THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED- Should You Pursue a Doctorate?
…7 things you should consider before starting your doctorate.
Congratulations! You’ve completed your Master’s Degree. So, what’s next? Well, in reality, we are usually presented with two main choices. Either gain (or continue gaining) experience in your field of choice or further your skills and knowledge to stand out from the crowd. For those who choose the latter, you will probably wonder at some point, “Should I pursue a Doctorate?”. I had the same burning, highly debatable question five years ago, so I believe I can help. Let’s jump in.
A doctoral degree is the highest academic degree one can earn. It can take years of hard work and dedication to earn one, but I believe it’s worth it! One can specialize in many different areas for a doctorate to find the perfect fit for his/her interests and career goals. The process of earning a doctoral degree is challenging but rewarding. Indeed making it The Road Less Travelled — less than 2% of the world’s population have a doctorate.
When I started my doctoral program as a learner in 2017, there appeared to be so much mystery surrounding this “Dr.” business; now…I would like to debunk a few of the myths and mysteries.
Let’s look at seven (7) questions you should ask yourself before registering in any Doctorate program:
1. What Type Of Doctorate Should You Do?
“So, do you mean to tell me that a ‘Ph.D.’ isn’t the only doctorate?!” Yes, that’s correct. One can pursue several different types of Doctorates in this world. While I suspect it is a highly debatable topic, most would agree that although the effort level is similar for most doctorates, the main difference between them is in the type of expertise and the potential application of the knowledge you will harness. The groupings and perceived importance levels do vary across countries and academic institutions; but in general, the doctorate types can be categorized as below:
🎓 Academic Doctorates: The Pure Researcher
Research-Oriented Doctorates are awarded for their original research and scholarship in traditional academic areas. These degrees are solely research-oriented programs having the dissertation process as the core component. Some of the most commonly known research-oriented doctorates include: -
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Doctor of Arts (D.A.)
- Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Doctor of Public Health (DPH)
🎓 Applied Doctorates: The Scholar-Practitioner
The applied doctorate is a practitioner-type doctoral program (some literature and regions also refer to it as a research-based professional doctorate). It is a degree that focuses on applying research to an issue within real-world contexts or scenarios. Dissertations require original research, an oral defense, and a final published document utilizing existing knowledge to develop solutions. Some popular professional doctorates include:-
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA or Dr. B.A)
- Doctor of Engineering (D. Eng)
- Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA)
Courses are also often a part of applied doctorate programs — I completed a total of 13 courses (including specialization courses) in mine.
🎓 Non-Research Professional Doctorates.
These doctorates are focused on an extended study harnessing the knowledge, skills, and licenses required for professional practice. For example, one can register for a D.A.T- Doctor of Athletic Training, a Doctor of Church Music (D.C.M), or one can even pursue a Doctorate in Sacred Theology which, of course, is an “STD” 🤫. I’m not kidding; look it up. Anyway… because these are not usually of a “scholarly” nature, they are generally not as well-regarded as the research and applied doctorates that offer the sought-after rigorous educational experience.
Additionally, doctorates can be awarded without meeting the criteria for research or professional doctorate.
Honorary Doctorates are one such example. They are usually awarded to celebrate an individual’s achievements or to recognize esteemed researchers or practitioners. But let’s be clear- although these are not academic or derived from study, they are no easy feat. For example, Usain Bolt received his from becoming an eight-time Olympic gold medalist! 🏃🏻♂️💪🏻
For me, I opted to pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (Dr. B.A or DBA). As detailed earlier, while Ph.D. research is focused on developing original theories, the DBA, in contrast, focuses on collecting data and finding solutions to real-world organizational and business problems. Since I had been working in the business and energy industry for 2 decades, I found seeking scholar-practitioner type credentials to be the best fit.
After selecting your broad focus, typically, a ‘specialization’ area is then chosen. My specialization area was in Strategy and Innovation because I had a passion for creativity and seeing others bring their innovative ideas to life. I even used this knowledge to create my own mobile app recently. Through my quantitative dissertation, I also learned (by doing) about sampling methods, statistical applications, and how to generalize my results to a global population through instrument reliability.
You will be spending a significant investment of time and energy on your area of choice, so you need to be sure that you will enjoy the process and be motivated to see it through to the end. Think…in what area could you read several articles each day and not want to pull your hair out?
2. What School Should You Attend?
After deciding on the program of choice, the very next thing you will need to ensure is that you enroll in an accredited degree program. Do your research! Here are a few questions that you can use to research for due diligence:-
- Is the institution accredited?
- Is the program itself accredited?
- By which accreditation agency is it accredited?
The aim here is to ensure that your degree is not questioned for validity when you have completed your program. In essence, accreditation levels the playing field and exists as a form of quality control across universities and regions globally.
I opted to register in an accredited hybrid program. Doctoral learners were required to meet face-to-face for residencies where dissertation work was the main focus. I encourage persons looking for a school to do proper research into additional areas such as tuition costs, online ratings/reviews given by actual students, and world rankings.
