In between project searches and swingset construction, I’ve been plodding along with the book by Robert Peters on getting a Ph.D. Given my hunger for answers, it has proven to be a page-turner, even with most of the first half not being very pertinent to my situation (it’s mostly about applying for school).
The big take-home so far has been: Don’t teach. Or, more practically, teach as little as possible. This is very counter-intuitive for me, given that one of the end results of this degree might be a professor. It would seem like teaching as much as possible would be a good thing, not a deterrent. But, according to Peters, it is a time sink and will almost always delay progress on the degree. Minimize teaching to maximize speed.
I also am going back to a mindset of trying to get out of the program in 3 years. Eli had recommended taking time to smell the roses and strengthen social networks. But I’ll be 41 in May 2009 and in my fifth straight year of abject poverty. Fast is good, in my case. But it will require jumping to a new level of organization, productivity and stamina. Plus, there will definitely be math.
In Chapter 12, Peters lists eight things that can be done right away to prepare for Ph.D. training:
- Buy a good computer — check
- Set up a calendar system — check, but I need to get my old Sony CLIE syncing with iCal
- Set up a filing system — I have an old filing cabinet, but need to make room and get folders
- Begin keeping an hourly log of daily progress — I’m setting up a blog and wiki on my local computer, and will use that
- Reapply for outside fellowships — I’m hoping there’s a chapter all about this in the Peters book
- Set up regular meetings with your adviser — Maybe after I finish the book
- Join a graduate student support group — I started one of these last year, but let it fizzle in the second semester. Maybe some of those returnees will be help me get it going again.
- Search for a thesis topic — Plenty of ideas, mostly related to each other, but I need very specific focus.
I admit to being scared about much of what is in this book, particularly the rigors of qualifying exams and the high expectations for long days and nights. Plus, should I stick with academics after this, there’s a whole associate professorship journey to tenure that is every bit as draining (although presumably the pay is better). I have had several moments where I think about taking a full time job at Cummins and being done with it all …
