a guide to higher education: doctorate level
advice and anecdotes from the beans community on pursuing a doctorate degree
In late March of this year, I posted about my educational journey. Because it was a paywalled post (I discuss in-depth about every school I applied to, my personal statement, and much more), I wanted to post on this same topic but without a paywall. Afterwards, I published a newsletter entitled “a guide to higher education: master’s level”. I initially planned to combine both Master’s and Doctorate level responses in that newsletter but it felt like it was way too long and a bit convoluted. Therefore, here is the doctorate version of that! I’m so grateful for all the collaborators in this post (because if you haven’t figured out already, all of my guides are collaborations with you guys and my favorite accounts on Instagram). Some respondents requrested to be anonymous, so I will be labeling them as “Anonymous 1, 2, etc.”.
Thank you to the following non-anonymous contributors of this post:
Kertu Tenso, Gabi, Oxbridge Admissions Club, Love Lees Finance, Med Studies, Dr. Claudia Belliveau, Tessa Finance, Wanderlust Veggie Foodie, and Kaelyn Grace Apple
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Your age, geographical location, unique aspects about yourself, research interests, and any other fun facts you could think of (fav artists, shows, what you do in your down time).
KERTU TENSO- I’m 30 years old, I’m from Estonia, and I’m currently living in Boston, Massachusetts. I’m both an international and first generation student from a working class family. My research focuses on applying machine learning and causal inference methodologies to predict and explain suicide outcomes in the Veteran population. During the little free time I have, I make posts for my Instagram page, and watch a lot of TV, to rest my brain. I enjoy reality TV (Love Island, Love Is Blind etc) and horror/mystery genre movies and TV shows.
ANON 1- I am currently at 24 year old Chinese American Female in the Northeastern Area of US. My research interest consist of trauma responsive practices and trauma responsive schools, well-being among BIPOC children and children of immigrant/refugee families, social-emotional learning, and social support. I enjoy hanging with my friends in my down time, babysitting one of my close's friends baby, sitting on the beach absorbing the sun during the summer, and watching the occasional k-drama when i have the chance.
ANON 2- 30yrs, Canada, migrated from Kerala for PhD studies, working in pharmaceutical industry; trained in classical dance, sec taught in cooking,painting and drawing, plant parent
GABIBEE93- My name is Gabi, I’m 31 from South Yorkshire. My current research area is in school exclusions, particularly suspensions and permanent exclusions. In my spare time, I like to watch reality TV shows to stop my brain from having to think too much!
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- 27 Oxford, UK Research interests: the immunopathology underlying autoimmune peripheral neuropathies (GBS, CIDP) Fun facts: I've travelled to 41 countries, mostly solo, and lived in 7. I studied abroad three times during my Bachelor's degree. I am an entrepreneur and full-time business owner along with doing my PhD full-time. I've been travel blogging for 7 years. I play saxophone. I enjoy photography. I have two horses. I enjoy snowboarding. I'm a direct descendant of Gorm the Old, the founder of Denmark! (Other links: Website, Trainings)
LOVELEESFINANCE- Hello, I'm a 31 year old father of two residing in Southern California. As a family, we like to spend quality time traveling or with our friends!
MEDSTUD.IES- I'm 25, currently living in the US! I grew up in the US my whole life and made the spontaneous decision (my poor parents had a heart attack) to go to India for medical school and graduated last year. Currently I do research on pediatric hematology/oncology at a great institute, which I'm very proud of. It's inspired me to take up adult hematology/oncology in the future :) I'm a very passionate person, I love music, bujo, kdramas, novels with all my heart. I've always been drawn to arts and crafts, and have recently taken up crocheting. I think a fun fact about me that many people wouldn't know is I had a very extracurricular filled childhood: karate (2nd degree black belt!), piano, violin, swimming, tennis, indian classical singing, etc! Forever grateful to my parents for driving me around everywhere!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- 28, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I've always been interested in mental health research. I've been in both clinical psychiatry and molecular psychiatry labs, meaning I've worked with individuals with mental health disorders and also studied the biological basis of these disorders in postmortem human brain. I love tortoises, EDM and staying active. My hobby is creating content/editing videos, that's how I got into the whole science communication/instagram world. (See PubMed profile here)
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- I’m in my early 40s, live in CA and work on cancer prevention research. My research has worked through the cancer control continuum and I’ve focused on health disparities research for much of my career. I’ve got two kids and love exploring/traveling with them. I specifically enjoy snorkeling and water activities!
TESSA_FINANCE- Hi! My name is Tessa and I am a 25 year old teacher living in the Canadian Arctic. As a child who grew up in a low-income immigrant household, I am passionate about ensuring education is equitable for all students. I had a tough time going to school in Canada. I only spoke Vietnamese at home and ended up struggling in school academically. By the time I reached middle school, I have gone to at least 10 different elementary schools and struggled to make friends. Today, I studied really hard to improve my English and even became a French teacher! I love to travel the world, attending all the music festivals, watch every single reality TV show that exists, and I am a big fan of shopping with the girls. (TikTok and Threads are the same username)
KAELYN GRACE APPLE1- My name is Kaelyn Grace Apple. I am 28 years old. I was born in California, United States and I now live in London. I am a fourth year PhD candidate in history in African American Studies at Yale. I study matrilineal descent and the law of slavery in the early modern English Atlantic. I used to be a professional equestrian. I am a horse girl at heart and always will be, and I love reading fantasy novels. (LinkedIn, Website).
DEGREES
What degrees do you currently hold/are currently pursuing?
KERTU TENSO- I’m a doctoral (PhD) candidate in Health Services Research at Boston University School of Public Health
ANON 1- I currently hold a M.Ed in Education Studies, but pursuing a PhD in Counseling/School Psychology, but my concentration is in school psychology
ANON 2- Integrated BS-MS in chemistry from IISER-TVM, PhD in Biochemistry from Dalhousie university, postdoctoral fellowship from University of Montreal
GABIBEE93- I am currently completing a Doctorate in Applied Educational Psychology (DAppEdPsy). Previously I completed a Masters in Psychology (MA) and an undergraduate degree in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- I have a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan I'm currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford
LOVELEESFINANCE- I earned a Juris Doctor (JD) and took/passed the California Bar in 2019.