3. What Commitments Will You Need To Make?
A doctorate can be a significant financial investment. You should consider whether or not you will be able to afford the time, money, and sacrifices you will need to make. Remember, this commitment will last longer than many relationships do. In a research doctorate, like the Dr. B.A, what initially seems doable (such as reading 3 articles each day or writing 1000 words per day) is likely to slowly wear you down, at which point endurance becomes the key.
You must be sure you are willing and able to commit the time necessary to see it through. In my case, in addition to being a full-time student, I was also working as an engineering manager at a high-demand power station, where I worked most weekends. Not to forget, I also had to take care of my family. Having two children on the severe end of the autism spectrum — made for a very demanding, stressful, and expensive venture. That’s where having love and support from immediate friends and family come in. But more about that later! So, in summary, you need to make:-
a. The time commitment
A doctorate will typically take four years to complete, sometimes longer. You must be sure you are willing and able to commit the time necessary to see it through. You can also expect to dedicate 3–4 hours daily (including weekends!) to your research and completing coursework/assignments.
b. The personal commitment
A doctorate requires a great deal of personal dedication. You must be sure that you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to see it through. For me, such sacrifices included things I used to love - like exercising, doing 5Ks, and getting a good night’s rest 😏.
c. The lifestyle commitment
A doctorate can be a demanding lifestyle. You need to be sure that you are willing and able to make the changes necessary to accommodate it. Especially if you are pursuing your program while managing a full-time job; for many, it is their ‘9 to 5’ that is funding and fueling their studies, which leads to the next question…
4. Cost: Do You Have The Money (or Funding)?
One of the main hindrances I faced while doing my doctorate was the cost. A doctorate can be a significant financial investment. You should consider whether you can afford the tuition and living expenses associated with it.
A doctoral program typically costs between 50–80k (could be more if it extends beyond 5 years). That is a considerable investment, and you must make sure you are prepared to commit to that financial investment.
I was even kicked out of the university during my doctorate program because of financial reasons. I was unable to fund myself and had to take several bank loans and mortgages, even from family members. In what I would call ‘rough days,’ my Aunt, Maxine Clarke, was very kind enough to lend me the money for me to be able to fund my education. Asking anyone for financial help was not something I was used to, but hard times called for difficult and humble decisions.
Ensure that you devise a 4-year plan complete with a source of income, as lack of funding can be very distracting to your doctoral goal.
5. Will You Have The Support You Will Need?
Pursuing a doctorate can have a significant impact on your family life. You need to be sure that your close friends and family are supportive of your decision and that they are willing to make the necessary adjustments. It is like a group effort because many sacrifices have to be made, and those on the receiving end need to agree beforehand and give support throughout your marathon — not just at the beginning.
I had the blessing of having an amazingly supportive partner, Latoya Lobban, who never gave up on me and kept supporting me despite all the adversities. Not once did she complain, though many times left to take the brunt of things while I sulked and brooded over (what appeared to be) my never-ending assignments and exams. This showed me that whatever we face, having the right person to face it with does make a big difference.
Then, the support of friends and family is also critical. My mother, Yvonne Harvey, was always there to give me that “you can do it” talk even when I had my doubts.
6. What Is Your Career Goal?
A doctorate can be a great way to further your career, but it is not the only option. It is a significant investment of time and energy, so you need to be sure that you will be able to enjoy the process and be motivated enough to see it through to the end. Depending on your career goal, it is quite possible that simply doing numerous short courses and certifications would better enhance your development and career than attempting a doctoral program. In other words,
You should first consider your long-term career goals and whether or not a doctorate is necessary to achieve them.
Likewise, you need to be sure that you are academically prepared for the rigors of a doctoral program. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses in order to determine if this is the right path (and the right timing!) for you. Be aware, too, of the current job market and the prospects for employment in your field of study before embarking on a doctorate.
7. What Is YOUR “why.”
Ok. So, we’ve already discussed the “what,” but now…being highly motivated by a deeper “why” is perhaps the most essential ingredient to successfully achieving your degree. A doctorate is a demanding process, and you need to be sure that you are committed to seeing it through to the end. And
when things get challenging-and, believe me, they will- you will need to dig deep for what exactly it is you are striving for.
For some, their “why” is a deep desire to have a “Dr.” behind their name. And that’s ok! For others, it is their family or children’s financial stability. Personally, my ‘why’ was just a personal life goal since childhood. I also suspect that a Master’s Degree will soon become an ordinary achievement for many, and so I preferred to take that extra step early in the game than in the next 15 years when my grays have outnumbered my blacks.
To Conclude
A decision to pursue a doctoral degree in any field is a challenge and not to be taken lightly. It is a significant investment, financially, emotionally, and time-wise as well. But if you do decide that a doctorate is right for you, then go for it with all your heart, knowing that you will come out as an improved, more resilient version at the other end. If you wish to talk about your options for studies or even get advice about your innovative ideas, feel free to contact me at ianetwork@gmail.com. But what sayeth you about this whole doctorate thing? Would you tackle it, or is doing a doctoral study totally unnecessary?
