Accredited Ph D Programs Online: Do you have what it takes?

Should you apply to enter an accredited Ph D program? Maybe–maybe not.  It seems like the answer for most people, actually, falls into the ‘maybe not’ category.  But why is that?

A lot of potential Ph D candidates underestimate what it really takes to finish a Ph D program, and what it even means to enroll in one.  They don’t realize how all consuming a Ph D can be.  And with online options, many students make the mistake of assuming that ‘online’ is somehow a synonym for ‘easier.’  Actually, since Ph D work is so often independent and research based, an online accredited Ph D program is virtually identical to an on-campus Ph D program, with the only major difference being that you won’t have face to face meetings with your advisor.

Who makes a good Ph D candidate?

Someone who, first and foremost, loves their field and has the drive and motivation to add to that field as a professional–not just study from it.  You’ll be engaging in original research as a Ph D candidate and writing a dissertation to finally get your accredited Ph D diploma.  As head of a research project, that requires enormous commitment and can be all-consuming.

You’ll also need to be focused.  Are you able to approach the same issue, day in and day out, for 5 to 7 years, without losing your motivation? Or does that sound more like torture than education?  For some, it sounds like heaven and if that ’some’ includes you, well, you might be on the right track with an accredited Ph D program application.

Of course, there’s some measure of talent that goes into getting your Ph D.  If you’re floundering in your field, continuing your education through masters level or even undergrad courses is a good idea–but a Ph D may not be.