Entering Ph.D. program – Application and GRE questions

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Entering Ph.D. program - Application and GRE questions

by M

Jul 4, 2012

I have been teaching adjunct for quite a while and I think I'm ready to make this my full time vocation. I decided that I'd like to teach for a large state university so it sounds like a Ph.D. is a better choice than an Ed. D. and my field is education (leadership or curriculum). My questions concern application requirements. How do I best prepare for the GRE. I have a specialist and masters degree but did not have to take the GRE. It has been 21 years since I took a Math class and it has never been my forte. Secondly, what constitutes a good essay? I haven't applied for college in many years, either and I have no idea what a Ph.D. program would be looking for in an essay. Thanks in advance for your help.

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Prof Phil On 7/05/12, Prof Phil wrote: > On 7/04/12, M wrote: >> I have been teaching adjunct for quite a while and I think >> I'm ready to make this my full time vocation. I decided >> that I'd like to teach for a large state university so it >> sounds like a Ph.D. is a better choice than an Ed. D. and my >> field is educati...See More

Jul 5, 2012

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rw Like Prof Phil, I also used several different GRE prep books to prepare and I think they really helped.

As for your question on the essay, I assume you mean the application essay?

My advice:

*Be specific!

*Then go back and revise to be even more specific.

*Try to avoid cliches and show the real you. Wha...See MoreLike Prof Phil, I also used several different GRE prep books to prepare and I think they really helped.

As for your question on the essay, I assume you mean the application essay?

My advice:

*Be specific!

*Then go back and revise to be even more specific.

*Try to avoid cliches and show the real you. What makes you want to do a PhD? What are examples of some of your specific research interests and professional ambitions? I think in answering these questions people are often overly general and don't show enough recognition that graduate programs are really academically intense (as opposed to just vocational) in terms of how they frame and describe their ambitions. In terms of avoiding cliches, avoid extended metaphors about climbing the mountain of life or going on and on about how you want to "help people." Instead get specific. (For instance, instead of "help people" you could discuss how you work in special education and have a particular interest in researching the ways that 'gifted and talented' testing, assessment, and curriculum can better meet the needs of immigrant populations and second language learners who are underrepresented in the programs.... Of course you'll have to use the right lingo... I'm just making this up).

*Make it clear you have really researched the graduate program you are applying for and argue what that program is a particularly good match for your goals.

*In some cases it is appropriate to meet with professors in your particular area of interest to discuss the program and ask permission to indicate in your application essay that you would love to work with them if you are admitted. But in other cases professors may be too busy or view this as kissing up. It's the kind of the that can help you demonstrate that the program and you would be a good match.

*Emphasize your strong desire and qualifications for any assistantships or other things they offer to some of the graduate students (to increase the chances of your being offered funding if you get in)

On 7/05/12, Prof Phil wrote: > On 7/04/12, M wrote: >> I have been teaching adjunct for quite a while and I think >> I'm ready to make this my full time vocation. I decided >> that I'd like to teach for a large state university so it >> sounds like a Ph.D. is a better choice than an Ed. D. and my >> field is education (leadership or curriculum). >> My questions concern application requirements. How do I >> best prepare for the GRE. I have a specialist and masters >> degree but did not have to take the GRE. It has been 21 >> years since I took a Math class and it has never been my > forte. >> Secondly, what constitutes a good essay? I haven't >> applied for college in many years, either and I have no idea >> what a Ph.D. program would be looking for in an essay. >> Thanks in advance for your help. > > To prepare I recommend you buy a GRE preparation book...there > are many available an major bookstore or Amazon. Read through > the guidelines and "how to" sections and then just keep doing > practice tests and analyzing what you miss. You will improve > your scores more my understanding the test than my learning > new material. You will also learn what they are looking for > on the essays or from reading comprehension. > > You may have a GRE preparation course available in your > area...that is another option. > > That is what I did all three times I had to take graduate > admission tests (GMAT 2 times, and MAD once). Funny thing is I > got within 2 or 3 percentile points of the same score each > time.

Jul 12, 2012

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pixie to the OP To M: I don't mean to imply that you have not fully researched this expensive, time-consuming path, but surely you are aware that 50 percent of university faculty are part-time adjuncts, and that "there is now an entire Internet world of blogs and Tumblr posts where unemployed and underemployed holders of doctorates indulge in the second of the fiv...See MoreTo M: I don't mean to imply that you have not fully researched this expensive, time-consuming path, but surely you are aware that 50 percent of university faculty are part-time adjuncts, and that "there is now an entire Internet world of blogs and Tumblr posts where unemployed and underemployed holders of doctorates indulge in the second of the five stages of grief---anger---over their lousy-to-nonexistent academic job prospects." (This quote is from the linked article.) I am one of many adjuncts who have entertained fleeting thoughts of how pleasant it would be to teach college full-time. But then I read a couple of articles by William Pannapacker, associate professor of English at Hope College in Michigan and author, under the pen-name Thomas H. Benton, of such articles as "Graduate School in the Humanities? Just Don't Go" and "Big Lie About the Life of the Mind" for the Chronicle of Higher Education. (also referenced in the linked article) Please, for your own well-being, read a few of these articles before you go into debt persuing a doctorate.