MEDSTUD.IES- Currently hold an MBBS degree (bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery)
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- Bachelor of Science: Anatomy and Cell Biology, minor in Psychology (BSc) Doctorate of Science: Neuroscience (PhD)
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- PhD, MPH
TESSA_FINANCE- I currently have a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and finishing up my Master of Education (MEd). I will be starting my Doctor of Education (EdD) this fall 2024.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I have an associate's degree in history for transfer from Kenyatta College. I have a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in African American studies from UCLA. I have a master's studies in U.S. history from the University of Oxford. I currently have a Master of Philosophy from Yale University in history and a Master of Arts in African American studies from Yale. I'm currently pursuing my PhD. I am also the recipient of the McMillan Fellowship as well as the Fox International Exchange Fellowship which means I will be studying at Cambridge next year to complete my dissertation for Yale.
WHY?
Why did you decide to pursue this degree (or degrees)?
KERTU TENSO- I decided to pursue this degree because of my poor experience interning at the World Health Organization. I wanted to be able to do good quality research.
ANON 1- I knew I wanted my PhD in this field because I wanted to do more, learn more, and achieve more with school psychology. I am very passionate about helping children especially marginalized youth and providing evidence based interventions. I was previously in the Master's program in School psychology at my university but instead of graduating I applied to the PhD program. I knew I really wanted to conduct something with my dissertation that would benefit youth and that I can impact people more if I kept pursuing more than my masters. Also a PhD in school psychology would open more doors for me job wise that I was more interested in than working in solely a school.
ANON 2- Interested in science and research
GABIBEE93- To be an educational psychologist in England, you must complete a three year doctorate. When I worked as a teacher, I knew I wanted to support pupils with special educational needs or in circumstances which meant they required additional support accessing education.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- When we were 7 years old, my fraternal twin sister was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune neurological disorder called CIDP. Many people die from CIDP and its acute form, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and while there were a few close calls, she was lucky to survive. Pretty much since then, I've dedicated my studies to understanding the neurological and immunological mechanisms underlying CIDP and other peripheral neuropathies to help reduce the burden and long-term disability they often cause, as well as hopefully develop more effective treatments in the future.
LOVELEESFINANCE- Towards my senior year of college, I still was unsure of what to pursue career-wise and a close family member recommended that I look into law school and becoming a real estate attorney. Being a young impressionable 21 year old, I was quite open to this suggestion and decided to study for the LSAT (admission test) shortly after college graduation.
MEDSTUD.IES- Adding to the cliche answer to "why medicine" of wanting to help people, love science, etc, I truly feel like I couldn't see myself doing anything else. It solidified even more during my time living in India, experiencing a third world country's healthcare system and interacting with underserved populations. I never would have gotten that kind of perspective on global health if I had not actually lived and experienced India, and I am forever grateful for that! I also like to think that coming back to the US, I am well rounded, with broad perspectives and deeper understanding of medicine globally :) Advocating for those who don't have the voice or resources to do so for themselves is my calling!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I tried out multiple types of research (clinical vs wet lab) during my undergrad and I felt at home in my molecular psychiatry lab. I had the opportunity to do cutting-edge research with postmortem human brain of individuals who died by suicide. I actually started doing a Master's but then fast-tracked to my PhD because I loved my research and I had so many questions I wanted to answer in my own so I stuck around! Overall, my interest in mental health research stems from personal reasons.
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- I wanted to answer research questions that weren’t being addressed and wanted someone from my community who could explain how culture plays a role in health behaviors and outcomes.
TESSA_FINANCE- My mom has only graduated grade 9 in Vietnam and she has always pushed me to do well in school to have a better life than her. This started my passion for doing well in school and pushed me to become a lifelong learner. My degrees are all focused in the Education department (I am a teacher haha) and since moving to the Arctic I wanted to use my degrees to help support Indigenous education in Canada.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I thought I wasn't ever going to pursue university or college in general. It was actually when I was a professional equestrian and had a horseback riding accident and returned to school that discovered by love of history. And it was that love of history that led me to transfer to UCLA. And that it was the love of historical research and wanting to answer historical questions that I couldn't find answers to within the literature that led me to pursue graduate school.
CAREER
If you already graduated, what is your current position (and is it relevant to the degree you pursued)? If you are currently enrolled, what type of position do you want to pursue after you graduate?
KERTU TENSO- I am hoping to get a healthcare data or research related industry job, such as clinical data scientist, health outcomes researcher, clinical research scientist etc.
ANON 1- I used to want to do both academia and clinical work. But after some thought, I realized I am more passionate in helping in the field than being behind a computer writing articles. I hope to open up a private practice or work for an agency. I am also considering pushing into schools to provide mental health care.
ANON 2- Research Scientist in pharma company
GABIBEE93- In September, I will be employed as an educational psychologist.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- If I stay in science, I will go back into industry as I worked at biotech start-ups for about 2 years before coming to Oxford. However, I would ideally like to continue being an entrepreneur and run my business full-time.
LOVELEESFINANCE- After graduation, I dabbled with a few different attorney jobs before COVID struck in early 2020. In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise because I did not like working as an attorney. Since then, I have realigned by goals and now work in commercial property management at one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the world. I have a portfolio of over 125+ national, regional, and local retail tenants and over 750,000 sq ft under management. Although a law degree is certainly not required in property management, it is nonetheless useful when you are working with leases and various stakeholders (tenants, vendors, landlords, etc).
MEDSTUD.IES- I work research in pediatric hem/onc as stated before, and yes it's definitely relevant to my MBBS degree! I think research is equally important in medicine. Medicine involves treating diseases at hand, but research allows you to go into the depths of the why and how, and allows you to give back more knowledge to the population so that medicine can grow as a whole. My career will involve research of some kind in the future for sure!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- Just defended 2 weeks ago, so I'm in the transition period. I have been the Manager of my institution's microscopy facility since September and I will continue this role until I find a job I'm interested in. I'm looking for roles in Medical Affairs, specifically, Medical Science Liaison
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Graduated several years ago; senior principal scientist, and yes it is directly related.
