My home is now my deep dark cave, from whence I never venture

I never leave my home, except to go to work, the gym and to go grocery shopping. I turn down invitations all the time, all for the sake of finishing a doctorate. People don't understand how I can turn down invitations in favor of "studying." They look at me like deer in headlights. It simply goes way above their heads. People don't seem to understand the hours and hours that it takes to fit all this stuff into a condensed timeline. For example, my three-day weekend was spent reading zillions of professional journals and searching for information, all day long... followed by putting it all into writing. In fact, it's now 10:30 PM on my day off and I'm just now finishing up working (aka studying, reading and writing). Even though people don't understand why I'm doing all this (they say a doctorate is useless), it is a ticket to a dream for me, as well as being a future source of revenue. Will it all be worth it??? You bet!!!

My home has become a deep dark cave where I rarely venture out from. I am currently getting ready to finish comps (the comprehensive review) and will then begin the grueling dissertation process, whereupon I will dig my cave a little bit deeper. One fellow said that his home started to look like the Adams Family while he was trying to complete a dissertation. LOL

Can you imagine how much free time we will have on our hands once we finish this process??? We will actually have time to give back to the community!!!

 

Wow!

Do you know why Northcentral Universith chose Road Runner as their university's mascott?

 

Great - something to look forward to

 

1. Students don't have to sit through traditional classes.

2. Students can do their academic work during their free time e.g. when they aren't working as an employee for someone.

3. Students can do as much work as they want, thus expediting their coursework -- or they can go as slow as they want (within limits).

= Roadrunner

 

After reading me again's description of the process of getting a doctorate, I would gather that it is actually because it would allow one to run away fast as hell after said doctorate is complete!

 

I read at the NCU forums that the Comps are tough.

GOOD LUCK!

 

me again,

How many courses do you usually take at a time? Are you on an accelerated path -- that is, attempting to complete courses in under 12 weeks?

 

Out of personal preference, I only took one class at a time. I like to focus on one class -- and only one class. I find it to be easier that way because I can focus exclusively on that task. However, there are others who take more than one class.

Yes, I went the accelerated route. Generally, it only takes me approximately 16 hours to produce 13 pages of writing (that excludes cover pages and reference pages). If I want to accelerate a class, then here is my system:

• Day 1:
  a) Peruse professional journals at Proquest by using their search engine to find the articles that match what I'm looking for. This takes hours and hours of reading and skimming through articles. The search engine helps to narrow it down pretty good. If I'm not in the mood to read, then it can be tough and it's sort of like force feeding a baby. However, during this phase, I collect all of the information that will be used in my paper. I always do this on my day off and that's why it takes me all day long. It could easily take me 2 or 3 days, but if I want to push through a class quickly, then I'll try to get enough writing material in one (1) day. This expedited methodology could not be done without the advent of having entire libraries (of professional journals) online and at our fingertips. Without an online library, I estimate that it would take me about 6 weeks to collect this much information. With with search engines, all of this information is only a fingertip away -- and then its up to us to quickly skim through the literature, looking for gold nuggets of information that we can use.
  
  b) I also try to categorize all of the material that I've found into a basic skelaton that will form a paper. Instead of using 3x5 cards, I simply do it in word, but my methodology is too lengthy to explain in this post. If you're interested, then I can explain it in a secondary post.
  
• Day 2: a skelaton of the paper already exist and I simply begin taking the materials that I've found and begin writing.

If I bust my chops, I can do it in two days, but it isn't easy and it's time consuming and I have to forgo everything else. I can comfortably do the exact same process in a 5 day non-accelerated period (without busting my chops).

I've done many classes in 30 days. Two particular classes come to mind where the mentor wanted me to produce 10 pages of writing for each of the 17 assignments. In that case, there is no way that I could have finished those classes in 30 days. However, ironically, I had too much vacation time on the books, so I took 2 months of vacation time and ***POOF*** was was able to finish those two classes in 30 days time (back to back, 60 days total).

