I am thinking about dropping out of school

Randell,

To teach as an adjunct, the master's degree is more than enough for most of the opportunities at the community college level and even university. You should not be discouraged about your online teaching applications rejection, it took me about one year to get my first opportunity in on-ground teaching at more than two years in the online environment.

On the other hand, a PhD from NCU would have a lot of limitations and thinking about getting a tenure track position at a top university is a bit unrealistic. A PhD from NCU would give you a good advantage for online teaching or community college opportunities. But is it worth it to go to the pain of a PhD when online teaching is not exactly a high paying job? I get something between 1200-1800 USD for online course given, I think this is not exactly a lot of money for a PhD holder.

As for teaching opportunities with a PhD
from NCU, besides community college you have also universities that put emphasis on experience rather than research. I know at least of one PhD from NCU that landed a non-tenured full time job at Devry University.

 

I suppose by now you're sorry you asked, but just a couple more things (serious).

Notice the civility of the answers you got to the intelligent question you asked. See why this board matters?

Also, I reread Tireman4's post. Well put. After the failure of the Megali Idia at my least fave RA university, I put the idea of any doc out of my mind and concentrated on my "real" career. Eventually it started bugging me, not because I needed the degree (I don't, at least not for any practical reason), and by a most circuitous path started working on the sucker again under different auspices. In short, do what does not drive you nuts, but what drives you.

Who knows? Without a doc you could be as wise as Bill Dayson, and with a doc you could be as learned as Bill Grover. Not bad either way.

 

Anger/Sadness/Missing Something

Hey bud,

I know exactly how you feel! I got my BA and I felt that I was too old to keep sitting through classes, while I could have been pursuing more time with the kids...trying to reach new professional goals at work, or taking the wife on a vacation after being in school for 10 years! Also, I had some bad, BAD experiences when I started my road to a MA or MS (MIGS is the worse of the experiences...and losing money/fighting with them). Then, my first MA Courses at Regis University were consuming 30 hours/week just to maintain a low "B."

I quit....disenrolled from Regis and took some time off. During this time, I still monitored Degreeinfo and I saw a posting about SMSU. All the while I sat realizing that...1. I am never too old to continue pursuing my personal goals. My mom got her catering degree in her late 60's...after working for 50 years to bring my siblings and I through life. The kids need time with me (which they got a lot of while I was taking time off from studies), but they need someone to motivate them to stay the course when they head down the road of life too! My wife? She got tired of me being idle and bugging her to death about 2 days after I stopped school! So, I went back to Southwest Missouri State University (Tier 2 State School, US News) and paid $7,700 for 18 months to receive my MS. It feels good to know that its there...that transcript in my resume packet trumps someone competing with me who does not have one.

One thing that I have been pondering...does a PhD guarantee some opportunity out there? I think that the MS is more advantageouse right now (I'll never be a CEO of a company, or director of an agency). But, I may want to teach one day. Be a school administrator, etc. Like I said...you're never too old, but you're going to get old anyway as time continues to pass! Why not have it pass while enrolled and completing something worthwile at the same time!

 

Whatever you decide, good luck and I wish you well.

 

Not too long ago I dropped out of my PhD program. The decision making process was painful but I was greatly relieved once I had done it. Still, I was uncertain that perhaps it was a matter of poor fit and so I'm back at it again, this time at the Masters level, hoping to "ramp up" to a PhD program at some point in the future. There are no rules about this Randell and mistakes are allowed. The only pressure is what you put on yourself. Relax, it'll be OK.
Jack

 

Randell, I often read your post and have much respect for you. All I can say is this...do you need the PHd in order to do what you want to do? Is the time your spending on classwork taking away from other areas you'd like to spend time on (family?). It is a difficult question and no cost benefit analysis will trully answer your question. I decided last year that I did not need a PHd., so after grad school (MBA) I am finished, though I may take an occasional class for just the enjoyment of learning about that subject, e.g. history, just because I want to. Good luck regardless of your decision, and hope to see your continued post on this forum.

Bill

 

I say stay in and don't quit. Your thoughts are the same as many 19 year olds I have met after their second year of undergraduate work. You will regret later that you quit.

 

I am right there with you on this one.

I was very motivated while working on my master's but I can't seem to get into this program at NCU. I am also in my first course at NCU (LS6010). I keep telling myself that it has to get better. The course is challenging and I am learning a great deal, but it is extremely boring. I can only take so much reading and writing on researching and using the APA format...yuck! My BS is in math and my MS in operations research...I am used to a lot of challenging math problems...joy!

I don't want to drop out because I am afraid I will never start again. I would regret not finishing a doctorate.

Stick it out at least to the next course. Once you start taking courses that are in your field, you may again find your motivation. If you don't, then maybe the program is not right for you...or in my case, for me.

It has to get better, it has to get better, it has to get better...

 

-Dr.2B ,

Where are you going to school? I am very intertested in your program.

 

Don't quit and don't give up. Finish this semester and take next semester completely off and don't look at a book.

I did that not too long ago and it helped tremendously.

Hope this helped.

 

Re: Re: I am thinking about dropping out of school

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am up to assignment number seven and they are getting mor interesting. I had a vision of a dissertation topic and it has given me new motivation. Also, my academic advisor emailed me the course outline for one of my concentration classes and it looks much better.

Take your own advice and hang in there!