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[autie13]

Howdy,

So I've applied for my EdD for the fall.  From what I understand, they do not offer any financial aid- no fellowships, no assistantships.

The more I read the fora about EdD degrees the more depressed I get.  Maybe this isn't a smart idea after all?  I was all ready to take out loans and do what I had to do to get this degree.  I'm beginning to think that I should just stick with my Masters degree.

Anyone who earned an EdD have any good outcomes they can tell me about?

[zharkov]

I've known tenured faculty, deans, and college presidents with EdDs.  So it is not the kiss of death.

If you want more thoughtful answers, I think you need to explain your career plans, aspirations, and current career track.

[prytania3]

It depends on what you want to do.

[larryc]

Pull up a chair and tell us about yourself.

[untenured]

The EdD and education as a study generally has been much maligned on these boards.  Having no knowledge of the field, I can't tell if it is justified or not.  If one takes some posts at face value, graduate studies in education is no more difficult than reading tea leaves.

And yes like larryc said ... tell us about yourself.

Untenured

[hrvatski18]

It really depends on what your career goals are.

Do you want to be a practitioner, such as a school principal or a college registrar or a director of Residence Life?   Then, the EdD is a fine choice that will meet the needs of your future career.  You're pursuing advanced studies to become a more educated practitioner and not a professional researcher.

If you want to be a professor of Education, a provost, or a college president?   You should consider a PhD.  The EdD isn't seen as "worthy" by many people who hold a PhD, a fair belief or not.   You'll have more credibility with research and teaching faculty who hold a PhD if you hold a PhD yourself.

That said, people with EdD's have risen far in academia.   It really comes down to what you can do and how you conduct yourself than the initials after your name.

[dr_prephd]

It depends on what you want to do. EdDs are good for:

School principals / administrators
Central office administrators
Superintendents
Teacher education faculty
State and Federal Department of Education positions

[autie13]

So here it is in a nutshell-

* I don't want to be a school principal

*I want to work in Higher Education Administration (registrar, student conduct, career center etc.)

My plan is/was to get the EdD Higher Education concentration and also get licensed as a professional counselor.

I'm 33 years old, married (husband works, makes about 50k) with 2 children (4,2).  The 4 year old is slightly autistic and thus has some special needs that need to be met- he is very routine and schedule bound and a lot of the responsibility for keeping him going rests on me.

I did undergrad at an avg state university in the southern half of the U.S. and got my Masters at a different state university (R1) in the southern half of the U.S.

I was a T.A. in my department when going for my Masters and slipped into a full time adjunct with benefits position upon graduation.  I've been there ever since (5 years).   I teach basic undergrad courses in social sciences and advise for 1/3 time.  I don't do a shred of research- although I am perfectly capable of conducting some.  I have chosen not to.

Regrettably, like most full time adjuncts my position is being phased out.  I am on borrowed time. I am well liked in my department- which I think has bought me time. But it has been made abundantly clear to those in positions like me in my department that we need to move on, as we are being replaced by cheaper labor (TA's)   I have to plan to do something with myself after this academic  year.  This is where the EdD came in.  What I do now is not a career- it is not guaranteed- I'm contracted from year to year.  I need to move on to a career.

I am not extremely smart.  I am not a genius.  I barely broke 1000 on my GRE's after taking it seven times.  My graduate school gpa was a 3.7 and my undergrad was a 2.8.  I am not a stellar student on paper.  I never have been.  I wasn't a slacker student- I always went to class, participated (which saved me)--but I was not a multiple choice test kind of person.  I was elated that I was even accepted for a Masters program.  An EdD is above and beyond anything I could expect for myself.  I could apply for a PhD program- but I am not passionate about research.  Again, I could do it- but I wouldn't be in love with it.  I could do it as a part of my job but not as a majority.

My problem is that I love to go to school and learn.  It isn't that I want to relive my undergrad years- no desire to do that.  I just like to take classes, think about concepts and ideas and let them synthesize in my head.  It's fun to share what I"ve come up with.  Socialization isn't on my agenda at all.  I am an INTJ on the Myers_Briggs.  I am an idea person- which I think makes me well suited to an administrative position.  I want to work with college level students- I do enjoy them (especially when I don't have to grade them).  I am an information glutton.  I go to the library and just wander the stacks and pick up books on topics that are completely out of my league- FOR FUN.  I seriously think I could be a professional student. 

