How to Get a PhD_ 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow.pdf

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

How to Get a PhD Going Goi ng Thr Throug ough h the Pro Process cess of Earn Earning ing a PhD

Obtain Obt aining ing Skills Skills You' You'll ll Need Need to Ear Earn n a PhD

 A PhD, short for doctor of p hilosophy, is the top academic academic degree. deg ree. It represents a mastering mastering of one's field f ield of study and and entitles the person who earns earns it to be addressed with the the honorific "Doctor." "Doc tor." Earning Earning a PhD requires a considerable amount of work is not for everyone, everyone, but if it is for f or you, here is how to get a PhD.

Part 1 of 2: Going Through Through the Process of Earning a PhD

1

Consider if getting a PhD is right for you. PhD you.  PhD careers are mostly careers in research. As a PhD, you may secure a position as a college or university professor, a

researcher in i n a government or industrial laboratory, a consul co nsultant, tant, or an independent practitioner. practiti oner. If you you have the the curiosi ty to explore a subject i n depth and the tenacity to do so for many years, years, applying app lying for a graduate grad uate PhD program may be for you. If you you are simply si mply seeking seeki ng wealth or the the status of being bei ng seen as smarter than everyone everyone else, applying for a PhD program is most likely not the best direction for you. See the section "Skills You'll Need to Earn a PhD" for advice on what it takes to see a doctoral program through to completion.

Online Onlin e PhD P hD program www.aiu.edu Distance Learning PhD at your pace, learn when and where you want.

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

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Complete your undergraduate education. You education. You will need a solid record of  coursework from a reputable re putable university university that shows potential for both b oth advanced

coursework and independent research. Your Your undergraduate degree will be i n the the field i n which you plan to to earn a PhD, although this this is not a requirement. While not necessary, the following are a good idea while you are an undergraduate: undergraduate: Obtain research experience experie nce in the field you will likely be attending graduate school. Try to publish several articles in i n the the professi onal literature and deliver several professional professi onal conference presentations as an undergraduate. This This will most likely li kely help you obtain needed ski lls, give you extra exposure to your field, and help you to demonstrate that you will will be successful in your field. Become very involved involved in your academic department's de partment's club or honor honor society soci ety if one exists. If not, not, speak with your your advisor or o r department chair about starting one. Speak to graduate students and faculty about their their experiences; many will be happy to let you know about the the advantages and di sadvantages of studying for and obtaining a Ph.D. Find one or more faculty members members who will mentor you, guide your development, and assist assi st you in finding the right program for you. A good way to develop a relationship with a professor is to take multiple classes with her and join her lab. Most professors professo rs are more than happy to work with a talented student who who shows a sincere interest in their work.

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

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Apply for admission admission to a graduate school. Although school. Although some people obtain an honours degree, higher degree by diploma or master's degree before applying to a

Ph.D. program, most Ph.D. students apply directly for a Ph.D. program prog ram without completing an honours degree, higher diploma or master's degree. Doctoral programs are based on research in i n the PhD candidate's field of o f study. They They often begin with a thorough investigation of the existing body of knowledge on a subject to define specific questions that can be answered through original research. resea rch. You You will need to send se nd the following items with your your application: appli cation: Yourr undergraduate and graduate You g raduate transcripts  A curriculu curriculum m vitae vitae (CV) or resum resume e Letters of recommendation from people peop le familiar with your your work who also know what the the program progra m you are applying to is i s looki ng for. Often, your your undergraduate undergraduate and graduate professors and advisers will have a better handle on the specific information the admissions admissi ons committee wants than would would a supervisor from outside the academic world.  A statement statement of purpose, purpose, describing what what you hav have e already already done done and wh what at you you hope to accomplish acc omplish in i n your your doctoral research, who you hope hope to work with as your  research supervisor and the reasons you want want to work with that person. Your  Your  research program shou s hould ld be in i n an area that has has not been previously researched. You may or may not also have to take a written exam as you did when entering graduate school, depending depe nding on the college or un university iversity you're applying to. These can include the Graduate Records Exam E xam or another test.

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

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Choose an academic advisor and committee. You committee. You want want an advisor familiar with your area of research resea rch who can direct you when needed needed and have resources and

connections you can draw on. Tenured Tenured professors have access to more grant money, equipment, and connections, while while non-tenured non-tenured professors profess ors are more personally available. You can compensate for the di sadvantages of one professor pro fessor by choosi ng both tenured tenured and non-tenu nontenured red professors profes sors for your advisory committee, provided they are all versed in i n your  your  field of research. Your proposed academic advisor/research supervisor should be named in your  statement of purpose, with wi th the reasons you want to work with wi th that person. Those reasons should show that you know something about that person's background and why he he or she would make an effective advisor. ad visor.

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Try to get a teaching or research assistantship. assistantship. Any  Any of these assistantships will 4/9

 

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How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

help pay your way through through the years of your doctoral program, progra m, with the research assistantsh assi stantship ip direc directly tly funding funding your research. Initia Initially, lly, you you may be doing doi ng more of the research resea rch grant work, but you you should should progress to self-directed self-direc ted research. researc h.

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Complete requisite coursework and, most likel likely, y, an intensive comprehensive

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Prepare a doctoral dissertation/thesis. Your dissertation/thesis. Your doctoral dissertation is a written

examination examinati on covering your entire field of study.

document that should flow from your statement of purpose and have a subject that

forms the basis for your years years of research. res earch. You You will present the dissertation dissertati on in writing to the faculty and be examined orally on the contents of your work.

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

Part 2 of 2: Obtaining Skills You'll Need to Earn a PhD

1

Display initiative. While initiative. While professors, profess ors, in a doctoral do ctoral program, lead your undergraduate classes, you direct direc t your research with the the assistance assi stance of your advisor. It is up to you to

get the work done.

Be tenacious. Your tenacious. Your research program and dissertatio di ssertation n may take anywhere anywhere from two to six years to complete, c omplete, on average. You You have have to be prepared p repared to commit c ommit the time and then commit it.

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

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Plan and organize your work. Decide work. Decide what tasks are most important at any given time and give them priority, relegating less important tasks for later. Break large jobs

down into smaller manageable tasks task s that you can complete and move on to the next task.

4

Adapt to opportunities and challenges. During challenges. During the time you spend working on your doctorate, you will will face both b oth obstacles to completing co mpleting your research, such as lack

of laboratory access, acce ss, and opportun opp ortunities ities,, such as new grants or faculty members. How you incorporate the opportun op portunitie ities s and work around a round the the challenges will have an impact impa ct on your  success.

5

Work well with others. No others. No matter how smart you may be, you will need the help of  others in your research, particularly partic ularly the the support staff. You also need to keep your 

advisory committee regularly reg ularly updated on your progress.

6

Communicate effectively. You effectively. You need to present yourself and your work well both orally and in writing to earn recognition as a PhD candidate and a researcher. You

need to deliver your main point quickly and your overall presentation or paper with confidence.

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disse rtation are your  Keep a sense of perspective. While perspective. While your research and dissertation primary focus during your doctoral studies, take some s ome time. Because Be cause you will spend

several years to earn e arn your your doctorate, you need need to take care of your physic physical al and mental health,, eat right, health ri ght, and make time to exercise regularly regularly.. So when you you finish your work, it does doe s not finish you.

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12.12.2013

How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

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How to Get a PhD: 14 Steps ( wi th Pi ctur es) - wi kiH ow

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Sources and Citations http://ww http:/ /www.cs.purdu w.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/es e.edu/homes/dec/essay.phd.h say.phd.html tml http://www.cs.unc.edu/~azuma/hitch4.html

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