I am thinking about dropping out of school

I am about half way through my first class as NCU and I am having serious second thoughts about pursuing a PhD. The course work is challenging but not impossible. I am having a problem staying motivated. When I was working on my masters from TUI, I was very motivated and could not wait to get to work on my next paper/course. Now, it feels grueling to have to write another paper.

I am having a problem justifying the amount of work that will be required for the return of a PhD that I do not need right now. I may want to teach full-time one day, but I cannot say for sure. I applied for several online adjunct teaching positions and never received any calls. What if I complete my PhD and still cannot land an adjunct position?

I have been in school of the past 6 or seven years and I am realizing that I am not doing a lot of things that I would enjoy because I am spending time with school work. The biggest motivator I have today to continue with my PhD is the tax break I will receive.

Has anyone else encountered this? How do you stay motivated to take on such an extraordinary task?

 

Randell,

For me the thought that I will retire in a few years and I want to keep doors open was a big motivator in continued education. As others have pointed out in the forum you really only need a masters degree and 18 hours in a field. While a PhD may open a few more doors it is no guarantee of an adjunct position. However, your concentration will provide 18 graduate hours so even if you stop at ABD you will have added to your resume additional graduate hours. NCU has the distinct advantage of being able to take one class at a time and time will pass. I use Monster.com to measure what adjunct positions are in demand. I figure any institution needing to open a job in this fashion has a real shortage. ITT, CCI, and others routinely post for adjuncts, some of them for online positions.

The continued education for me has no affect on my current position, so I stay motivated by looking down the road at the end result.

My biggest recommendation would be to take a break. (I dropped to one class per semester for a break) Maybe reevaluate your major emphasis in the degree plan. You have been real busy and certainly have set an example of perseverance. Continued success with whatever decision you make.

Kindest Regards,

Kevin

 

You're at a good point to stop, of course. Better than if you'd gone deep into the program. But should you?

The question we all must answer--and it is a difficult one--is why do you want the Ph.D.? In the workplace, the bachelor's and master's are no-brainers--you just have to decide in which field(s) you should earn your degrees. But the doctorate? Overly-difficult to earn and under-appreciated by employers, generally.

There is a natural progression from high school to the bachelor's to the master's. But the Ph.D. is another animal entirely. You gotta have a reason, and keep it in your sights as you aim for the degree. That will propel you through it. Take it from someone who's been on both sides of this issue while pursuing a doctorate.

 

Randall.

My suggestion would be to complete the class that your in now, and then take some needed time off. You wouldn't be doing yourself any good forcing yourself through. The desired learning wouldn't be taking place and resentment would grow.
Taking time off doesn't mean failure in achievement of your Ph.D goal, its taking the best approach for you as an individual.
That option of continuing is always available to you in the near or distant future.
Good luck, I'm sure everything will work out for the best.

TomC.

 

Randall,

I understand what your going through. I'm in a medical school that uses distance learning. I came to this site after searching for a forum that was dedicated by people in distance learning programs. It's hard for me as I'm sure it is for you. Anyone who thinks medical school is easy is crazy. However, the benefit of my medical school which many other medical schools don't provide is that I get to take one course at a time and fully concentration on that subject at hand. I know alot of traditional medical students that have to deal with 4 and 5 subjects at one time. In time I think this will make me a good doctor since I will have been able to concentrate on one subject at a time as apposed to 4 or 5.

In terms of jobs, distance education in medical schools is new and is not looked at keenly by the medical boards. I don't know if I'll ever be able to become licensed in the US. This inspite of me being able to do clinicals, residency and take the same board exams that any other medical student must take. As more and more medical schools include distance learning programs into their curriculum, it offers me a ray of sunshine.

How this applies to your situation is that I don't know where my medical education will take me. I can say the same for you. But, don't give up. Take a break if you have to. Eventhough you don't where your education will take you in the end, it is worth it. Once you've gotten that PH.D, who knows what doors may open. Hang in there and take that break if you feel you need some time to regroup.

-Dr.2B

 

Randall:

The way I look at it is that you are evolving. Doing so requires you to shift your focus a great deal. I think landing an adjunct professorship is more luck and timing than anything else in most circumstances, unless you live in a very small community and people from out of the area are grabbing up the local positions.

For me a PhD is like being on a knowledge journey. I could face the same problems as you, but have decided to continue because I end up knowing a little bit more than before. Sure, one misses out on some family experiences but gains knowledge and wisdom that can be shared with loved ones at minimum. Additionally, I use myself as an example for my children, with the hope that they will see no obstacle too great to overcome and that they will understand that gain comes with sacrifice!

If obtaining a PhD is something you desire, I strongly encourage you to do it. If not, then quit now..... you can always try again when you are 50, 60, or 70.

I also do not enjoy doing the work, but it pays me better than watching television. I try to set an example for others. I think you can do the same. It does get frustrating at times because you sometimes ask yourself, is this worth it? I think in the long run that you will find it is.

I look at it as a hitch in the service 3 or 4 years of being away from home: with loads of experience, knowledge, that you can hopefully use throughout your life. Now, isn't that worth it?

Good luck to you. I trust you find your answer: it lies inside you.

 

I think that Rich's advice is sound. Doctorates are very much under-appreciated in industry. A doctorate is only going to open doors in rather specific situations. So one needs to think through one's goals carefully up front. And one needs to think about what else one could do with the time (learn another language, write a book, ...) and where those activities might get you in an equivalent number of years.

I also think that it's sometimes worth taking a breather, during which one can re-evaluate one's values, goals, plans.

 

Randell1234,


My self when I enrolled the PhD program, my motivation was vanished by several factors:

1) Tuition was skyrocketing, and the guarantees of getting a job with PhD is not assurance, at least in my field is not needed and imposes a liability than an asset.