So....I've stared at PhD programs and EdD programs and even other Masters programs for about three years now.  This year I took the plunge and applied for the EdD in Higher Education.  I was thinking this would be a good choice, but after reading the fora about the EdD being a "glorified" Masters I wonder if it's worth my time and also worth my money.  I still owe 26k for undergrad and my Masters and an EdD would pile on top of that.  Would what I make as a potantial Registrar be worth that?  I just don't know.  Or I could do it one class at a time (and not have to borrow $) and work part time somewhere in the university until I finish.  Should I be putting my career on hold to do this EdD?

I'd be doing the EdD at the same school I got my Masters, which I have heard isn't the best thing.  Also, they don't offer fellowships or assistantships.  Am I screwing myself? 

I'm so confused.  Please help me sort this out. 

[hrvatski18]

I could apply for a PhD program- but I am not passionate about research.  Again, I could do it- but I wouldn't be in love with it.  I could do it as a part of my job but not as a majority. 

Well, I think you answered your own question there.  If research isn't your passion, you would be grossly unhappy in a PhD program.   EdD's aren't completely research-free, but the EdD sounds like it is more in line with your career aspirations -- to work in a career center, registrar, etc.

Being in love with learning is definitely what brings many people into doctoral studies.  You are not alone there.  You'll be in good company!

As for whether it is worth your time and money because registrar don't earn very much...  Well, that's a decision you'll have to make after some serious soul searching.   I find that people who enter doctoral studies, regardless of their program, for the sole reason of earning money are ultimately very unsatisfied.  People pursue doctoral studies because it is almost like a calling.   I think you're almost there -- you just need to convince yourself of it a bit more.   But yes, with 26K in school loans and a child with special needs, I think you should seek a graduate program that will provide you with more financial assistance than what you are currently expecting.   If you can bear the thought of pursuing an EdD for many years, a few classes at a time, but with a tuition waiver provided by your employer -- definitely an option worth considering.   

[autie13]

Any other insights on this?

[untenured]

Any other insights on this?

I wish I had some.  I want to help you, but I don't know the field.

Untenured

[zharkov]

Any other insights on this?

You said: 

I want to work in Higher Education Administration (registrar, student conduct, career center etc.)

My plan is/was to get the EdD Higher Education concentration and also get licensed as a professional counselor.

I think that your best move is to do some informational interviews with people who are registrars etc. and see what background they have and would suggest.  In my limited experience as smaller schools, none of the registrars had doctorates, for example.  My own biased view is that an MBA is the degree for someone who wants to do administrative work.

About counseling, the laws vary so much by state that general comments probably won't help.  I live in a fairly strict state, and from what my shrink friends tell me, one must attend an APA approved program in order to be licensed as a doctoral level counselor, and pass a state exam.  Again, informational interviewing, plus checking into the state regs is the way to go.

Also, do searches for Chron ads to find about out the expected degrees, experience, etc. for jobs you are interested in.
 

[imawakenow]

I am an idea person- which I think makes me well suited to an administrative position. 

Not to nitpick, but most of the successful administrators I've known are not idea people. Instead, they are very detail-oriented gits who glory in the minutiae of organizations and getting things done.

Are you sure you want to be an administrator?

I want to work with college level students- I do enjoy them (especially when I don't have to grade them). 

I think ultimately, you're going to have to start your refocusing here. While there certainly are many ways that you could work with students that are not directly in the classroom, I suggest discovering what aspect you like and tailoring your education and work experience to that career path.

An Ed.D. will not get you a job in student life. Experience working in student affairs + an Ed.D., however, could be a path to an administrative student life job. Same with student record keeping.

Right now it sounds like you're basically a full-time adjunct instructor. Perhaps you can leverage your experience and position yourself working in a student success center?

Should I be putting my career on hold to do this EdD?

Again, not to nitpick, but it doesn't sound like from your earlier description that you have a "career." If I were you, I'd work on getting a full-time job in the area where I wanted to end up. Then I'd worry about furthering my education.

Even though an Ed.D. is more of a practitioners degree, you aren't going to get hired as a registrar or student affairs director, etc. without experience in that area.

[autie13]

Thank you so much!

Yes I am well aware that what I have now is not a career at all.  I'm going to go do some informational interviewing for sure.

[imawakenow]

I forgot to mention earlier, but good luck whatever you decide.