So you're thinking about earning a Doctorate | Part 2

Welcome back! The fact that you came back to read this second part makes me feel like my writing isn't complete trash.

So back to where I was...

I decided to apply to the Ed.D program for Higher Education Leadership because it aligns with my goals more than the Ph.D. program.

Now came the actual application part...

The first part wasn't hard. It was your typical application asking for your name, address, phone number, and blood type (just kidding).

The second part took me about three weeks.

What are your professional goals? How do you envision this doctoral program supporting the achievement of those goals? How did your previous professional and personal experiences prepare you for success in this doctoral program?

Identify a current challenge in higher education and explain its impact on students, institutions, and other stakeholders, if applicable. How would you address this challenge as a higher education professional?

If you were to ask me these questions in a casual conversation, I could genuinely answer them, no problem. But the fact that I had to answer them "on paper" so that a stranger could read them to deem my worthiness for admittance, I felt like a five-year-old just learning how to read and write.

I went to at least five people for help. And every single person said, "Just write what you say!" I would nod my head 'yes,' go back to my desk and leave my Google Doc blank. It wasn't until one of my mentors texted me checking in about my application process that I felt comfortable typing some words into my Google Doc. Probably, because I told her what I wanted to answer via text, she validated my answers, so I just copied and pasted my text messages to the Google Doc.

Also, I feel like she knew I was afraid of applying. We had a pretty deep convo after I answered my questions (I mean, that's what mentors are for, right?) Something that she said, though, really hit me...

I think you deserve this opportunity, and I know you will just keep elevating others along the way, which is beautiful.

Reading that hit me, YES BITCH, you've busted your ass off for this opportunity. Take it!

So I revised my answers a few times and hit submit. Two days later, I got a Zoom interview invitation from the University.

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Stay tuned for the rest.

-Flor E. Carabez