Earn your doctorate by staying focused.
Earn your doctoral degree so that you can teach or work in various professions requiring advanced education. Doctors, lawyers and college professors all go through graduate school before being allowed to practice in their professions. While obtaining your degree may not be simple, the time, money and effort is worth it if it leads you to a rewarding and profitable career. Stay focused on your career goals in order to stay on track and experience great success.
Instructions
1. Complete high school and a four-year college degree. If possible, major in a field related to your doctoral program as an undergraduate student. Many medical schools require doctors to major in pre-med, while seminaries prefer religion majors.
2. Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if your field requires it for entrance into graduate school. Preparatory classes are available to help ensure that you score as well as possible on the exam.
3. Complete a master's degree if your field requires it. Some fields, like psychology, offer doctoral tracks right out of college. Other fields, like religion, require a master's degree in divinity or theology prior to entering a doctoral program.
4. Search for doctoral programs that meet your educational and financial needs. Some programs offer the ultimate in convenience with online classes, while others are on-campus but offer excellent financial aid that helps to keep debt levels down for students.
5. Apply for the doctoral programs that are a good fit for you. For best results, apply to four or five schools, since you may not get accepted to every school you apply to.
6. Choose the best institution amongst the schools that accept you. Consider their financial offers, along with their course schedule and requirements for obtaining a doctorate at their institution.
7. Enroll in classes and set aside proper time for studying and completing your degree. Many doctoral degrees take five to seven years to complete, so ensure that you prepare financially and otherwise for such a long commitment.
8. Meet with your academic advisor, dean or counselor often to ensure that the classes you are taking will help you to earn your degree in the most efficient way possible.
9. Prepare for on-the-job learning with unpredictable schedules. Most graduate schools require students to participate in hands-on learning during their education. Medical students work odd hours in hospitals; law students assist on actual legal cases; psychologists work in shelters or hospitals; and religion students work in churches, as chaplains in hospitals or as teaching assistants.
10. Work with your advisor or advisory team on your doctoral thesis. Once your coursework is mostly completed, your program may require you to choose a topic of special study to write a paper on. You will need to work closely with your advisor and choose a team of examiners who will participate in your live defense prior to graduation.
11. Defend your thesis, being ready to provide solid reasoning for your theories and evidence for your research. If you have worked closely with your team prior to the defense, their questions probably will not surprise you too much.
12. Ensure that you have met all requirements for your degree, submit necessary paperwork and then enjoy your graduation. Earning a doctorate is hard work and an achievement to be proud of.
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