NCU vs TUI - delivery format and academic level

For mid-career professionals or for those seeking personal enrichment or to upgrade their skills, age is really an irrelevant factor for pursuing a doctorate. In academia, K-12 teachers, community college instructors or administrators tend to benefit from the extra pay and status for the remainder of their careers.

When I received my degree, I (and my peers) were stunned to learn that one of our fellow grads was receiving his doctoral degree on his 80th birthday (he looked about 20 years younger than that). Certainly, not everyone needs a doctorate and Dave is correct that it is a serious committment and should be a serious decision, regardless of whether you are 25 or 65). After 14 years as a masters level professional, my doctorate (which I received at 44) has played a definite role in helping me to meet my career goals.

 

Well Stated Anthony...

 

Probably wrong. Consider the large percentage of doctoral students who don't finish or who are prevented from finishing for whatever reason. The opportunity cost of all those years wasted is enormous. Plus, there are many other ways to attain "personal enrichment" or "to upgrade their skills." The time was wasted because the degree "wasn't finished", again for whatever reason. (Though it's a great money maker for the school to collect all those dollars and never have to cough up the diploma...)

The age of beginning doctoral student is absolutely relevant, because lifespan is finite.

 

Probably right, because there are only two activities in the world of false comparisons: doctoral studies and watching sports (and knitting blankets.) You should start a doctoral program immediately, if you have plenty of money and nothing better to do than watch football. ;-)

Everybody should seek entry into a doctoral program immediately and pay the school as much tuition as possible. They won't have to confer the degree, have made a trainload of money and you wouldn't have wasted your life watching football... ;-)

 

Dave Wagner, when you enrolled in a doctoral program, how come you did not finish? What was your experience?

 

Finally, you get it. Oh, don't forget the other time wasters such as sleep and basket weaving and cutting grass and .....well you get the idea or maybe you don't. Have you ever enrolled in a doctoral program?

 

Why would those years be wasted? Was nothing learned or did the person not benefit in any way? You have a very narrow view and I guess whatever you do not deem "good" is a time waster.

 

I created a new thread for the cost vs. benefit discussion:

How to Decide Whether You Should Get Your Ph.D. (6-Step Process that Anyone Can Use)

 

However Dave, none of us can predict the future … including term of lifespan. And of course education is also an industry...

 

Purpose of the thread

Part of my original question was about academic level of Phd programs at TUI and NCU. Does anyone have any information about that?

 

Oh, thanks for the update: Until now, I thought I was the broad thinker on education and you were narrow minded and trying to justify your past behavior... ;-)

 

What do you mean by "academic level"? Both programs are regionally accredited, so the quality of both programs should be acceptable.

 

The coursework was good when I went to NCU. I enjoyed it and learned a lot. The comprehensive exam was also very enjoyable for me, although other students complain that it can be quite rigorous. The dissertation stage is incredibly difficult at NCU, as it is at all RA universities.

 

Completing a doctoral dissertation is about the most difficult thing anyone will ever do.

 

No - not narrow minded. Just like to present a different side of things - ones you refuse to consider. By the way, I never try or need to justify anything. I make choices and go with them. By the way, how old were you when you started or finished your PhD? Did you measure the ROI or just go for it?

 

ok. True. However, I would suspect that some programs are tougher than others. Don't you agree?

 

Thanks. What program (area of studies) did you take?

 

"Tougher" and "quality" are not one and the same.

What are you looking for? A higher-quality program or a tougher program? Or are you looking for a higher quality less-tough program? Or a high quality and very tough program?

 

What things?

 

Well I guess the point is have a quality program where one is challenged? I have been accepted both at NCU and TUI...I am leaning towards TUI right now.