Is anyone currently in a doctorate program?

Question

I am trying to decide if I should apply considering I have a new family and need to work. Will I have enough time to take care of my life and still be a good student?

Answer 1

Depends on your field of study and your advisor. For example, in the biological sciences sometimes experiments have to be performed (or started or stopped) at odd hours of the day (or night). Sometimes they run much longer than anticipated due to influences outside your control. Or sometimes you need to travel out to the field for several days/weeks to make observations. All of which means your presence at home can be very unpredictable.

Some advisors are very sensitive to family issues and some programs have better track records of graduating students with families, particularly women, than others. If a female with kids has *never* gotten a PhD in the department (or from one particular faculty member) you probably don't want to be the one to blaze that trail. Some advisors see grad school as a time for you slave away for them until they deem you "worthy" of the degree, while others look at it as a collaboration in which you work together to develop your professional skills. The latter advisors are more invested in making sure you complete your program successfully. I can't emphasize the importance of choosing a good advisor forcefully enough!

All PhD programs are very time intensive... it ebbs and flows but the early year or two when you would be doing classes, teaching, possibly rotating through research labs, and studying for and taking exams is extremely stressful and requires much of your undivided attention. The years when you are doing the bulk of your research are a bit more leisurely, but then the pressure is back on when it comes time to write and defend your thesis.

It can be done, but it will be extremely difficult. Your family life will suffer. To what degree depends to some extent on your partner's flexibility and ability to pick up your slack and, again, the kind of advisor you end up with. Regardless, it's important to know that most PhD programs simply can't be completed with a 9-to-5 Mon-Fri commitement.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Many doctoral students,including myself, work as teaching and/or research assistants and earn enough without having to work additionally.

I have many friends who have children and completed their Ph.D. program. It just took them longer. A professor of mine gave birth to a set of twins in her first year of the Ph.D. program. She had to hire a baby sitter for 4 hours everyday. And she used those 4 hours very effectively, knowing that she will not have other chances to study. She believed that if she didn't have children then, she would have allowed herself more time and actually graduated in 5 years like everybody else. With the twins, she made it in 3.

Answer 3

Am about to finish my program. It all depends - I've many friends who started families during their doctoral programs or even added on a few more to their family along the way. Talk it over with your family - support and understanding from them is very important.

Answer 4

you should pursue your dream. be brave. sometimes when you want something really badly things fall into place. I am considering going for my PHD but now I am saving money for it. You wont be able to work much during school but its not impossible. Just pick a program that you are intersted in so that you dont struggle with the material on a daily basis. And good luck , of course..... :)

Answer 5

I finished my doctorate program.

What do you mean by new family? Husband? or Kids.

If kids, then definitely NO. Enjoy your kids.

If just husband, then MAYBE. Will he mind? Will you have time together?

What are your love languages? (see link below) If either one is "quality time" then you may be pushing it.

It can be done w/ a spouse and work. Just don't burn yourself out, and what that means exactly varies from family to family.

Answer 6

It depends on if you are planning to spend 10 years being ABD or not.