To go for a PHD or not

I currently am in my last class for a MS in IT Managment with a concentration in Info Sec. I'm thnking about a PHD but the cost seems terribly high to go for the degree. The question is would a PHD really benefit me in my career or should I just stop at this point. I have an AAS, BS and now an MS would a PHD really help. Where are some good online PHD programs that are cheaper and require no residency?

 

Why would you want one?

 

I was strongly cautioned against pursuing a doctorate by my mother and by my brother. My mother said it isn't good for anything except teaching [basically]. My brother, who is a tenured professor at a B&M university, said that the amount of work required may not equal the final payback; he also mentioned that the attrition rate is well over 50% once people hit the dissertation i.e. once people get to the dissertation, they find out how hard it really is and they simply "walk away."

Having said that...

I'm now in the dissertation stage and if I could have known in the beginning what I know now, I would have never enrolled in a doctoral program. However, after spending all the time, work and money to complete all the coursework and the comps, quitting didn't seem like an option, so now I'm forced to figure out how to pass "by any means necessary."

Based upon the limited amount that you've written, I'd recommend against pursuing a doctorate. Don't get me wrong: A doctorate is well worth the time, effort and money spent to achieve it; but it's not a task to be taken lightly because it's very difficult!

 

I have to agree with me again.

 

meagain,

I knew I could count on you to be a beacon of light! As I start on my Stats class (after stats I start on comps) and wonder what the future has in store for me I can always look to your posts for hope and inspiration. thanks - for nothing!!!

Seriously, it is a lot of hard work and I am getting tuition assistance from my employer so I pay $500 a year plus books since I only take 3 classes per year. I have thought about dropping out but I think the ROI is well worth it if you want to teach. I will make about 30-35K this year teaching as an extra income. At this point everyone I work with knows I am going for a PhD so if I drop out I feel I will be shamed. Pure pride and greed are driving me. If I would have known three years ago what I know now, I would have gone for a CAGS or another masters degree.

Bottom line - why do you want a PhD?

 

Keep it up Randell! My friend Diahann (I think she mailed you some books a while back?), is at the dissertation phase at NCU.

Abner

 

On the other hand, if your want to teach--I get all the work I could ever want, and I thank my PhD for that. I teach full time, and as well, teach adjunct online on the side (bringing in $50-$60k year in extra income).

My former employer paid for my PhD, so it was certainly worth it.

Jim

 

To be or not to be? That is the question! Calculate future income potential without the doctorate. Now calculate future income potential with the doctorate, less the cost of acquiring the doctorate. Which is the bigger number?

 

What is your proposed major?

 

Thanks - she did mail me some books for FREE (just the cost of shipping). Hope she is doing well. Thanks for the encouraging words.

 

Do you mind of I ask what school you teach online for and which subjects you teach?

 

As others have suggested above, first you really must decide what you want the Ph.D. for, and whether the cost is worth it -- regardless of how you measure that cost.

For me, I have no plans to teach again, but am doing my Ed.D. for two reasons:

1. I eventually want to open up my own consultancy shop in my field, and believe that having the Ed.D. will provide me with an additional cachet with clients;
2. For personal satisfaction, as I've always wanted to complete a doctorate ever since I was a little girl . . . my father was a professor, and so I always wanted to emulate him in that way. Plus, I just love to keep learning. ;-)

For me, the cost of completing my doctoral work at NCU is very doable, especially since I get the 40% discount for receiving a military pension. And even if I can't be sure of actual ROI in terms of what my Ed.D. will provide above and beyond my two master's in the future in terms of income earned, I just look at my total cost, and figure if I wasn't spending it on the Ed.D., I'd be spending it on something else in my life that would have far less longevity -- a nicer car, more clothes, etc.

Just my two cents, but I thought I'd bring in a viewpoint on the utility of a doctorate that is not related to teaching.

Cheers,
Adrienne

 

I have to agree with you, boiling everything in life down to an ROI can lead to a pretty empty existence. I’m doing it for a couple reasons:

1. To see if I really can
2. To actually finish something, a terminal degree better mean ‘done’ and not ‘dead’
3. I’m actually learning stuff
4. I think it will be rewarding to actually research a topic and become an ‘expert’ in a field, even if it is a lot of work
5. Lastly, I guess, because I can afford it, NCU over a 3 or 4 year period really isn’t all that expensive..

 

HeeHeeHee

You've already [pretty much] completed all the coursework and comps, so now it's incumbent on you to complete the dissertation. I too had financial advantages to begin a doctoral program because I got a scholarship which reduced tuition by 40% and my employer pays half of the remaining tuition, thus my out-of-pocket costs are minimal.

For me, making money via online teaching (or by in-resident teaching after I retire) is a viable option that I am well aware of and will utilize, assuming I complete the dissertation. Obtaining a regionally accredited doctorate is a pretty BIG fishing pole and we can catch some BIG fish [$$$] with it! It will allow me to make some easy cash without digging ditches when I retire. However, making money with a doctorate was never my original goal; but after everything I've learned thus far, it is now a viable goal.

I understand!

My original goal remains the same: Obtaining a doctorate will help me to achieve a personal dream that I have. While I won't disclose what it is, I will say that it's akin to being a consultant e.g. it lends credibility to ones opinion.

I believe that I'll finish the dissertation, but it's much harder than I anticipated. I will do whatever the dissertation committee asks -- no questions asked. I began the dissertation with my own noble, ethereal, world changing concepts; but I'm reduced to the pragmatic vision of my dissertation chair, coupled with qualitative and quantitative facts that I can find to back it up. In retrospect, his ideas are much much better. It's all good by me. By any means necessary...

 

Yep, and that's a big reward for completing a doctorate. I previously wasn't aware of all the money that can be made, simply for having a RA doctorate; but now I'm fully informed.

 

Yes, but Dr. Marion fails to mention he only sleeps 2 hours a day.

 

Ok-there's a long list, so here is comes...!

First, my full-time job is Program Chair for the School of Electronics Technology at ITT Technical Institute in Duluth, GA.

I also teach adjunct at the following:

Argosy University (Doctoral and MBA, 1 weekend per month on the Atlanta Campus)

Also, Doctoral courses online. All are operations management, Global Leadership, management frameworks

Franklin University: Global Business Issues (online)

Axia College of UoP: Various IT and Business Courses (online)

Strayer University: Various IT related courses (online)

DeVry University: Wireless Technology (online)

Touro University International: Various IT and business related courses (online)

 

I get in my 8 hrs per day...!

In fact, typical day...

Walk into my home office with a cup of coffee around 8 (ish). Facilitate my online courses...about 10-10:15 or so, get ready for my day job. (Days I don't teach I do 11-8pm shifts, days I teach--usually 2 to 3 classes, 1:30-10ish). ITT is less than 5 miles away from home, so it all works together very well. I do well--I used to be a world travelling executive, now, I am home or nearby--still work hard, but no jet lag, no one is riding my you know what, and life is good...

 

Note that "me again" is a fake student of NoCentral U, so you may want avoid taking advice from that anonymous shill.

Dave