). 7/12/12, rw wrote: > Like Prof Phil, I also used several different GRE prep books to > prepare and I think they really helped. > > As for your question on the essay, I assume you mean the > application essay? > > My advice: > > *Be specific! > > *Then go back and revise to be even more specific. > > *Try to avoid cliches and show the real you. What makes you want > to do a PhD? What are examples of some of your specific research > interests and professional ambitions? I think in answering these > questions people are often overly general and don't show enough > recognition that graduate programs are really academically intense > (as opposed to just vocational) in terms of how they frame and > describe their ambitions. In terms of avoiding cliches, avoid > extended metaphors about climbing the mountain of life or going on > and on about how you want to "help people." Instead get specific. > (For instance, instead of "help people" you could discuss how you > work in special education and have a particular interest in > researching the ways that 'gifted and talented' testing, > assessment, and curriculum can better meet the needs of immigrant > populations and second language learners who are underrepresented > in the programs.... Of course you'll have to use the right > lingo... I'm just making this up). > > *Make it clear you have really researched the graduate program you > are applying for and argue what that program is a particularly > good match for your goals. > > *In some cases it is appropriate to meet with professors in your > particular area of interest to discuss the program and ask > permission to indicate in your application essay that you would > love to work with them if you are admitted. But in other cases > professors may be too busy or view this as kissing up. It's the > kind of the that can help you demonstrate that the program and you > would be a good match. > > *Emphasize your strong desire and qualifications for any > assistantships or other things they offer to some of the graduate > students (to increase the chances of your being offered funding if > you get in) > > > > > > On 7/05/12, Prof Phil wrote: >> On 7/04/12, M wrote: >>> I have been teaching adjunct for quite a while and I think >>> I'm ready to make this my full time vocation. I decided >>> that I'd like to teach for a large state university so it >>> sounds like a Ph.D. is a better choice than an Ed. D. and my >>> field is education (leadership or curriculum). >>> My questions concern application requirements. How do I >>> best prepare for the GRE. I have a specialist and masters >>> degree but did not have to take the GRE. It has been 21 >>> years since I took a Math class and it has never been my >> forte. >>> Secondly, what constitutes a good essay? I haven't >>> applied for college in many years, either and I have no idea >>> what a Ph.D. program would be looking for in an essay. >>> Thanks in advance for your help. >> >> To prepare I recommend you buy a GRE preparation book...there >> are many available an major bookstore or Amazon. Read through >> the guidelines and "how to" sections and then just keep doing >> practice tests and analyzing what you miss. You will improve >> your scores more my understanding the test than my learning >> new material. You will also learn what they are looking for >> on the essays or from reading comprehension. >> >> You may have a GRE preparation course available in your >> area...that is another option. >> >> That is what I did all three times I had to take graduate >> admission tests (GMAT 2 times, and MAD once). Funny thing is I >> got within 2 or 3 percentile points of the same score each >> time.

Jul 27, 2012

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Prof Phil On 7/27/12, pixie to the OP wrote: > To M: > I don't mean to imply that you have not fully researched this > expensive, time-consuming path, but surely you are aware that > 50 percent of university faculty are part-time adjuncts, and > that "there is now an entire Internet world of blogs and Tumblr > posts where unemployed and und...See MoreOn 7/27/12, pixie to the OP wrote: > To M: > I don't mean to imply that you have not fully researched this > expensive, time-consuming path, but surely you are aware that > 50 percent of university faculty are part-time adjuncts, and > that "there is now an entire Internet world of blogs and Tumblr > posts where unemployed and underemployed holders of doctorates > indulge in the second of the five stages of grief---anger---over > their lousy-to-nonexistent academic job prospects." (This quote is > from the linked article.) > I am one of many adjuncts who have entertained fleeting thoughts of > how pleasant it would be to teach college full-time. But then I read > a couple of articles by William Pannapacker, associate professor of > English at Hope College in Michigan and author, under the pen-name > Thomas H. Benton, of such articles as "Graduate School in the > Humanities? Just Don't Go" and "Big Lie About the Life of the Mind" > for the Chronicle of Higher Education. (also referenced in the > linked article) Please, for your own well-being, read a few of these > articles before you go into debt persuing a doctorate.

The linked article seems to emphasize the difficulties in getting tenure track jobs in the humanities. I am in engineering and I don't think the prospects are quite as bad--but probably still discouraging to many. What you will find in Engineering is that almost all the applicants for tenure track positions are foreign born Ph.D graduates. Most are Chinese and second most are Iranian. Then other middle eastern countries. Females are in huge demand for tenure track jobs in engineering. We just hired a female for our open position. She was qualified, but our Dean made us skip over a male who was extremely qualified to grab her.

The reason tenure-track jobs are not being filled for retiring professors is the economy and the terrible downward spiral of funding of public universities. One of the only ways the administration seems to know how to balance the budget is replacing tenured faculty with lecturers. Leaders in higher education are generally not very creative managers and are often myopic. What they are forgetting is that the answer to most of their problems is a strong faculty.

This "solution" is coming to a head in many places. The remaining tenured faculty are struggling and a lot of things are falling between the cracks like quality of teaching and advising. Younger faculty just going into higher education are realizing the "good old days" are gone.

All that being said, a tenured faculty position is still a lot more fun than many industry jobs where the pressures are much greater. I also believe we are on the verge of a huge number of retirements of baby- boomer faculty like myself who are ready to go. Many of these positions will have to be replaced for many programs to survive.

Until the economy turns around (which it may never do) things will be tight.

I finally am retiring after 30 years of teaching and 10 years of full- time engineering. I will teach part time for many years to get my teaching fix...but not as much pressure as before. Fortunately, the Provost approved a search for a tenured faculty member to replace me. T

Jul 29, 2012

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Other Options M - I, too, echo Pixie's question of what are your ultimate goals in pursuing a Ph.D. at this point in your career? If you no longer need to work and would like the academic adventure of higher education, then by all means for it. But if you are going to take on a lot of loan debt in years in which you might be earning your highest to prepare for r...See More

Aug 6, 2012

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