TESSA_FINANCE- If I can finish with my Doctor of Education, I hope to just use my degree to bring more awareness about the needs in Indigenous communities.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I have not graduated yet. I graduated in 2026 and my goal is to complete it by December 2025.
LONG TERM GOALS
What are your long-term career goals and have you already achieved them?
KERTU TENSO- I am hoping to work in the industry for a while, make good money, and then perhaps start my own company later in life.
ANON 1- Long term career goals is to be in an area where I am providing the services to marginalized youth and families. I am in the process of this goal since I gaining practicum experience in the community and also conducting my dissertation which will be using a trauma-intervention with a local school district.
ANON 2- Grow in career to lead and manage a bigger the research team and drive different companies
GABIBEE93- Becoming an educational psychologist was my ultimate career goal. Now I am almost there, the fear of what next is starting to sink in!
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- I would like to become a practitioner and thought leader in the women's reproductive health and functional/holistic medicine space.
LOVELEESFINANCE- My long-term career goal is to eventually open up my own property management firm and have a few client properties to manage. My goal is to maintain a balance of earning just enough and spending quality time with my children.
MEDSTUD.IES- For now, I want to pursue an MD in the US, and post that a fellowship (probably hem/onc, but could be subject to change). My long term goals would be to get involved in a public health position, where I can make an impact globally (perhaps policy making)!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- My long-term career goals are just to find something that allows me to balance my work life and social life. I truly believe that it's possible and I don't care so much what the position is, as long as I have a good quality of life (family vacations, nice house, can send my kids to a good school) I don't think I care so much what the position is. I'm sure this will change once I have a few years under my belt in pharma and I understand better what's available to me
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- To have a role in informing policies related to cancer prevention through science. I have achieved my 5, and 10 year goals after my doctorate but there are always further goals to achieve!
TESSA_FINANCE- I am finishing up my third year of teaching in the Arctic and in a perfect world, I would love to make it to ten years of teaching experience in the Arctic. Then work with Indigenous people to reconceptualize the curriculum to create a more culturally responsive learning experience for students.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- My long term career goal is to combine my intellectual interest in the humanities with my interest in social media and technology. That looks like going into the education technology sector or potentially working at a variety of startups that are in the Ed Tech space. I would be interested in going into digital humanities or academic administration depending on what kind of roles come up in the long term. I am an entrepreneur and I have built my own businesses. I have run my own businesses and ultimately have decided that my long term is actually not to be a full-time entrepreneur but to continue building my personal brand on YouTube and social media.
TOTAL COST
How much did/does your program cost in total?
KERTU TENSO- The tuition is about $55,000/year and it is taking me 5 years to graduate. So, the total cost is $275,000.
ANON 1- I think it is roughly $7000-$8000
ANON 2- Nil- had fully funded scholarships
GABIBEE93- This programme is funded by the Department for Education and a bursary is received. However, when compared to previous salaries which many participants on the course have previously received (as teachers, speech and language therapists etc.) the bursary is considered quite low at £19000
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- Approximately £100,000 for 3 years
LOVELEESFINANCE- Factoring in the cost of the tuition over the course of three years, it cost me roughly $36,000. The reason I paid less is because I received a substantial merit-based scholarship that paid for over 75% of the tuition.
MEDSTUD.IES- 145K US dollars! ugh!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- BSc + PhD at McGill University as a local student: $40,000 CAD
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Around 150,000
TESSA_FINANCE- For my MEd it was about $24k for 2 years.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I don't actually know since I am on a PhD student stipend. I believe the tuition at Yale is $70,000 a year, which is astronomical. I do not pay that—it is paid by my program, and then I receive a stipend.
PAYMENT PLAN
What was/is your payment plan for tuition? are you taking out student loans? Scholarships? Are you able to pay in full without taking out loans?
KERTU TENSO- My PhD program is covering the tuition cost. Additionally, they also give me a stipend to cover living costs, and pay for health insurance and student fees.
ANON 1- I currently get a graduate assistantship which provides me a stipend and covers my tuition.
ANON 2- No loans - full scholarships
GABIBEE93- The course is funded, but many students take out loans and use credit cards to help them with living throughout the course.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- Tuition is paid in full automatically through full scholarships. Even though my scholarships also provide a "full" stipend for living expenses, I haven't found this to be sufficient, especially as an international student and as someone who was working for a few years full-time before going back to do my PhD. So, before I started my business, I was also taking out some student loans to help make ends meet.
LOVELEESFINANCE- I was fortunate enough to have my tuition paid off by the time I graduated in 2019.
MEDSTUD.IES- luckily my parents were able to afford this by taking some loans. we only recently paid them off with help from my current income!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I was able to live at my parent's house until 2 years ago, so I was able to pay in full without taking necessary loans. I still took advantage of the government loans available to me and I invested them. I also had scholarships for 5/6 years of my grad school, but they didn't put extra money in my pocket they just helped my prof pay me my stipend
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- I was able to work part time, then was a TA where tuition was covered, and received partial scholarships,
TESSA_FINANCE- I do work full-time while going to school. So I do not qualify for student loans and pay in full. That being said, my job offers a $6k/year education support fund, so I use that to help with tuition.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I am not taking on student loans for my PhD. However, I did take on student loans for my undergraduate degree as well as for my Master's degree at Oxford. My payment plan ultimately is to do the income based replacement plan when I complete my PhD, but at the moment, I do not have debt from my PhD.
MANAGING FINANCES
If you currently are enrolled, how are you managing your finances? If you already graduated, please recall whether you had a budget, money saving strategies, any money wins/losses.
KERTU TENSO- Like I said, my program covers the cost of tuition, health insurance, and fees. They also give me a $39,000/year stipend (taxes are taken out, though). In return, I have to work as a research assistant 20h/week. I also did teaching (TAing) for some semesters to earn some extra money. TAing one course per semester made me an extra $150/week.
