Doctoral degrees, whether academic or clinical, cost a significant amount of money. Because a doctoral degree requires a large percentage of time, it may be difficult for a student to maintain outside employment while pursuing his degree. To help relieve this burden, a student can apply for scholarships or grants in his particular field of study. Fellowships, where the student works for the department as a research or teaching assistant, can also be a source of income. Some fellowships provide full tuition assistance in addition to the stipend. Financial aid in the form of government-based or private loans may also be available.
A student's relationship with his advisor is very important as much time is spent working side-by-side, particularly with research-based doctoral programs. An advisor will assist the student in the development of his course of study, and provide ongoing feedback throughout the program. The student must feel comfortable with her advisor for the relationship to be beneficial. The advisor can be a source of encouragement and the student should take advantage of the opportunity to learn from someone who is successful in her particular field of study.
A strong support system is key to a doctoral student's ability to fulfill the requirements of his program. Many doctoral students are married and may have children as well. Family members can support the student through words of encouragement, providing the student with the time required for his studies and assisting him with other responsibilities to minimize outside pressures. In addition, some students may have the benefit of financial support as well.
Doctoral degrees typically take several years to complete. A doctoral student's ability to stay committed to his program is vital to a successful completion. The student's perspective and attitude towards the achievement of his goal will directly affect his motivation. Large long-term goals are more attainable when broken down into smaller short-term goals. The student should adopt an attitude of short-term sacrifice for long-term gain and remind himself of the reasons he is pursuing this goal. In addition, it is important to maintain balance and make time for leisure, exercise and other stress-relieving activities.