The DBA Journey is more than just:
- Pick School
- Pick Program
- Pick a Dissertation Topic
Somewhere along the journey, I was hoping it would be that easy. You've heard from guests already about the selection process and the rigor. Coming up, you'll learn more about the differences in constructs around degree selection, but we are going even deeper into the playbook.
What have I learned through this process? My favorite educational learning phrase has been "it depends." It's become our cohort's running joke and one of my primary contributions to our discussions. (Professors, thanks for laughing, too. At least I think you were laughing along.)
That phrase has really molded objectivity for me. I felt I was objective on topics coming into the DBA program. The reminder that academic pursuits are more than just a quantifiable or qualitative assessment and to hear some of the global leaders (with CONFIDENCE, I might add!) boldly claim the answers to all of the questions are "it depends" fascinated and scared the hell out of me. What do you mean by "it depends"? This is higher education! Where is the definitive?
Well, I quickly learned.
How will you approach your research? It depends.
What model will you use? It depends.
What journals will you investigate? It depends.
Who will you work with on these projects? It depends.
What will you do when everything crashes in your personal world? It depends.
How long does it take to write the dissertation? It depends.
How do you proceed when you get the worst phone call of your life? It depends.
When can I start my research? It depends.
How many sacrifices can I make for this pursuit? It depends.
This degree was on my bucket list, and as we've told you, this is the case for many of us. Somewhere I was brazen enough to think, "Just like the last two degrees. Show up. Do the work. Get the degree." And then the reminder hit that I'd entered the big leagues. Does the game change, or do the players change? In my case, it was both, but for others? It depends. I've watched colleagues sail through statistical analysis, while I feel like I'm using a Speak-N-Spell style calculator to even count. Conversely, I've kicked out 40-page papers faster than lightning while some of my colleagues watch a blank screen.
Our upcoming guests will discuss big topics like commitment, picking the right degree, and work-life balance. In all of these discussions, listen for the "it depends." There will be successes and failures. You will make sacrifices for more than time. You will question yourself and your capabilities. You will experience frustration.
So far, I've only found one place where I won't use "it depends". When those moments of doubt arise, when the next round of bad news gets delivered, when the next massive statistics project hits, and I start to ask, "Am I going to make it through this program?".
Yes. We all are. No "it depends" or objectivity is needed.
