Best PhD Program
What Makes the Best PhD Program, well, Best?
You do. Seriously, though. Studying to get your PhD is completely unlike any other academic experience you’ve had. It’s not like choosing a bachelor’s degree program, where you’ll be looking at what courses are offered and what the electives are, and how good the selection is in your interests. It’s not like a master’s, either, where you’ll be looking at what specific concentrations in your field are represented in the course catalog.
The best PhD program is the one that’s being experienced by the best PhD students.
You Determine Your PhD Program Experience
You’ll be the one who decides what your topic for research will be. You’ll be the one who plans your methods of research and you’ll be the one to carry out the relevant analysis. You’ll be the one who draws conclusions from it, and the one who writes your dissertation. It doesn’t matter what the school’s reputation is–they could be considered the best PhD program by the whole world and you might still have a miserable experience.
PhD study is independent, for the most part. If you choose a topic to research that you’re going to find grueling and boring and unbearable after six months, how are you going to feel in six years? The best PhD program isn’t the one with the best reviews or the flashiest brochure. It’s the one you design yourself in such a way that you can remain motivated and fulfill your ambitions.
So how do you make sure that you’re going to have the best possible experience?
- Preparation: Know what you’re getting into. Talk to other PhD students. Talk to the faculty at each school you’re considering. Understand the timeline, funding, and expectations.
- Focus: Have an idea for a research topic you can live with–and for–for years.
- Motivation: If you don’t really WANT your PhD, don’t do it! If you can’t imagine not doing it, you might just be ready.
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