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How to Choose a Doctoral Program: A Step-by-Step Guide

Choosing the right school for your PhD is different from your undergraduate. This step-to-step guide will help you select a doctoral program that aligns with your research interests, lifestyle, and professional goals.

Blake Huggins, PhD

Meet the Expert

E. Scott England

Last updated

Jun 28, 2023

Earning a doctorate is a major accomplishment. In addition to solidifying your status as an expert in your field, it illustrates your determination and readies you for professional or academic success at the highest levels. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the number of doctoral degree holders has more than doubled since the year 2000. If you’re looking to stand out among this growing class of scholars and practitioners, you’ll need to clarify your intentions and make a series of key decisions. 

This process can be overwhelming, as there’s a lot to consider — academic factors, career goals, location, and finances (to name a few). This guide was created to help you navigate the doctoral process. It includes expert advice, tips on selecting the right doctoral path and program, and other helpful resources. 

PhD or Practical Doctorate: Which One is Right for You?

While the process of selecting a school or program for your PhD is similar to that of your graduate (and even undergraduate) studies, you should focus more on academics and career advancement than other amenities. At this stage, the most important step is clarifying your professional goals. If you’re interested in pursuing a purely academic career, then a PhD may be the best choice. If you plan to build on industry experience in applied fields like law or organizational leadership, then a practical doctorate may be a better option. 

Both avenues result in the highest levels of academic achievement; however, they prepare you for very different roles and career trajectories. For example, graduates with a PhD in economics , psychology, or computer science will be well-equipped to take on teaching and research roles as consultants or college professors. Meanwhile, those with a practical doctorate in fields like business , education , or nursing will be qualified for high-level leadership or administrative positions in organizations that align with their specialty.

Since the type of doctorate you select will chart your trajectory, it’s important to consider your options and make a decision that fits your professional aspirations. 

I want to learn more about getting a: 

10 Steps to Choosing a PhD Program

If you’ve decided to pursue a PhD, you can begin thinking about which programs fit your background and long-term goals. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help make the process more manageable.

Step 1: Prioritizing Your PhD Objectives

First, determine how a PhD will help you achieve your career objectives, which likely include landing an academic position following graduation. Once you’ve homed in on a position or field, determine your focus within that arena and let it guide your search efforts. 

Step 2: What Are Your Research Interests?

Clarifying your research interests will make you a more attractive applicant and help you identify the most relevant doctoral programs. Knowing what your research might focus on and your publication potential and considering the work you’ve produced so far will help you make a list of potential specializations. 

Step 3: Create a List of Targeted PhD Programs

Compiling a list of programs that match your goals will help you compare options. Conduct independent research, solicit advice from trusted advisers and mentors, and create a focused list of programs matching your potential specializations. Strive to identify several dream schools, along with a few safety options, as a backup plan. 

Step 4: Navigating the PhD Application Process

While most programs adhere to a similar application process, the timelines and deadlines can vary widely. To better navigate these nuances, create a spreadsheet outlining all the relevant information in one place. Pay close attention to things like application requirements, test score policies, and submission fees. 

Step 5: Visit the Campus or Do a Virtual Tour

Touring the program, either in person or remotely, will give you the opportunity to raise key questions about its focus and ability to support your research plan. You will also be able to gain information about pedagogical training and potential teaching responsibilities. 

Step 6: Finding the Right Professor or Adviser 

As your adviser will direct your research project and be your primary point of feedback, finding the fit is crucial. Research faculty in individual programs to get a sense of their publication record. Consider sending an email to introduce yourself and gain more information. 

Step 7: Interact with the Faculty and Department Staff

Interacting with department personnel — and observing how they interact with one another — will give you a good sense of your future work and study environment. As you network, keep culture fit top of your mind and assess how you might fit into existing dynamics.

Step 8: Pick the Brains of Current PhD Students

The best way to discover how a program works from a student’s POV is by chatting with current candidates or recent graduates. You could ask about research support, pedagogical training, or other topics. This will broaden your view of the program and give you an inside perspective.

Step 9: Will the Program Provide You with Proper Resources and Facilities?

Things like library and database access are crucial for PhD students tasked with conducting an original research project. Access to these resources will be especially important if you plan to study online. Knowing this, ask yourself how a program will help support your endeavors.

Step 10: Will You Get Assistantships or Need to Supplement with Financial Aid?

