To PhD or not to PhD? Making the decision to pursue a terminal degree is no easy feat. Making the decision to pursue a terminal degree as a working woman or working mom may downright be one of the toughest decisions you’ll have to make in your career and life. Going for your doctorate degree also means preparing for one of the most challenging balancing acts of working studying and taking care of your personal life. While you may decide to complete this degree at your own pace, whether it be on a full or part-time basis, the challenges will still be there.
Some of these challenge, to cite only a few, include the sheer amount of work, sacrifice and research involved. For most working women and moms, the time and effort commitment required can stand in the way of family and personal life, and even work. Many, if not most traditional PhD programs, tend to require full-time availability for years, making it close to impossible to work while studying. Thankfully, there is an increasing number of professional programs, geared at more experienced candidates, which may allow you to keep your job while you complete your doctoral program. Money can also become an issue, unless you’re offered a scholarship or significant financial assistance. This is why finding the right doctoral program can make a world of difference for you…
Women have actually earned 52.9% of doctoral degrees in the US in 2018-19, as revealed by the Council of Graduate Schools. However, it appears they are under-represented in elite PhD programs, particularly in maths-skill oriented fields, creating a notable “prestige gap”. While the data does not reveal the reasons behind the under-representation of women in high-prestige doctoral programs, patterns of gender inequality are undeniable. Some of the reasons behind the “prestige gap” may include women opting out of the application process to elite programs, scoring lower on average on the math GRE, or having different constraints than men. On the other end of the spectrum, this could also be explained by admission committee bias, rooted in deeply-seated cultural beliefs about gender and ability.
Despite the obvious, and not-so-obvious, obstacles standing in the way of working women and moms pursuing a doctoral program, there are strong benefits to doing so. These can be summarized in the three categories below:
- Impact
If making a difference in your field is a priority for you, then a doctoral degree can help you achieve this. One of the main benefits of completing a doctoral program is learning the art of research. Through research, you may be able to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in your field, thus potentially creating change and tremendous impact.
- Career Growth and Influence
Completing and earning your doctoral degree also means you are an expert in your field. Research allows you to exponentially grow your expertise in your chosen field, and sets you up to grow in your work.
Additionally, you may be able to boost your career prospects once you complete a doctoral program. You may be able to start a career in academia as a professor and/or researcher. If academia is not in the cards for you, then a variety of high-level industry careers may open their doors to you.
Another area of career growth is monetary. You can reasonably expect to earn a higher salary with a doctoral degree in hand, along with additional opportunities to increase your income. These may include but are not limited to consulting, speaking, teaching and other expert-related opportunities.
- Potential
Last but not least, earning a doctoral degree will help you develop exceptional critical thinking skills through research, expert knowledge in your field, in addition to the resilience and fortitude to resolve complex problems. The challenges presented by a PhD program will certainly develop your potential to its fullest, and prepare you not just for a successful career, but also for a greater purpose in your work and life.
To Phd or not to Phd? It’s a question whose answer may vary from individual to individual. Despite its great rewards and long-term benefits, it’s also a journey that’s just not for everyone. It requires not just tremendous resilience, dedication and sustained effort, but also a solid passion to stay the course when the going gets tough. Yet, if you’re attracted by the prospect of contributing to greater knowledge, overcoming the challenge of a terminal education process, and achieving a sense of purpose through your work, then you may want to consider making it a part of your career and life path.
Are you considering a doctoral program?
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