ANON 1- I try my best to budget, but I tend to be frugal so I do not over spend that much. I have a part-time GA-ship that provides me a stipend of $23,000 for 10 months so during the summers I am often asking my parents to provide some extra help during that time until the school years starts again
ANON 2- Part time TA ship during PhD
GABIBEE93- Currently, myself and many students live using overdrafts, credit cards and relying on other people. Some people have part time jobs, but once the expectations step up in second and third year, it is difficult for these to continue.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- I try to budget, but mostly my life has been made way easier and has been much improved by having income from my business.
LOVELEESFINANCE- During my time as a law student, I kept a loose budget each month but my primary goal at the time was to just survive. It was during this time when I met the Mrs and we dated and eventually got engaged during my last year in law school. In hindsight, it was a money loss to have not really have saved as money as I should have as someone in their 20's at the time but I have no regrets.
MEDSTUD.IES- My parents were sweet enough to keep any money problems hidden from me, but my dad did lose his job during my medical school and that was extremely hard on us. My parents would give me a monthly allowance, but I was free to ask for more if needed. During difficult times, I would try to use that monthly allowance for 2-3 months to avoid asking for money. Aside from electricity and water bills, ramen/cup noodles and peanut butter/banana sandwiches is all I remember from 2nd year of med school!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I've always had a part-time job since I was 15 years old. I was never a TA. I worked at restaurants, clothing stores, student services within my university, I was a freelance science consultant and then the manager of the microscope facility. At McGill in my program (Neuro) we were given a stipend (untaxed scholarship basically) for being a full time student it was between $20,000-$26,000 CAD. I used this stipend and my side-hustle income to pay my tuition.
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Yes, I lived on a very small stipend but still saved a small amount every year. I budgeted and did not buy big item things and limited travel and purchases.
TESSA_FINANCE- I am a very minimal person. I simply try to keep my expenses low and it does help that my gross income is about $117k/year.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I have a slightly unique situation because I am a business owner and I do not live solely on my PhD student stipend or on my fellowship stipends. In terms of managing my finances, I have an accountant that I work with because I have my businesses, but before, I managed all my own finances with personal budgeting. One thing that was really helpful as a resource was reading Financial Feminist and The Financial Diet, really trying to improve my own financial literacy, and that was something I really embarked on in 2023. And so yes, I do a bit of budgeting, not as much as I perhaps should, but I do have an accountant and not as how I manage my finances as a graduate student.
WORTH?
Do you think your degree(s) is/was worth it (financially, emotionally, physically, professionally, etc.)?
KERTU TENSO- This is a difficult question. Financially and professionally, I believe it will be worth it in the long run, as there is normally a cap for how far you can advance in research-related roles without a PhD. But at the same time, I have missed out on years of employment, and experience pays in industry. So, I do not have a head start. Emotionally and physically, it has been incredibly difficult. The hardest thing I’ve ever done. I do like to tell myself that I have grown a lot as a person, so I suppose that it’s worth it in that sense. But at the same time, my physical and mental health have taken a hit — my eye sight has gotten so much worse, I am significantly less in shape than I was before, and I am on antidepressants since the second year of my PhD.
ANON 1- I do think that my degree is worth it, although do not get me wrong there are days where I wish that I would have graduated two years ago. I have been through a lot of hardships through my graduate school time especially during my doctoral program. Professors can be invaliding despite the fact we are in a counseling/school psychology program where we learn to counsel others. I have had patients hurt me. And sometimes you do not feel as supported as you wish with your cohort but that always depends on the cohort. But there are moments where I am working with clients or as I am starting my dissertation where I realized how important it is for me to be here in this program. There are not many asians in my field especially in school psychology, so I also remind myself that it is important for me to show up and represent my community.
ANON 2- Worth in all possible aspects; helped me grow evolve and see more than what I could have achieved in any other situation or career
GABIBEE93- I hope that once a full salary is received, the money worries from the last three years will be worth it. The job itself is worth it professionally. However, at times the emotional and physical pressures can be overwhelming. Hopefully, supporting the future of many of our young people will make it all worth it in the end!
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- If I'm being brutally honest, I'm not sure yet. I really am happy to think that in the end, no matter what I decide to do after my PhD, my work will contribute positively to a field that is heavily under-researched and serve patients who are in great need of better solutions. However, I have known for awhile that I'm not meant to be a bench scientist/being in the lab is not my "zone of genius", and I enjoy entrepreneurship and finding ways to meld my love of science with innovation much more than my "pure" PhD work, so it can be mentally challenging to be surrounded by the caliber of individuals at Oxford who are dedicating their entire lives to academic careers and I'm just not at the same level as them because I also have hobbies, a business, etc and don't devote my entire life to my PhD as some do. I've made my peace with that, and that's okay; it just can be isolating at times to feel extremely different from those I'm surrounded by on a daily basis in these core ways. However, there is a lot of value in getting a PhD no matter what I do next - it has taught me to problem solve, be very self-sufficient, and pretty much learn anything. I'll take that with me anywhere I go next. I'm not sure it's been financially worth it, as I've had to go into debt not being able to cover living expenses with the standard stipend provided by my scholarships (non-London rate for Oxford, which is nearly as expensive as London). However, the hope is that I recoup this quickly and then some once I graduate, and no one can take away my PhD from me once I get it. The respect I'll earn from the title, not to mention the pride I'll have knowing I could accomplish something like that, and at the best university in the world no less, is priceless.
LOVELEESFINANCE- Due to the merit-based scholarship I received, my law degree was absolutely worth it to me. I was able to earn a prestigious degree for the same price as a bachelor's degree.
