PhD drop-out rates. Why so high?

A user (Dave Wagner) asked me why I thought the drop-out rate in PhD programs was so high (proverbially 50% bail even after reaching the dissertation stage).

This is one of many topics about which I know practically nothing; however I did find some good resources on the web.

Not surprisingly, few have much to say about distance-education doctorates. However, the lowest drop-out rates are found in science PhD candidates (it's thought that being tied to lab projects keeps one involved). Since very few distance doctorates are in science (except CS) that would suggest a higher drop-out rate would be expected. On the other hand, lack of money is cited as another cause of dropping out. Because most distance-based PhD candidates continue working in their regular jobs, perhaps this is less significant.

The King Kong in this subject: The PhD Completion Project

http://www.phdcompletion.org/index.asp

a summary of their recent report

http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/07/17/phd

Other comments/ reports:

http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i19/19a01001.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701123.html

http://savageminds.org/2007/07/19/are-our-best-students-dropping-out/

http://www.invisibleadjunct.com/archives/000425.html

http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/01/05/history


As stated by Scott Henley, the drop-out rate seems even higher in Europe

here: Flems

http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2006/62-ph-d-student-drop-out-rate-at-flemish-universities/

 

My brother is a B&M professor at a traditional state university that has stringent entry-level requirements for their doctoral programs i.e. GRE/GMAT, GPA of 3.8 or higher, etc. Nonetheless, the attrition rate remains about 50% at the dissertation stage. The issue isn't the selection criteria for entrance into the program, according to my brother, but rather, it's the difficulty of the dissertation that shocks most doctoral students and that's why many simply "walk away" after completing all the coursework and comps. Let's face it: Coursework and comps is kids stuff because anybody with half a brain who can follow a syllabus can do it and that's why there's such a low attrition rate during that phase. The dissertation is where the rubber meets the road and the wheat is separated from the chaff. It's not for everyone.

 

Question: Is it better to drop out and call yourself ABD (I know there is not an official degree) or roll the credits into a masters degree and complete another masters?

 

It is my understanding that the master's degree was invented a century or two ago precisely for this purpose.

Most schools that kick a student out of their doctoral programs after the first year award a masters as a consolation prize. Sometimes the degree is one not normally offered at the institution - the M.Phil at some American institutions is only awarded in these circumstances. I also saw a school award a "Master of Business" to a student that flunked comps twice. This degree doesn't exist in their catalog, and they had an MBA program.

 

re: ABD or second Masters

Some schools give the MPhil as a consolation prize for an ABD. Mine did. Everyone who reached Candidacy (course work, languages, comps, proposal accepted) was eligible for MPhil. Regular MA/ MS could be earned en-route as well.

 

Actually, I didn't ask about the student drop-out rate...

My question was more to the point of why schools do such a poor job of creating doctors from admitted students, with respect to the raw numbers; this a more realistic way to look at the quality behind the process. What's wrong with the service blueprint here?

To term it a drop out rate shifts the responsibility entirely to the student and doesn't hold the school accountable for the quality of their own process.

It seems from some of the sources above that running out of funds is a common reason cited for leaving a doctoral program. If so, why are students allowed to enter doctoral programs with unrealistic expectations of funds necessary and/or time to complete their degree? Who is responsible for communicating this information, if not the schools themselves?

Dave the Ruminator

 

Skip the coursework and comps

I am completing a 42 semester hour residential MBA www.franklin.edu in December. I plan to enroll in research degree PhD program in the U.K.
I am not sure I can do another 36 to 50 hours of course work I didn’t get to pick. If your strength is writing, I think the research PhD makes sense.
www.leedsmet.ac.uk or www.le.ac.uk are two possibilities. I will be trying to get an overseas research grant so I can pay the EU rate though.
The dollar is worthless (worth less than half against the pound presently). I will have several trips to the U.K. over three years, but consider that a cultural bonus.
I like the idea of beginning the research immediately and spending a year writing the dissertation.

Jon Hanson
[email protected]
www.gooddebt.com

 

I can't speak for other schools, but at Northcentral University you cannot be titled ABD until you've finished:
- all of your coursework
- comps
- and all of your research (RSH) courses.
Then the school sends you an official letter that you can show to prospective employers. The school does not allow students to call themselves ABD prior to this. I've assumed that the research courses (RSH) are the hardest part, while the last three dissertation (DSH) courses will probably be a lot easier. Once you're ABD, then you can see light at the end of the tunnel!

At Northcentral University, the RSH and DSH courses encompass the dissertation.

 

Okay Dave Wagner, I know that you hold an unaccredited doctoral degree, but I'm not going to hold that against you. I'm going to "set it aside."

Having done that...

Let's pretend that you're in charge of a regionally accredited school that awards doctoral degrees. I know it's hard to fathom, but let's do so.

In order to reduce the doctoral attrition rate at the dissertation level of regionally accredited schools, do you propose to:
1) Make entry-level requirements more stringent or
2) Make the process of obtaining a doctoral degree easier or "more guided"?
3) Both #1 and #2

Pray tell Dave Wagner?

 

Are you leaning toward Leeds, Leicester, or perhaps another UK school?

Dave

 

I have been talking with a director at Leicester, but several look interesting. I have about 2 months to complete a dissertation proposal. I would probably start in April 2008.

I think a strong dissertation proposal and presentation is the key to any of them. I want to be accepted at the highest ranked U.K. school that I can convince to accept me. I want to travel to the U.K. and meet a few program directors—hopefully in the next few months. I am working on another book proposal and hope the advance will pay for the program.

Here is the book that paid for my wife's undergrad:

She completes Capital Law School in May 2008.

Have a good evening. Email me if you need more info on the U.K. I started with Bear's book and have done a great deal of research over the past few months.

 

Thanks for sharing the info, Jon. That's what this discussion group is all about.

Dave