I am unable to finish comps in 30 days and I was going to allote myself the full 90 days to complete it, but something has come up and I am now trying to finish it in 60 days. But that wasn't my original plan. Frankly, I'm sort of suffering from burnout by doing this. Tired. Very tired. But it's almost over and then all this "traditional coursework" will be over and the dissertation phase will begin, which is totally foreign to me.

 

That seems excessively excessive, no?

Typically, how much writing do you do for each course?

I've yet to take an online course, but my vicarious experience is that the demands are far greater than what I've experienced in my name-brand B&M graduate programs.

 

I understand your situation if it helps.

You are kind of like the groundhog that only comes out once a year just to see your shadow!

Just recently completed my DBA and now trying to deal with the trauma of having time on my hands! What a shock to the system after years of being under the gun and sequestered to the cave with a laptop!

It eventually ends and there is open water ahead.

You are correct that few truly understand the drive, desire, and sacrifice it takes to get through any doctoral level program.

Best to you in your studies.

BH

 

Most courses only require around seven assignments (some more and some less), but I had a couple of courses that had 17 assignments each. The syllabus only required 3 or 4 pages of writing, but the mentor increased it to 10 pages because she said that it is impossible to cover the material in only 3 or 4 pages. Even in my B&M MA program, I didn't have that much work to do!!! Oh well, I did what she asked and it's water passed the bridge.

 

"The trauma of having too much time on my hands."

Ohhhhh that's too funny!!!

Where did you get your DBA from???

 

This quote of the day for today struck me as funny - and sort of applicable in this situation:

Books to the ceiling,/ Books to the sky,/ My pile of books is a mile high./ How I love them! How I need them!/ I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
- Arnold Lobel

 

When did you start and how many classes a semester / year are you taking? I think you started after me and I have three classes left until I hit the dis. phase.

Your kicking my @##!!!

 

Were you able to transfer in graduate level credits from elsewhere? I started and then stopped and then started again about 13 months ago.

 

How long for comps?

I will start comps next summer. I have a couple of courses starting in January that have 10-15 page papers due for each assignment. I will be reading and writing for the rest of my life it seems.

Do we get 12 or 16 weeks for comps? I know the RSH and DIS courses are 16 weeks.

I finish my master's on Friday and the idea of having to go to one school (even though it is a PhD) is refreshing. I have been working on my master's and PhD simulateously for about 18 months now.

I can't imagine having free time on my hands. I can't wait!!!

 

I can definitely relate to the cave situation. I am in the dissertation phase of a D.Min. right now so I too am trying to be very careful about what I do socially that takes me away from my work. Doing a D.Min has always been my dream, as well. I feel really privileged to be well on my way to having a doctorate. The process has really changed me and helped me become a better writer. Good luck!

PF

 

All that effort for a non-AACSB degree. Hope for your sake it is worth the time and effort.

 

Me again—I read your initial post and can relate to your situation. When I was completing my dissertation I definitely felt the way you do.

But that was over 3 years ago, and guess what? I am still spending all of my non-teaching hours (and my week-ends), conducting research, writing journal articles, and developing conference presentations. But the difference is that now it’s not “a deep dark cave, from whence I never venture”. It is more of a brightly lit research/academic paradise with unending opportunities for teaching, research, and publications, where I can collaborate with some of the brightest minds and leading scholars in my school. I am definitely enjoying every minute of it, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

My school consistently provides me with more teaching opportunities and funded research projects which I find irresistible and which abundantly fills my annual workload. Every “call for papers” I respond to results in an acceptance for presentation at a conference. In 2006 I presented at the annual conferences for each of the premiere associations representing project management, supply management, and contract management. I already have two research conferences scheduled for 2007, as well as three funded research projects for next year.

Does life get easier after getting your DBA? Do you have more free time after getting your DBA? In my situation—no on both counts. But life definitely gets more enjoyable, satisfying, meaningful, and definitely busier. Hang in there—get past the comps and get that dissertation completed! Keep your eyes on the prize---The fun has yet to begin.

 

I really liked your post! It was a great encouragement. I am beginning to realize that my doctoral journey (D.Min), will also open up some new and exciting writing and teaching experiences. I've never been published before. The thought of publishing some articles is rather exciting!