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The Chronicle of Higher Education: Colloquy

COLLOQUY
 THE QUESTION
 RESPONSES
 BACKGROUND

I've been working on my Ph.D. at Michigan State University for several years now, and have found the process grueling and somewhat depressing. I have gone through 3 advisors and now feel like I'm alone in this whole process. This debate has caused me to do a lot of thinking; specifically, whether or not I should just bail out of this degree program and get on with my life.

The whole graduate process should undergo major reform. Perhaps Ph.D. programs could learn something from professional schools; i.e., learn what you have to learn in order to do the job and then graduate and go on with your life! In professional schools, advisors are powerful, but do not control your life as they do in graduate school.

-- Lawrence Sporer, Doctoral Candidate, Michigan State University (posted 11/9, 2:48 p.m., E.S.T.)
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