MEDSTUD.IES- Based on the options I had at the time, yes I do believe my degree from India was worth it. My other option would have been to pursue a bachelor degree + MD degree in the US, which would have been almost 2x the fees, and would have involved me taking loans out in my name. Today, I have a degree, am privileged enough to have had parents who could pay for it, and do not have any loans to my name. Granted, there are disadvantages to doing medical school outside of the US if you plan to return, but I still believe it was worth the culture shock, the extremely difficult and lonely times. Aside from my degree, living in India allowed me to develop a real relationship with my grandparents and relatives for the first time ever, and also helped me grow closer to my culture. My perspective on global health is forever shifted and I would not be the same person if I had not made this decision :)
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- So far yes. I believe that a PhD can only open doors, I haven't had the experience yet that people warned me about where companies say "you're too experienced" I've actually only heard the opposite. Throughout my degree I was able to take advantage of so many programs my school offered (career seminars and professional development workshops) I would not have been able to take part otherwise. I was always involved in many extracurriculars so I made a lot of friends who are now a huge network of young professionals in the industry. I went to pharma networking event and I met 2 people from my undergrad that I hadn't seen in 6 years, they did Master's and were now working in prestigious pharma companies...this is basically to show that the network continues to help you even after graduation. I feel like I really explored my interests during grad school and I found out how much I love communicating science to others and helping people excel. My degree also made me realize how hard working, intelligent and how much resilience I have ... it's REALLY HARD and I didn't quit...even though I really wanted to at points. Overall I had a hugely positive experience, and I think it was very much due to the lab I chose. It was super supportive and allowed me to explore my own interests.
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Yes. Emotionally it was exhausting but 10 years later I have space from it and it’s helped me fulfill my purpose and live a life where I’m happy. Financially I did miss out on a lot of things (including friends weddings which I regret), but overall, it has been worth it. Financially I will never make what my friends outside of academia make so that’s a sacrifice you need to be aware of and ok with. And it also impacted my physical health, and taking care of your health during a program is so important so I regret not doing that!
TESSA_FINANCE- I think all of my degrees helped me become a better teacher for my students. It has taught me about the social injustice of the world we live in (especially as a young Vietnamese women) and helped me build a strong passion for equity. Financially, I plan everything out. I picked a job that could fund my education and needs (I started making 6 digits at 22) and I found a degree that was available for online studies. Working full-time and studying full-time is not an easy task. Mentally, I had a lot of challenging days and had to use sick days to push through the degree. That being said, I would not change any single thing because learning is my passion.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I would say that for my Master's degree, I wish that I had known that scholarships were available to me and then I had applied to something like MPhil, but I just didn't know at the time and so I don't necessarily regret having taken out those loans. But ask me in two years when I still have a lot of debt that I have to pay off. Ultimately, I do think it was worth it. I think it was worth it in a very different way than I think my colleagues might because I have built businesses off the back of my education and I had networked based on my connections and my research that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to do and at the time when I made the decision to pursue these degrees and to take on debt it was the right decision at the time based on all of the options that were available to me. So no, I don't regret it.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT
What has been your greatest accomplishment as a result of pursuing this degree (something you achieved that you wouldn't have been able to, or would've taken more time if you didn't pursue this degree)?
KERTU TENSO- I think publishing high-quality research in peer-reviewed academic journals and have other researchers cite my work. That’s a very cool thing to see. Hopefully, the dream job and salary will follow soon.
ANON 1- I have been able to travel a lot more nationally due to conferences which I think it is great achievement. But another thing is the people I get to meet whether through my practicum, my advisor (who I dearly love), or just networking. Th connections I make or just connected with kids on the level of wanting to help them just makes you feel so accomplished when things get hard.
ANON 2- Collaborating with the student of a Nobel laureate, and another potential Nobel laureate, world class labs and renowned scientists; dream job of being a scientist in pharma
GABIBEE93- Collaborating with so many wonderful people have been an amazing part of this journey! Hopefully for some young people through this collaboration their lives have been made a little easier and a bit brighter.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- Getting to contribute to research related to my twin sister's disease (I know this might not sound like much of an "accomplishment", but for me it's the ultimate reason I became involved in this in the first place). Starting my business
LOVELEESFINANCE- My greatest accomplishment to earning my JD has been successfully passing the notorious California Bar Exam and becoming a licensed attorney. Although I do not actively practice law, I still keep my license active each year because it's a great accomplishment to see my license up. On that same token, I don't typically tell people I meet that I have a law degree or that I am technically a lawyer.
MEDSTUD.IES- This sounds basic, but honestly just seeing patients! I don't see them daily right now, but eventually I will, and honestly it is such a PRIVILEGE to practice medicine and to hold that kind of responsibility. So grateful to have the opportunity to treat and learn from patients! I also feel so privileged to have the job I have currently--the salary is a DREAM and I definitely would not have gotten it without my degree!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I am truly proud of all the work I've been able to accomplish inside the lab and outside! I guess I'm most proud of my 11 manuscripts, 8 published, 2 accepted and 1 under review (6 are first author). I am also super proud and grateful for my instagram community (63K followers) I literally would not have been able to start this account without my PhD !!
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Getting my dream fellowship at the National Institutes of Health
TESSA_FINANCE- My greatest accomplishment is becoming a teacher with my Bachelor of Education. I could not imagine myself doing anything else in this world but teach others. This degree has brought me to the Arctic and experience living a unique lifestyle. I have met some incredible people and have memories that will last a lifetime. My parents were never a fan of me becoming a teacher, and I proved to them that I could make 6 digits with my profession that is widely known to be horribly paid.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I would say having opportunities to study and kind to the people that I otherwise wouldn't. For example, I'm going to be going on fellowship at the University of Cambridge exterior to finishing my dissertation. I would say that, probably besides getting into Yale, is probably maybe a bit of accomplishment to date, but I've also had a variety of opportunities to speak at conferences and to connect with people in ways that I otherwise wouldn't have had, had I not pursued this PhD.
REGRETS
Do you have any regrets (financially, emotionally, physically, professionally, etc.)?
KERTU TENSO- I wish I had worked a few years before and saved that money to supplement PhD income because Boston is INCREDIBLY expensive, and this stipend is really not enough to live comfortably. And as an international student, I’m not allowed to work to supplement my income. So, it has been difficult at times.
ANON 1- I think I regret painting that the program I am in was this perfect happy program where professors are amazing. I wish I saw the cracks earlier when I started but I have learned a lot about myself and setting boundaries throughout the time.
