How to Thrive & Survive Year 1 of Your DOCTORAL Program
- Drs. Nicholas and Jo Markette
- Jan 3, 2025
- 2 min read
by Drs. Nicholas and Jo Markette
With only 1-3% of the world's population holding a doctoral degree, you've embarked on an extraordinary journey. Here are 10 essential strategies to help you thrive in your first year as a doctoral student.
Set a Graduation Goal Don't just take it as it comes. As scholar-practitioners juggling careers and families, we need to set realistic graduation targets that account for life's challenges - whether it's job changes, health issues, or family obligations. Your goal will help orient your daily actions.
Develop a Plan Choose a general topic early and understand your program's milestones. Create a plan of action that integrates your coursework, professional life, and dissertation work.
Revise Your Plan Regularly Review and adjust your plan every 30 days. Life changes, and your plan should too. A stale plan won't serve your journey.
Read Daily Commit to reading two peer-reviewed articles daily. Don't read them cover-to-cover - instead, focus on abstracts, research problems, methods, findings, limitations, and recommendations. This habit will accelerate your progress dramatically.
Use Bibliography Tools Organize your readings in tools like Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote. When you're reading hundreds of articles, proper organization becomes crucial.
Align Coursework with Your Topic Use course assignments, discussion forums, and peer responses to explore your dissertation topic. Blend your coursework with your research interests.
Study Dissertations Read one dissertation weekly, focusing on methodology rather than topic. Study your professors' dissertations to understand their perspectives. Analyze how successful dissertations are constructed.
Maintain Balance Remember the sharp axe principle - take care of your health, relationships, and spirituality. Sometimes your best insights come during a workout or family time.
Practice Self-Forgiveness Be kind to yourself when you stumble. This journey is different from your previous academic experiences. The iterative process of feedback and revision is normal.
Have Fun You're becoming part of a rare group in society. This opportunity wouldn't have been possible for many working professionals 25 years ago. Approach it with joy and gratitude.
Watch the full video guide here:
Markette, N. J. & Markette., J. [Dr. Markette]. (2022, June 6). How to Thrive & Survive Year 1 of Your DOCTORAL Program || Top 10 Tips to Write Your Dissertation. [Video]. YouTube.
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