History And Character Of The PhD Graduate
Following the tide of the age, you are considering the Iron Man Marathon of education, the PhD. Having finished your undergraduate education, you follow the phrase from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...." Not letting any one topic bog you down, you float over the complicated and confusing sieving information, like a blue whale sieves plankton. So you're getting your PhD. While you're setting out on this journey to research one topic, the whole topic, and nothing but the topic, so help you God, you can entertain yourself with a little background on the PhD. The PhD is an abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy. European universities in the middle ages generally considered the PhD for many fields, excluding medicine, theology, and law. The first PhD's were honorary degrees conferred on scholars of distinction. At the Fredrich Wilhelm University of Berlin in the 19th century, the practice of conferring the honor of the PhD on undergraduate students who successfully defended a PhD thesis, began the idea. In 1861, Yale University took up the practice and like wildfire, spread throughout the continent. In 1900, Canada took up the conferring of honors of the PhD which then continued to the United Kingdom in 1921. History shows that many students coveted and pursued this type of advanced learning throughout the ages. Knowing the history of the honor of the PhD is only one aspect of the PhD. Do you have the character traits necessary to pursue and complete this emblematic consummation of education? The first character trait required is initiative. Your PhD does not get done because of another person's desire, but of your own. Search deep inside yourself...do you have what it takes? Stick-to-itiveness is another trait which will determine whether you live or die in graduate school. The key is to have the tenacity for the PhD degree, to keep on that task, or continually visit your advisor for help. The discipline to keep going on your PhD and doing things no matter what, will serve your PhD in the long run. Don't just rely on your moods and whims to get you through graduate school. You need a sense of a long term commitment to your PhD regardless of the weather. Speaking of the weather, being able to work around the rainy season and the commitments of others encompasses another skill of PhD school applicants-flexibility. To move with the times and the flow of your research project, which may take on a life of it's own - literally, if you're studying biology - to flex yourself around the changes which may occur in your PhD and the communication with PhD advisors and department heads is one character trait which will be well worth the effort. Being other-minded, that is, having good interpersonal skills is critical to your success in garnering a PhD. It comes down to straight economics supply and demand. You may have the demand for the resources but you won't get them for your PhD if politics comes into play. Remember the motto of many corporations - that people are our most important resource in a PhD. Capital is also found to be funded, and articulating your personal vision to others will help others embrace your cause. With the history of the PhD understood and the characteristics of a successful PhD student in your toolkit, you'll be well on your way to a brighter tomorrow and finishing your PhD successfully. Happy studying and good luck! |