ANON 2- Nil
GABIBEE93- My only regret is not knowing the true financial pressure this course can place on people. Saving up more money before the course would have been beneficial.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- I do often wonder if I really should have gone back to school to get my PhD, especially since I know my heart is in entrepreneurship, but I wouldn't call this a regret. This is pretty normal for a lot of PhD students I gather, especially those of us who were working full-time for a few years before coming back to get our PhDs, and especially when things get tough. But I do wonder sometimes if it would have been better to start up some other business while I was working in biotech making almost $100k per year to be in a better position financially at this stage in my life (I'm almost 28).
LOVELEESFINANCE- To be honest, I do not have any regrets with the path I went through with law school.
MEDSTUD.IES- No! Sometimes it does get to me, but I have never regretted it.
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I don't. I try not to regret any of my decisions, even the bad ones... I think they help me learn and at the time, it's what I chose to do.. so I kind of have to stick with it and deal with it. Looking back I definitely would have gone to therapy much earlier than I did. I waiting until first year of my Master's and I was on the brink of a burnout and dropping out of grad school, suffering from depression .. so yeah, maybe that.
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- I chose a school that worked for me, and I have no regrets on that. But my program didn’t work for me and I chose to switch programs two years into my doctorate, leading to graduating in 6, instead of 5 years. I did not have a straightforward path, but the experience helped me a lot. Publishing was not the most important thing in my lab, and I wish it had been because it put me behind despite having so much amazing research experience. I regret not realizing that until years later.
TESSA_FINANCE- I think my only regret is forcing myself at 18 to try to get into a degree to please my parents (typical med school route). It cost me one extra year to graduate and about $10k worth of tuition down the drain. I wished I had gone into my Bachelor of Education right out of high school instead of trying to get a Bachelor of Science. Then again, if I had not wasted one year of university, I would have never met my partner of 6 years (we met in one of our classes because we were graduating in the same year).
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- If I could go back to when I was applying to PhD programs, I would have given myself the advice to broaden the net of what I was considering and also to perhaps remain in the UK. The UK has far less funding and so I think that that would have been quite challenging for those reasons, but I think that there were perhaps other programs that would have been a better fit for me.
ADVICE
What is your advice for people who want to pursue a doctorate degree in your field? Talk about what is typically needed in an application, how much to budget for application costs, etc.
KERTU TENSO- Programs are typically looking for a well-rounded applicant. There is no one quality that matters more than others. You need to have strong educational background, some research experience, passion for the field, interpersonal skills etc. I recommend to spend a decent amount of time on your statement of purpose because they will actually read it. Tailor it to each specific program. During the interviews, make sure you are up to date with the research of the faculty and be ready to discuss your past research in detail. Be friendly and humble!
ANON 1-
Master’s: Well I was a master's student at one point (although the master's degree I hold does not reflect that). As a school psychology masters student, if anyone is interested in that, cost wise I think it depends on each school. I currently go to a public state university where tuition is a lot cheaper than the private schools that I applied to. In terms of application, some schools might ask for a GRE, so consider that before applying. I do not remember application cost being that bad, depending on HOW MANY you are applying, it was roughly $50 for each application, but that varies by school. I would also say gain experience in the field a little whether working in a school setting/volunteering through something with kids. I think that highlights a lot of what programs want to see is that you know what you're getting yourself into and you like working with kids.
Doctorate: I think some programs prefer master's holding students especially if you are applying directly from undergrad since they might fear that you. might burn out too fast since it is a big jump from undergrad to grad especially in a doctoral program, but that is not the case for every program. I would say you should try to get as much research experience as you can and try to possibly write or help out with a manuscript which shows you have the experience. With interviews, I think it is always hard, but you need to practice the questions that they might ask you so you can be confident in delivering them. Interviews help programs decide whether or not they want you and sometimes a bad interview makes/breaks the ranking that the professor has in terms of accepting.
ANON 2-
Master’s: Decide what you want to do after the degree and explore the career options available in the field.
Doctorate: Thoroughly enquire about the lab and prof and don’t go by the reputation of the prof or research group. It’s a long term process so you need to be in a place of mental peace and understanding and compassion. Be at a place that would help you grow and not just use you as an underpaid employee
Master’s: I found taking the student loan option as helpful! I managed to work alongside my masters and set myself working days and study days. This was very helpful in ensuring I was committed to my studies whilst being able to financially support myself.
Doctorate: Experience is key for enrolling on the educational psychology doctorate. Lived and professional experience all counts as long as you consider how you applied psychology!
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- I share all about this inside my Oxbridge Application Accelerator Toolkit :-) But one of the most important things I always emphasise to my students is that their research interests need to be the PERFECT fit with their ideal supervisor and school. It needs to be about fit first, and the prestige/name of the school second. When there's the perfect fit, you're doing it for the right reasons and then everything else just falls into place.
LOVELEESFINANCE- Because law school is often thrown around in the same breath as medical, dental, pharmacy, and business school, I always tell prospective students to determine deep down if the legal field is truly something they want to be in. Due to the high cost of tuition, I would only recommend it if you receive a substantial merit-based scholarship. I unfortunately know a few colleagues who were not as fortunate and took out student loans to cover the tuition sticker price (plus cost of living). To this day, many have to work in big law just to pay back their student loans and they seem to miserable.
MEDSTUD.IES- I can only answer for those who want to go to medical school in India! So not sure how relevant that is here. In general, being well-rounded, having a focus/passion for medicine and hobbies OUTSIDE of medicine is always appreciated in the US.
Make sure you are interested in the topic of the lab you choose... even if you don't fully understand the work they do yet, if you're interested it will help you get through the failed experiments, gruelling deadlines and all the terrible parts
Interview the lab, I mean reach out to students in the lab, ask about the social norms, how the prof mentors, what is the funding like in the lab, are you encouraged to pursue your passions outside the lab, are people helpful or competitive
Try to have research experience before applying, I found my lab because I volunteered for free for a summer (we should be paid ... but unfortunately, that's how it goes)
Master’s: Get some experience before going back to school. Know your “why” of getting the masters. And make sure people from that school are getting the types of jobs you want after getting their masters.
Doctorate: Do informational interviews, as many as you can. Start reaching out and collaborating with peers and former colleagues to build your portfolio. Really have a sense of what research you are interested in conducting and whether that program has the support to do it. Make sure you take a look at the advisors and the type of research they do, and what grants they have in the pipeline.