2) I started to have second thoughts. I was better off, getting certifications (CPA,A+ etc…) and other educations in other fields to keep my self marketable (which I am doing now), and it will be more cost effective. For example, a person with DBA in Accounting, which probably has invested well over $100.000 dollars to get educated, has not guarantee to get a six figures income.

Now, in other hand, a person with a BBA and that darn CPA certificate (investment less than $30,000.00) almost guaranteed a six-figure income. Then, again, I asked my self, it is worth the time, loss of income and possibilities of making more money, in getting that PhD degree?

3) Several situations and contradictions that occurred at the University. Despite they have improved the program; still I find the program not worth my time and investment.

4) I like to do things on my own terms; time restrictions can impose my ability to be creative and productive. Moreover, doing a course for a PhD programs in two months is too much pressure. I have this same format with my MBA in Accounting; hence, I ended having no life.

5) It will not matter from what RA or NA school you get you doctorate, all boils down to one thing, when you are out in the market, is whom you know that counts and not what you know. Therefore, networking with other important people can do wonders to your life and pocket$$$$$$$$.

 

Randall

I am taking one course at a time at A&M. It will not kill me to finish in 2008. I figure that I will still have my sanity. I earned my MA in history in 1996. I am now one the last people in my graduating class (out of 7) that do not have my Phd. At North Carolina Central, it is a rite of passage. Can you imagine the pressure from that, let alone the Phd. Many exits off the main road of getting to that dream have taken me to strange towns, if you know what I mean. If you never lose sight of the dream....you will get there. During my stints with Luby's, Firestone and Avis, I never ever forgot the dream. You can take a break, but if the fire is still there, no matter what you do or say, then you know it is right. For me, if a three hour lecture at A&M still gives me goosebumps( It still does), then I know I am in the right place. My students say I need to be committed, but I laugh and go on. Also, one other thing. I travel 106 miles to get to College Station once a week. The drive doesnt get old and the 30 minute walk through sweltering heat doesnt kill me. When you factor all that and you still want it, you will get it.

 

Hi, Randell. Your situation sounds like mine.

In my case, I (rather reluctantly) came to the conclusion that I didn't really have any use for a Ph.D. that would justify the cost and time associated with earning one.

I don't have any university teaching aspirations or clear vocational need for a doctorate. So my motivations would have been largely self-improvement and personal interest.

At this point, my educational interests are moving in the direction self-directed reading, taking individual university classes, giving selected non-accredited options a new look and towards the many non-credit, non-degree offerings that Degreeinfo never discusses.

That direction permits me to continue growing intellectually. It actually gives me more freedom to pursue my peculiar interests wherever they lead me than a more structured faculty-guided program would. All it doesn't offer me is the cool socially-respected "doctor" title. But if my only reason for lusting after a title is as an ego-booster and status-enhancer, then I don't really need it.

But it's been painful. Surrendering my lifelong Ph.D. aspiration has been part of a midlife crisis for me, I guess.

 

It looks like I am traveling down a popular path. I think I would regret dropping out but I think I might be unhappy if I continue based on ego.

My only real goal for a PhD is to have the option to teach as an adjunct at a community college. Maybe I will take 18 credits in something that is in "great need" like history or english so I can teach online as an adjunct.

 

Randell,

I believe you're burned out. Lots of achievement in a short period, and now faced with another mountain to climb. Take a rest for awhile and consider your priorities. And give some thought to other things in your life: your family, career, and community. Educational pursuits can be monastic and something like running submerged. Maybe it's time to surface and reprovision. If after some reflection you see the value and you are still motivated to pursue a doctorate, you will have at least given yourself some time to re-energize and reconnect with other important aspects of your life.

 

Randell,

Never before have I seen so much advice offered to someone in such a short period of time!!! What more can I say?!?!!![/i]

I too got burned out after acquiring a masters degree, so I know the feeling that you're talking about. Why go through the headaches? Why do all that work? For what?

For people who do complete a doctorate, something motivated them to keep on plugging. That motivational factor is probably different for everyone.

I'm not going to give you any advice because there's enough of that within this thread. I simply want to let you know that you are not the only one who has experienced what you are going through.

 

Why don't you just switch to a real easy field like theology?

 

Sorry. I just get a kick out of it when Bill Grover's voice starts coming out of my printer, screaming.

Seriously, I can't add much except to say consider the sources of the advice you have been given, then consider the advice, then do nothing for as long as deadlines will permit, then act, then resolve to be content with your decision whatever it is. I wish you all the best for the future. Keep us posted.

Janko

 

Two comments:

1: The first couple of courses will be the easiest (most desire to do wel), the time required and the level of interest will drop as you go along, to the point of near burn out by the time you finish the course work.

2: To teach at the JC/CC level you usually only need a masters like you said, perhaps you can go with what you already have as a start.

 

Ph.D ?

Randall

Listen to Uncle Janko's advice, do the exact opposite, and everything will work out just fine.

Just kidding.

TomC.

 

===

HARDYHARHAR

In my case I'm an old guy who is just studying for personal reasons. I do not need the ThD . But I wanted to do the research of my interest , under proper supervision, at a recognized doc level . Had the research not been been so interesting to me ,I know I wouldn't now be 99% done -ie, I hope I am!

But I tried another doc once, in Education, and I did not have the motivation to complete it. So, I understand your condition, Randall, I think.

I do wish you the best which ever you decide.

 

I know wht this feels like, though only at the much less challenging master's level.

Do remember that not completing a Ph.D. is not a failure in life.

You might also take some professional counselling advice?

 

I don't think it is that bad