Ask Doctoral Advising

What do you expect to have happen to you when you begin working on your doctoral degree? How hard will you have to work to complete your degree? Besides a very nice piece of paper and new initials behind your name, what else will you gain from this journey? 

Will you open your mind to new ideas? New ways of learning? New theories and research methods? Will you open yourself to at least hear the ideas of others? Will you listen carefully to your mentor or advisor when you disagree with an action s/he recommends? Will you try to understand why that action is recommended? Are you willing to let go of preconceived notions when you begin to learn that well executed research does not support those notions? Or will you choose to disregard the research?

Will you learn about the rules, the reasons for the rules, and how to follow them? Or will you think that surely the rules do not apply to you or your circumstances and that you must be granted waivers and exceptions whenever you want them?

Will you be that sponge that soaks up every bit of knowledge that comes your way or will you be the harsh scouring pad that scrubs away whatever you are uncomfortable with, whatever you think is too difficult to comprehend or whatever you don’t want to find the time to learn?

Will you be greedy with curiosity as you get deeper into the studies and research leading to your degree? Or are you thinking you prefer to do just enough to get by?

Will you recognize if you have made leaps and bounds in your knowledge? And if you have, will you celebrate your new ability to think more critically, to analyze and synthesize material more sharply and to see more and more connections?