People who hold doctoral degrees have acquired years of experience in their selected fields and are considered experts by those who need credible information on various issues. For example, a biologist with a doctorate degree in biology may be invited by a group to speak at a conference on climate change.
To apply to a doctoral degree program at most universities, a student must have completed at least a bachelor's degree and in some cases a master's as well. In addition to the application, a student will need to submit a writing sample along with two or three letters of recommendations.
Although every doctoral program is different, in general students spend six or seven years completing the degree. The most important part of the doctoral degree is the dissertation, a lengthy research paper that the student writes with the help of an advisor. After finishing, a student will verbally present and defend it before a committee prior to receiving the degree.
The benefits of a doctoral degree include spending much of your time researching a topic of your choice and learning new things as a result of the research. You also get a chance to publish your work, which will benefit future generations of students and researchers. In addition, a doctoral degree qualifies one for certain specialized jobs (such as being a professor in a university) that could not ordinarily be attained otherwise.
Before you apply to a doctoral degree, you should decide whether you have the time and commitment to take on this long-term task. It isn't necessary to have a doctorate degree for most careers, and if you have a family, you should consider their concerns. Doctoral students typically support themselves through teaching stipends, which means a modest lifestyle for the duration of the degree. On the other hand, the opportunities to delve deeply into a subject, to engage in pure research, and to acquire true expertise in one's chosen field are highly attractive to some individuals.