Keeping realistic professional and personal goals helps the success of doctorate students. For example, avoid creating grand designs when working on your dissertation. Follow your committee's advice and keep your research project manageable for the sake of the program's dissertation requirements. You may also consider realistic goals in your personal life. You are a doctorate student with limited time and money. Such things as starting a family or traveling to exotic places for vacation may have to be put on hold.
Many doctorate students choose a particular field or program because of the faculty. Be sure to learn about faculty experiences, interests, research and publications when researching programs. Once in your program, use the faculty for what they are there for: support, mentoring, collaboration and guidance. Join research groups to become more engaged with faculty. This will help your success in academics, research, grants and professional networking upon graduation.
Support comes in a variety of forms and is essential for any doctorate student to be successful. Many doctorate students are perfectionists who do not want to rely on others; however, seeking appropriate support in professional and personal domains helps the doctorate student keep a balanced life amidst the academic rigor. Make certain you are aware of funding, and maintain open communication with the financial aid office at your school to assist with financial support.
Many doctoral students are surprised and discouraged by information that comes to them after beginning their program. This could be a misunderstanding of additional requirements to practice with their degree after graduation, the lack of desire to relocate for post-doctoral fellowships and residencies or the financial hardships that are a part of most graduate students. These hurdles often lead toward the decision to quit the doctorate program or continue on a part-time basis. Therefore, researching your prospective doctorate program and understanding the scope of it will help make you more successful.