, and some won’t. Some will let you do summer internships, and some will consider internships a distraction. I share a great relationship with my major advisor. These are some things I followed over the years that I believe may have worked.
• Be transparent and vocal about your challenges and what you would like to achieve for yourself
• Be sincere towards the work you are assigned/expected to accomplish
• Make sure you understand your advisor’s expectations
• Present a plan, communicate consistently, and receive feedback
Working 20 hours per week on various projects other than my dissertation and coursework sure was a challenge, but certainly possible with a lot of planning and preparation. It can be overwhelming at the beginning when you are trying to get accustomed to a new program, new people, and a different work culture. Assistantship work is definitely rewarding and provides tremendous opportunities of honing and applying your skillset to conduct meaningful research, collaborating with other students, professors and industry partners, as well as publishing the research.
Without a doubt, Ph.D. is demanding and requires a lot of discipline; however, that does not mean you cannot have a social life. I have always tried to take a Friday evening (sometimes even the weekend) off to rejuvenate. As time permitted, I have gone hiking, gone to dinner with my friends or colleagues, watched a movie, played board games with friends, and painted. Spend time on what you enjoy doing the most. While trying to wrap up coursework or during the dissertation writing phase, you may find yourself chained to the desk writing for hours, attending meetings, or working on presentations. Even in the most stressful days/weeks/months, dedicating some time for yourself is important. In addition, physical exercise and healthy food should be an integral part of your lifestyle.
For some, the dissertation phase can be a lonely journey. I would say it is only if you chose it to be so. Though it is about your research project and your approach, there is always someone to talk to. I may have felt lost at times, but I was never alone. At the Clemson A+H program, we have a very supportive environment for students. Without guidance from the peers who shared the same office with me, my initial years would have been difficult. It is important to know that everybody has gone through the same struggles as you- find that person you are comfortable talking to!
Share what you learn from your seniors and your experiences with the first year Ph.D. students to make the process easier for them. Share thoughts about various aspects like selecting appropriate courses, managing coursework and assistantship to meeting advisor expectations.
It is entirely normal to compare yourself to your peers or even best researchers in the field. It took me a while, but I learned that every researcher has their own learning graph. Ph.D. is a journey of personal growth – do not let yourself get bogged down by what others are doing. Get motivated by the success of others and work hard to achieve your best. Take the time to think deeply about your future goals as a professional based on three things – what I love to do, what I am best at, and how can I contribute the most to my field.