TESSA_FINANCE- For Master’s: You will need a resume/CV, statement of intent, three references, a strong transcript (good grades), a Bachelor of Education usually, and sometimes at least two years of teaching experience. The application cost was about $150.
Master’s: I personally would not recommend getting a master's degree in history or in basically any field unless you have a direct ROI in mind. A lot of people that I see going into Master's programs don't know what it is that they exactly want out of it other than they really enjoyed the subject and they want to keep learning. The people that I've seen it be really successful with having a Master's degree had a direct ROI in mind with what they wanted to get out of it. I specifically did the Master's degree at Oxford as a means of improving my odds of getting into a competitive PhD program so it was a means to an end for me.
Doctorate: For the people that want to pursue a doctoral degree I always ask if, for example, there is no academic job at the end of this, will that education, will the time that you spend on that education be worth it? If the answer is yes, do it, but if the answer is I'm not sure, then that's when I would recommend going getting more job experience and then coming into the doctorate because a doctoral degree is a long time, a massive commitment, and it is quite likely that you will not land in an academic position. And so you want to consider all of your options and be sure that you are thinking of how it is that you're going to leverage the degree in a variety of different types of professions.
PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION
If someone were to go up to you and say "I want to pursue [degree that you pursued/currently pursuing]", what would you tell them? What type of advice would you give?
KERTU TENSO- Be 100% sure that it’s what you want and need. Doing a PhD is a huge commitment and it’s very difficult from doing a bachelors or masters. It’s much less structured and has different types of stressors. You will be at your limit many times during this journey. I thought doing my masters was hard but looking back now, it was nothing compared to what doing this PhD has been.
ANON 1- I would tell them it is a lot of work and that you will be challenged at many turns. I would advise them to create a folder where they put praises of what people have said to them. i have a folder like that to keep me sane during my low periods. I would highly advise that you learn boundaries with your cohort mates but also learn boundaries with school. School should not be 24/7 even if it feels like it needs to be but I have been my happiest when I set better boundaries at not doing work.
ANON 2- Read about the cons and not just pros and fancy things. Ask yourself if you really are committed to do that long process and will you be ok of missing out on things many of your friends would be enjoying while you are struggling to do. Be open minded to the challenges and be aware that things could go either way. be patient and courageous to make a decision against your choice at a point u feel u need to do so
GABIBEE93- I would tell them to be aware of the financial pressures involved, but I would also tell them that it is a rewarding programme which makes you think critically.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- Think carefully about why you REALLY want to do this degree - is it because you want to pursue a lifelong career in this area of research? Is it because you've tried other things you're interested in, and this is what interests you the most? Is it because it will give you the type of job and lifestyle you want to have? (these are all good reasons to pursue this degree) OR is it because you don't know what you want to do next, so you're getting another degree to bide your time? Or because everyone else you know is going on to get a higher degree? Or because you like the idea of the title it will give you? Or because of the prestige of the school you'll go to? Or because the thought of applying to jobs scares you so you'd rather stay in school because it's familiar? (these, while harsh truths to confront, are not good reasons to go on to get a doctorate, and I see them very often and personally fell victim to some of them haha) You need to ensure this degree is going to enable you to have the kind of lifestyle you want. If it gives you a career that you like the IDEA of (prestige of being a researcher at a top university) but the lifestyle kills your soul (working 60+ hour workweeks and on weekends, not taking holidays, no work-life balance or boundaries, etc), then it's important to think very hard about what this degree will really do for you.
LOVELEESFINANCE- On the similar token, I would tell them to seriously consider their passion for the field/degree. Do you really want to be a lawyer or work in a secondary field where a law degree is useful? If you answered yes to either, make sure you receive the most merit-based scholarship as possible. Of course you shouldn't go to the school that gave you the most money (law school rankings do actually kind of matter) but it should be a consideration.
MEDSTUD.IES- I actually give this advice out a lot! I love seeing people passionate about wanting to pursue medicine. No matter how much you love medicine/the idea of medicine, you WILL have bad and horrible days--whether it is in the process of applying, during school, or in the hospital. It is inevitable. Know your "why", and keep that near and dear to you, it will get you through those dark days. Medicine has a lot of deep-rooted issues with the hours, pay, toxicity, hierarchy, etc. Be aware of these issues! Some people want to do this career for the money/superficial reasons, and what I always say is please explore other options! There are tons of careers these days that can make you money and give you glory, medicine solely for the money is NOT worth it at all haha. And also just be kind and dedicated! Please don't be mean to your peers, there's a place for ALL of us in medicine!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- Weigh the pros/cons for yourself, your life goals (for example: as a woman do you want a child by 28? if so you might have to take time off during your degree, is that something you want to do?). Overall, I would say do it :)
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Great! What are you hoping to do with it? Is the doctorate necessary for that step? If so, make sure you find an advisor that supports that, not just the program. Your advisor can make or break our program.
TESSA_FINANCE- Go for it! If you are a teacher, it is actually important to get a master's degree at least because you will need it to max out your pay grid (if you have not already). There is usually a 6-year teacher education category for salary purposes (4-year BEd, and then 2-year MEd).
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I would say know your ROI. Know what it is that you're looking to get out of it and do not go in without a question in mind. A lot of people go into Master's degrees or doctoral programs and they have like a general idea of what it is that they want to study and they love their subject and they love their research. But the thing that keeps you going, the thing that's going to get you to the end, is having a question in mind that you cannot let go. I have thought about leaving my PhD program several times and the thing that keeps me coming back and keeps me grounded and reminds me what it is that I'm doing this for is the research question. And I'm knowing that if I don't answer it if I don't pursue it, nobody else will. And that is upsetting to me, so I keep doing it.
SCHOOL NAME/PRESTIGE
Does the name of the school matter for this degree? Should someone aim to get into an Ivy League/private institution or is a state school/a less "flashy" institution more than adequate?
