I’m considering enrolling in a full-time PhD program.
For those that completed or are currently doing a PhD, what has been your experience of the process, what did you learn that you have taken with you post-PhD, what would you consider to be the most important factors to think about before starting a PhD?
Would also love to hear about the topics your PhD focused on!
Hi Louise!
I’m currently working on my PhD at The Ohio State University. I would love to chat with you! Feel free to shoot me an email. – gist.22@osu.edu
Best,
Corinne
I remember when I first reached out to Dr. Skinner many years ago, while he was at Harvard, before I went to study with him. He wrote me a letter in which he said, “Perhaps a place can be found where you can do graduate study without too much of a waste of time.” I later learned that Dr. Skinner had very little patience, nor involvement, with academic politics, etc. I also learned, after I met him and studied with him and he introduced me to others, that graduate study, in particular, is not so much about the program or the curriculum, but it’s about the people. Where will you find one or more professionals whose work you admire, who could be your mentor, and who responds if you reach out to them with genuine (rather than “sucking up”) intersect. After an initial fan letter to Dr. Skinner, he wrote me back and we met each other later. I have found countless times since then that the way to learn how to be an exemplary anything is to find people to learn from, not text books or programs only. Find mentors who will connect with you. That will take you on your path.