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Today is day one of my comprehensive exam for my doctoral program. I was given three questions this morning and have until next Monday to answer them all. Two weeks after that I will be dragged into a room for the oral exam portion where I will be questioned regarding my answers.I had been studying for this for many months, but I still felt unprepared. Now that I have the questions, I feel they may be manageable, but for all I know I could still fail.
Good luck. The longer I'm out of school the more I think it might not be worth getting the PhD. If I go back, it might be to seminary again. I really just don't know what I want to do, and until my financial situation improves, it really doesn't matter.
Thanks all. It will still be some time before I could get Dr. in front of my name, but if God wants it to be done, I will try to make it happen.Donnie, I was going to suggest taking a job teaching or in a history-related field, but the financial prospects in those fields might not be worth it now. I imagine that many people's plans are on hold right now given the Obama economy.
I have a job that pays almost $17.00 per hour. It's a skilled trade job in the envelope folding business. Since I live in a small town where few decent paying jobs are, I can't just walk away right now. I have too many financial obligations to consider at the moment and so I'm stuck in a holding pattern. Also, the PhD has just lost its luster to me. I do plan to finish my Master's since I am 99% done anyway.
Don't you live a hop skip and a jump away from a major metropolitan area? I would imagine they have any number of historical sites, buildings, and museums which may be related to your field. Then again, I have no idea what kind of pay such positions provide.Anyway, I used to think highly about getting graduate degrees because of the prestige/sense of accomplishment, but I eventually realized that the thrill is quickly lost. Still, they are required to get certain jobs, and my ideal job is in academia, which is why I am trying to pursue it. It also allows for some level of freedom so that I can pursue historical ideas that I am curious about.
Giorgione 100 [Public domain], by Giorgione (1477–1510) The truth is I don't want to work around a bunch of liberals. I don't mesh well with them. If I ever got my PhD I would probably just work as a part time instructor or at a junior college where politics isn't as intense.
Well, when I think Liberal the word despite comes to mind for some reason. I don't for the life of me know why.
Not giving up. I still plan on trying to write, and make a living at it. I just don't really have a burning desire to work in academia anymore. I already have my MA and when I eventually get back to the states (I will be coming back), I plan on getting a PhD, but only for my own selfish reasons, not because I want to work in Academia.Back on topic:Other than a Comp. Exam and an oral Defense what else do you need to complete your PhD? I would guess a dissertation but I cannot think of anything else. What is the process and is it different for every school?
Yes, the dissertation is the big thing. And before I can do that I have to get my prospectus ok'd. There's also the dissertation defense, but I am guessing for anyone who gets that far, it's a mere technicality. It's kind of a long and drawn-out process, but I figure they need to keep their standards. I do think that some programs go by much faster than others. My wife got her PhD in psychology and it seems like that degree was quicker than a humanities doctoral degree.
