Thrive and Survive Year 1 of Your Doctoral Program: The Top 10 Tips
- Nicholas Markette, Ed.D.
- Jun 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 1
by Nicholas Markette, Ed.D.
As you embark on the journey of earning your doctorate as a scholar practitioner, there are certain steps you can take that will set you up for success.
Here are 10 Tips for Year 1:
1. Set a goal for graduation.
2. Develop a plan around a topic or area of study. Use the milestone guide to construct a detailed plan that begins now—this process will take several hours to do correctly. This will result in self-created assignments, deadlines, and milestones.
3. Constantly revisit and revise your plan.
4. Immerse yourself in the literature—two peer-reviewed articles a day (or 100 per year).
Quick-Read Method for Skimming Articles:
Abstract | Read for overall topic relevancy |
|---|---|
Research Problem | Examine the wording format & imitate |
Research Questions | Examine the wording format & imitate |
Method & Design | Make sure this OR the topic matches to yours. If neither matches, this is not an article for you. |
Data Collection | Examine and compare the steps to yours. Did you miss anything? |
Data Analysis | Note the paragraph-by-paragraph structure for future imitation of format |
Findings | Consider as springboard to your study |
Limitations & Recommendations | Consider for justification for your study |
5. Place the literature in an annotated bibliography (i.e., RefWorks, Mendeley, EndNote, etc.)
6. Use your coursework in tandem to your topic: Bend ALL assignments to your topic
7. Become a dissertation expert. Read your professors’ dissertations and dissertations that are coming out of GCU. At least once weekly, replace one of the peer-reviewed articles with a dissertation. Look for the same elements that you documented in the articles.
8. Remain balanced: Health, Relationships, Faith & Spirituality
9. Forgive yourself for not being PERFECT; you WILL stumble so expect and embrace it. Be kind to yourself.
10. Have fun. You are becoming a rare member of society.
Even if you are beyond your Year 1 in your doctoral program, this video may be valuable:
APA citation: 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. https://youtu.be/-5ZEVoIZQls
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