KERTU TENSO- It matters to some extent. Maybe more so, if you plan to apply for academic jobs after your PhD, because those jobs are very limited. But I would say what matters even more is the prestige of your program/advisor, and the type of research you manage to publish during/after your PhD.
ANON 1- I personally do not think so because in the end of the day we are doing the same thing. Why let something like a school show your worth when your energy, the work you produce, your personality should show that.
ANON 2- To some extend it does; but I would say just go by the middle line - fancy need not be always the go to
GABIBEE93- As there are only a few schools that provide the course there are very few options available!
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- As I said in a previous answer, if someone's research interests are the perfect fit with a school, that's the most important thing. But sure, having the name Oxford will never hurt me in the future, and in fact will likely help me. So yes, it does matter, but both my supervisors at Oxford didn't do their Bachelor's or PhDs at Oxford, and now they're both established PIs there, so the name of the school is not the "end all be all."
LOVELEESFINANCE- In the legal world, the name of the school does kind of matter. Employers in Big law or other reputable companies will tend to recruit heavily in the top schools so that's why there has been a huge emphasis on law school rankings as far as I can remember.
MEDSTUD.IES- Again, as someone who did medical school outside of the US, i don't think I'm qualified to answer this! My initial thoughts are -- no, it does not matter. You may have different opportunities than others if you go to a less "flashy" school, but at the end of the day it's all for the same degree! I didn't go to the best school in India but I definitely made the most of what I could and came out fine on the other side!
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I think it depends what you want to do. If you want to stay and work in your area, I don't think you need a fancy school. Let's say you're in Canada and you want to move to China and have a career there. They most likely will recognize University of Toronto or McGill, but probably not Université de Montreal... If you want to stay in academia, the flashy names are definitely more helpful in finding one of the very limited professor positions, you'll also have a stronger network
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- It depends. But for a doctorate, a top 10 school will open doors…a lot of being at the university is being in the right circles and networks for future research. If the expert in your topic area is at a less flashy institution but well connected, they will open doors for you and the university matters less.
TESSA_FINANCE- For myself, I looked among Canada's top 10 universities because it is simply cheaper than trying to go international. I do not think it is necessary for a "Ivy league" status, from a finance perspective, that is a lot of silly debt.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- Yes and no. Everyone at an Ivy League institution will say that all of our students get jobs and we've got incredible students but I'd also think that's a bit of there's a bit of bias going into that because the people that get into programs at the Ivy Leagues tend to have had really strong research, really strong recommendations, and they are the most likely for example to publish and to write an education that's you know really novel and to end up with publication offers. That being said, I have met so many successful students that have come from public institutions and state schools because they have really strong advisor relationships. They publish like mad and they are just brilliant scholars and they're real go-getters so I don't think it's necessarily the name of the school, moreso how it is that you are leveraging your education and networking. Because at the end of the day when you're looking for an academic job or you're looking for an industry job, networking is the key to success and so whether or not you're at an Ivy League but you're never going to conferences and you're not hustling and you're not networking, then you're going to be far less successful than somebody that's gone to the state university who goes to conferences to communicate with people in their fields, who's publishing regularly. It's not necessarily the name of the school, it's moreso what you do with it.
SCHOOL DECISION
How did you decide on the school you ended up attending/are currently attending? What other schools did you apply to? What criteria were you looking for when you applied to these programs?
KERTU TENSO- I was very limited in my search because my husband was doing a PhD at MIT, so I wanted to be in the same area. I applied for some programs for fun, though, such as UCSF in San Francisco, and I interviewed with them, but there was no way I was going to accept it. What was most important for me was that the program was fully funded and had a somewhat OK stipend, because I don’t have family money and I was not allowed to work as an international student.
ANON 1- I was already here for undergrad and I knew that the program i was pursuing was actually pretty good in at this university. Also I built a lot of relationships during my master's so when I applied I really wanted to stay since I already had that foundation with my advisor.
ANON 2- I went by random choice and it worked out.
GABIBEE93- I applied to the maximum of three training programmes. From this, I was offered one place and I took this.
OXBRIDGE ADMISSIONS CLUB- My supervisor's research interests at Oxford were the perfect fit for what I wanted to research (a variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome), and Oxford Clinical Neurosciences has a uniquely heavy focus on autoimmune neurology. It also helped that I won a full Clarendon Scholarship to attend, Oxford's most prestigious graduate scholarship. I was also accepted to the PhD in Clinical Neurosciences at Cambridge as well as the fully-funded MRC Doctoral Training Programme at Cambridge.
LOVELEESFINANCE- I made my decision to attend the best-ranking school I got into balanced with the amount of merit-aid scholarships received. My school at the time was ranked somewhere between the 60th - 80th during my time there. I did receive a full-ride scholarship at another school but it was ranked towards the bottom of the list (125+) and I did not feel comfortable attending just for the money.
MEDSTUD.IES- In general, I wanted a school close to family and where I knew the local language so that patient interaction wouldn't be too much of an issue. I don't know if this is relevant for US students haha.
DR. CLAUDIA BELLIVEAU- I'm very privileged to have grown up in Montreal, a city with a ton of universities. I applied to 2 universities: McGill and Concordia. I wanted to go to McGill because of it's prestige for undergrad, and because it's very cheap for such an amazing education (because I'm from Quebec). For my PhD, my professor was affiliated with McGill, so I stayed at McGill.
WANDERLUSTVEGGIEFOODIE- Location. I wanted to stay in CA. A state university costs less than private. But the biggest factor was what the school offered and who my advisors would be.
KAELYN GRACE APPLE- I applied to UVA, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and Yale. If I could go back, I would have applied even wider but ultimately I ended up at Yale because it was the only program that had a joint program. It was the only program that allowed me to go into history and African American studies and also had a really strong stipend. And honestly the cost of living in New Haven was much much better than some of the other places that I was considering.
Well… there you have it folks! The second half of the pursuit of higher education guide. I learned a lot from these responses; I hope the same goes for you, whether or not you plan on pursuing a doctorate degree. If this post might help someone else out, then please don’t hesitate to share it with them!
See you next week for another musing!
Kaelyn’s responses were transcribed from video; therefore, her responses may sound more conversational than other’s.