Since you don't want to mention it to your current colleagues, I'd suggest asking your MA advisor for recommendations. Honestly, though, my experience is that people in higher ed are very frequently looking at new options and very few would hold it against you that you want to advance your education, so I think it would probably be safe to ask your current colleagues about strong programs in your specialty area. You don't have to say "I'm ready to leave," but you could try something like "If I ever wanted to increase my knowledge in this field by getting my PhD, what universities would you recommend?"
The field I'm in has a national organization for education of professionals in the field. I started with their list, applied, and then went to the school that offered me the most money.
Applied to the 10 top ranked phd programs in my field. Got a fellowship and all offered me comparable financial packages. Went to the number one program because it had several people I could work with and a strong network of graduate and professional students.
Post by jerseyjaybird on Jan 25, 2013 6:14:31 GMT -5
I found my advisor first (read her book, e-mailed her, arranged to meet for coffee at a conference) and went to her school. My specialty is really narrow, though, and she was the obvious choice among very few options.
In loose order (some overlap): 1. ranking 2. employment stats after graduation; school avg on national exam all SLP students take after completing grad program 3. cost (scholarships/assistantships considered here as well) 4. impressions after visits - this was huge. I was trying to decide between two programs. I was able to decide after speaking informally with current students at both programs. 5. location
My way of picking was more practical. I was not able to move at the time so I was limited to the schools around me. Luckily I had 5 within driving distance. I looked at their programs and talked to the people around me. Then I looked at affordability and grants available to decide who was going to be best to support me. I cared about who was a top school but ultimately cost and distance were my priorities.
If you work in higher ed why would you pay for a PhD or EdD at another institution? I highly recommend either getting your degree where you work or getting a job at a school that has the degree program you want and then getting tuition remission.
In loose order (some overlap): 1. ranking 2. employment stats after graduation; school avg on national exam all SLP students take after completing grad program 3. cost (scholarships/assistantships considered here as well) 4. impressions after visits - this was huge. I was trying to decide between two programs. I was able to decide after speaking informally with current students at both programs. 5. location
For me I mostly used this list too. I focused on 1, 3 and 5 since I'm already employed in my field but need a masters degree to move up any further. Luckily for me one of the top 3 programs for my MPA was located in my city.
I'm a Ph.D. dropout. I chose my program based on the advisor. I went through journals in my field and flagged the papers that were most aligned with my research interests and then looked up the paper authors to learn more about their research. From there I cut down my list of potentials to the top 5 or 6 and I believe I emailed them all personally to express interest in working with them as I pursued a Ph.D. I applied to those 5 or 6 schools. I got in person interviews at all of them so then I made my final decision based on the overall impression I got of the school, department, advisor, etc. from my interviews.
the first picture in your signature was used on woot yesterday. They were advertising a TV and that pug picture was on the TV.
My H loved it (since we have a pug) and sent it to me.
It's not my pug It's an internet meme - "The Saddest Pug in the World".
Our pugs aren't quite as cute but I keep meaning to change my signature cos I get asked all the the time if he's mine and I feel like I'm trying to pass him off as mine.
Ah Ok, I don't think I have heard of that one before, but I just googled and I see. My pug also makes "sad" faces all the time - more often than "happy" ones - but this might be the saddest pug in the world.
I didn't have the best experience with my MA program which is why I didn't pursue there. They weren't as innovative as I sway.
I do have some people at work that I could poke at work that might give me some info ... Thanks for the idea.
Sorry if my response was unclear; I didn't actually mean to apply to the school where you got your MA, but rather to ask your former adviser for opinions on what are the best programs in the specific area of education in which you are interested.
For what it's worth, I applied to schools that met my requirements for rank in program area combined with location (DH and I had some specific requirements) and then went to the one where I felt the most comfortable match with an adviser after visiting. Having a good match with an adviser is really crucial to having a good PhD experience.
My way of picking was more practical. I was not able to move at the time so I was limited to the schools around me. Luckily I had 5 within driving distance. I looked at their programs and talked to the people around me. Then I looked at affordability and grants available to decide who was going to be best to support me. I cared about who was a top school but ultimately cost and distance were my priorities.
This is what I did for my Master's. Then, since I ended up working at that school after graduation, I ended up doing the Ed.D. program here, so I'm getting tuition benefits as well.
Even if you're thinking about relocating, consider the tuition benefits at the school you're going to go to...would it be possible to work and get them? For most PhD programs, that's a no go, as they want you researching/and teaching, which is why they're funded. For an EdD, definitely consider working while going to school, since they're less likely to be funded.
My school calls curriculum design Educational Psychology - so you may want to include that in your search. Good luck!
Mine was pretty easy. The tough part was deciding what to get my masters in. Once I decided that, deciding what school to go to was easy because I didn't want to move and the school where I did my undergrad degree had a good program, so there you go.