Earning a PhD is a common lifelong dream, for good reason. A PhD is the pinnacle of academic achievement; it demonstrates an individual’s commitment to a specific field of study and their mastery of available knowledge and skill. Some PhDs can take more than a decade of full-time study to acquire, and they can be essential for working at the highest levels of certain career paths.
It should go without saying that PhD programs are difficult intellectually, emotionally and physically. If you expect to enroll in a PhD program in the coming years, here are a few tips that past PhD students would want you to know:
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Academia is a competitive environment, and many students believe that showing any intellectual weakness will put them at a disadvantage in their courses and their careers. However, the truth is that not a single PhD student enters their program knowing everything; otherwise, they wouldn’t need to pursue such high-level education. In fact, neglecting to ask questions is a good way to deprive yourself of valuable insights that could catapult your knowledge and skill forward. So, if you need clarity or are feeling curious, you should go ahead and ask questions.
You Aren’t the Only One Feeling Inadequate
Imposter syndrome is rampant in PhD programs. Many PhD students feel that they are inadequate and experience deep and powerful feelings of self-doubt, no matter how accomplished and experienced they might be. If you begin to wonder whether you belong in your PhD program, if you suspect that everyone else is worthier of their position in the program than you are, remember that most of your peers feel a little bit like frauds, too.
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy
To complete your PhD, you will need to produce a unique project that advances your field in some meaningful way. Every PhD student in your program will be working on their own project, and you should avoid comparing your project to anyone else’s. You will never know all the details of another PhD project, and measuring your project against what you think you understand of another project is merely going to sap the passion and enthusiasm you feel for your topic. Instead, you should stay focused on what you can do to make your project as perfect as possible.
You Need an Effective Research Network
Regardless of what you pursue in your PhD project, you will need to make full use of your personal and professional networks to conduct your research. You might consider how to best build your research network before your PhD program begins. For example, if you are seeking a PhD in education, you might consider reaching out to any schools you have worked with. You might also begin engaging with events in your field of study, such as conferences, seminars and lab meetings, to diversify your network.
Organization Is Essential to Success
PhD programs are not as strictly scheduled as bachelor’s and master’s programs. To a significant degree, you will be directing your own studies, which means you need to maintain organization over your schedule, your materials, your goals and your journey. Before you begin your PhD program, you might experiment with different digital and physical organization systems to find ones that make it easy to find and use the information you need.
Every University Has a Plethora of Student Services
Student services are not just for undergrads. As a PhD student, you are in significant need of all the support your school can provide, so you should investigate what resources will be available to you at the start of your program. Likely, you will need to take full advantage of services such as mental health counseling, career counseling, editing and proofreading, library tools and more. You can reach out to your university’s student services team to learn more.
Balance Study With Work and Life
Even dreams can cause burnout. To ensure that you continue to perform at a high level in your PhD program, you need to achieve healthy balance throughout your life. If you are striving to continue working while earning your PhD, you should notify your employer of this new responsibility in your life. Additionally, you should commit to eating well, achieving enough sleep and exercising regularly to ensure a healthy mind and body throughout your program.
You can earn a PhD. However, it will be easier to earn a PhD if you take advantage of the knowledge of PhD students before you and use their tips and tricks for surviving and thriving during your program.
