What is it like being a doctoral student? After completing my master's program online eight years earlier, I realized I wanted a more interactive experience for my PhD, so I opted for a face-to-face program. I started in the Fall of 2019, but many of my classes transitioned to remote learning due to the pandemic. After two years as a doctoral student and Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), I secured a full-time PETE (Physical Education Teacher Education) position at a local university, allowing me to finish my last two years while working full-time. My journey has been anything but typical. I was the only student in my cohort specializing in PE, with the others focused on public health and exercise science. At 33, I was among the oldest students, bringing practical experience and balancing family responsibilities. Despite these challenges, I had exceptional mentors and advisors who provided me with numerous teaching opportunities, particularly as the small program size and COVID-19 adjustments required more hands-on involvement. Although I did not engage extensively in research beyond my dissertation, I did lead one significant project. This study was nice because my mentor tailored the project to my research interest.

What are my classes like? My PETE classes were conducted as one-on-one independent studies, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would read a paper or chapter and then discuss it with my advisors, who tailored assignments to my needs. Early on, I struggled with receiving feedback on my writing quality, but this constructive criticism ultimately made me a better scholar. My non-PETE classes, such as research methods and college of education electives, were larger but still allowed for meaningful conversations. Being the sole PE student, I often brought a unique perspective and advocated for our profession.

What are comprehensive exams like? ​I was given 6-8 hours over three days to complete three written preliminary exams, each designed by a professor and tailored to me. The first exam focused on research methodology and data analysis, the second on PETE programs, clinical supervision, and systematic observations, and the third on writing a research prospectus and literature review. Following the written exams, my committee conducted an oral exam via Zoom to clarify my responses. I spent weeks studying and was understandably nervous, but the preparation paid off.

What are dissertations like? I completed my dissertation while working full-time at another university. Initially, I planned to conduct research in K-12 schools, but for convenience, I used my own university students. The project evolved significantly, partly to meet my committee's expectations and partly due to my own practical adjustments. My advice is to be adaptable and align your coursework with your dissertation project. Many of my coursework papers and my literature review were directly beneficial for my dissertation. Choosing the right committee members is crucial; a mix of perspectives can be helpful, but too many can complicate the process. Sometimes, you'll undertake tasks outside your initial plan, which can enhance your project or reinforce your decisions.​

What is an assistantship? My assistantship covered all my coursework and provided a modest stipend of $1000 a month, although I still had to pay for parking. Not every PETE program offers assistantships, but those that do provide invaluable hands-on experience. If you aim to work in higher education, understanding the behind-the-scenes workings is crucial. 

​What is an assistantship workload like? ​ I was expected to work at least 20 hours a week in addition to my courses, but it often felt like more. I volunteered for any class I could assist with, taking 6-9 units each semester and leading at least one class. I also formally assisted with one other class and informally with 2-3 more each semester.

Can I work part-time outside of university and still pursue a degree? Is it feasible?  I wouldn't recommend it. Without an assistantship, it might be feasible, but you could miss out on valuable research and teaching opportunities. Commit fully to your future and volunteer for as many projects and teaching roles as possible. I did work as an edTPA scorer, which complemented my role in advising and teaching students. This remote work with Pearson allowed me to grade profiles at my convenience.

Advice? ​Align your program or assistantship to be either research or teaching-focused. You might not know this until you start, but ask if it is possible. To be clear, you should do both, but figure out if you want more research-focused or practical teaching experience from your doctoral assistantship. Find out what your professors are known for research. If you pick a dissertation topic that doesn't align with their area of expertise, they will not be able to help you.

What is it like being a doctoral student? Being a doctoral student is different than any other academic experience. While there are likely many common emotions and encounters among PhD students, there are also several factors related to everyone’s experience. Every doctoral student will experience feelings like overwhelm, nervousness, and stress, but as life and school continue to ebb and flow as they will, every student will experience feelings of accomplishment upon completion of rewarding and personalized work, and gratitude for the experience to grow and learn. A deeper passion for their work develops through the grit of learning how to do research and recognizing the difference it can make in the field and in the world. That being said, what is it like to be a doctoral student is largely dependent on one’s mentors, the program, and the institution. My advice would be to find the right mentor(s) first, and the rest will fall into place.

What are my classes like? There is no sliding by unnoticed. Small. Discussion based, but the time always flies by because no faculty or doc student lacks enthusiasm and passion for the conversations at hand. Coursework can be tough, but you learn to prioritize homework based on its content, your schedule, and mental energy. For example, I write in the morning and read in the evening.

What are comprehensive exams like? I will complete comps this spring, but I hear different programs have different procedures for comprehensive exams. In our program, you have one week to write about 80 pages* to answer four questions and support your responses based on research. Then, once you pass the written portion, you take the oral exam. It sounds like it will be a bit stressful considering you need to keep up with other classes and teaching responsibilities as normal but preparing as much as possible will help ease the process. Wish me luck!

What are dissertations like? I am entering my second year as a doc student, and I am on track to complete my PhD in a total of three years. I will complete all course work and comprehensive exams within the first two years, and the third year, I will mostly work on my dissertation. So, while I haven’t “started” writing my dissertation yet, I have an idea of what it will be about. You’ll work with your advisor to determine a topic that you will research, and the dissertation will be a long academic paper, likely split into chapters, discussing your study. Once finished, you will defend your dissertation as a final assignment to earn your PhD. 

What is an assistantship? A graduate assistantship is a type of employment in which the graduate student earns a salary and a tuition waiver and assumes responsibilities related to research or teaching, or both. Typically, if you are accepted into a PhD program and there is a graduate assistant position available, you must apply and be accepted, usually based on academic performance, experience, and/or referral from a faculty member. Basically, you want a graduate assistantship. Why? Being a graduate assistant not only allows you to earn money while waiving most of your tuition fees, but it also provides you with practical experience in the field. For me, teaching classes within the PETE program is my favorite part of the experience.

What is an assistantship workload like? My graduate assistantship covers the tuition for 10 credits/semester. Aside from coursework, I teach about 4-6 credits per semester and participate in a variety of research projects with our team. At the University of Northern Colorado, our team consists of three faculty members and three doctoral students, but every program is different. The workload keeps you very busy, so prioritizing your time is important so that you can be successful in your coursework, teaching, and research while still finding time for self-care.

Can I work part-time outside of university and still pursue a degree? Is it feasible? You can try? I don’t recommend it. Perhaps if you are a full-time student and you don’t have a graduate assistantship, you might be able to pull off working a part-time job. But, if you have an assistantship and a full course load, I advise focusing your energy on those responsibilities in order to keep some sort of balance and perform at your best. I personally have applied for scholarships and have taken out loans to help ease financial stressors.

Advice? Don’t settle for a generic program like curriculum and instruction if your passion lies within the field of physical education. Find the right program with the right mentors and get started. You won’t regret it. The time will pass anyway, you might as well earn a PhD.

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