So you're thinking about earning a Doctorate | Part 1

When I had just completed my Master's program (back in 2016), I was determined to continue onto a Doctoral program, but I had no clue what I wanted to research. At the time, my biggest concern was to get the Doctorate "for the people." Since I didn't know what I wanted to research, though (and I didn't want to take out any more loans for school), I decided to hold off for a bit.

Fast-forward two years later, I was cleaning out my work desk when I came across some paperwork I had printed about school options. My initial reaction was, "Oh shit! It's been two years already?!" And then came the disappointment and feeling of failure. I was disappointed in myself for not already have started a program, and I felt like I had let myself and my community down. That same day I reached out to my HR office to ask about tuition remission programs for Doctoral students, and that same day I realized I would have to find a job at a different school if I wanted to get my tuition paid for.

At this time, I was working for an institution that focused on the Arts, so partnerships with "traditional" schools were minimal, especially for Doctoral programs. I was very adamant about not taking out any more student loans, so I figured I'd start looking at the schools that offered my program to apply to work there and get a tuition waiver.

And that's exactly what I did.

June 6th, 2019, I transitioned to my role as Student Success Coach at National Louis University in Chicago. Before I accepted the offer, though, I asked HR about the tuition waiver programs for Doctoral students to make sure this was an option I could take advantage of as an employee (since this was one of the primary reasons I was transitioning). Luckily, they said this was a benefit for all full-time staff, and I would only need to wait six months (the probationary period) and be admitted into the program to become eligible.

During the probationary period, I reached out to the admissions team for guidance on the application process and organized myself to start as soon as I was eligible. I asked every question that came to mind, asked for clarification, and kept everything in one folder. I even reached out to some department chairs to clarify the differences between the Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs to make my best-informed decision.

Ultimately, I decided on the Ed.D. program, and this is where my imposter syndrome flared.

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Stay tuned for the rest.

-Flor E. Carabez