These specifics will vary widely depending on the school and program. Some may require a fellowship or assistantship, while others may offer a full financial aid package; many fall somewhere in between. Clarify your standing early on so you can explore supplemental aid if necessary.

10 Steps to Selecting a Practical Doctorate School

If you’re interested in a practical doctorate, you’ll follow a similar selection process but with a slightly different approach. Instead of focusing on research initiatives and faculty publications, you’ll want to consider opportunities for career advancement in your field and area of concentration. Below are some steps you can take to find the right match.

Step 1: Align Your Career and Academic Goals

How will doctoral studies help you achieve your career goals? If you’re already clear on your field, then you can begin to consider how you will specialize within it. If you see multiple pathways focus on the options that best fit your background and circumstances. 

Step 2: How Do You Want to Grow Professionally?

Where do you see your career in five to 10 years? It will take around half that time for you to finish your doctoral program. Visualizing where you want to land upon completion will help you carve out a workable path. Then, you can work to identify programs that will help you close the gap. 

Step 3: Create a Target School List

Use good judgment as you compile your list by including an equal amount of dream and safety schools. A balanced list will allow you to prioritize the doctoral programs you’re most excited about while giving you options for every admissions outcome. 

Step 4: Determine What You Need for Applications

Application season for practical doctorate programs can be a hectic time. You can prepare in advance by familiarizing yourself with all the requirements, deadlines, and necessary materials. This will help you navigate the process and put you in a better position to submit a successful application. 

Step 5: Virtual vs. Campus Visit

Visiting gives you a good opportunity to ask questions. If you live near the school in question, you can always visit in person, but virtual visits are just as effective. Be sure to ask questions about professional development and career readiness in your field (law, business, nursing, etc.). 

Step 6: Choosing the Right Doctoral Adviser 

Your doctoral adviser fulfills a dual role as both your boss and your mentor, so it’s important to choose wisely. Consider your own aims and interests alongside available faculty. Is their professional profile attractive to you? Will they be able to help you establish a solid network? 

Step 7: The Importance of Seeing the Dynamics of the Department

Dynamics among and between faculty and students often impact the department’s goals, projects, and initiatives. They also set the tone for the professional culture you will be joining for several years. Observing those dynamics, or raising questions about them, can help you determine a good fit. 

Step 8: Pick the Brains of Current Doctoral Students

Current students can be a valuable resource. In some cases, they may even be in a better position to answer specific questions about the work environment and program culture than faculty. Asking if they’ve felt supported and whether they’ve been given the tools for success can provide valuable insight. 

Step 9: Will the Program Provide You with Proper Resources and Support?

Most programs provide support and resources; however, you want to consider whether they’re the right resources for you. Do available classes and coursework requirements reflect your study aims? Will library and accommodation resources help support your learning goals? 

Step 10: Will You be Fully Funded or Need to Supplement with Financial Aid?

Do not assume you will be fully funded. Many programs offer generous aid packages, but this is not universal. It is important to ask questions and determine whether you will need to seek outside aid to help offset costs (scholarships and loans, grants, fellowships, etc.).

Tips for Selecting the Right Doctoral Program

Once you’ve decided which type of doctorate you want to earn, you can move to phase two: selecting a program that meets your needs and beginning the process with your best foot forward. Here are some tips you can use to help streamline your decision-making. 

Admission Requirements

As requirements could take some time to fulfill, you should closely consider all the details and determine an appropriate course of action. For example, if your chosen schools require recent standardized test scores, you’ll need to plan accordingly. Be open to taking an extra year or looking into alternative programs if needed.

For graduate and certainly undergraduate students, institutional reputation tends to hold sway over other factors; this isn’t necessarily the case for doctoral programs for. Prioritize faculty reputation and departmental influence during your search by selecting programs with strengths that will empower you for success, both as a student and an eventual job candidate. 

Part-time or Full-Time Options

Most programs expect full-time enrollment by default, but many extend part-time availability, as well. This could be a great option if you’re pursuing a practical doctorate and plan to maintain an industry position. Specifics depend on individual programs, so be sure to check with department heads for policy details. 

Length of Program

Earning a doctorate is a years-long commitment, so you’ll need to consider your desired pace and timeframe alongside other factors (family life, professional aims, etc.). Research-based PhD programs can take up to four to six years or more, while practical doctorates can usually be completed in just two to three years. 

Program Delivery

Consider your options for program delivery alongside your own learning style. The benefits of online study include flexibility in scheduling and pacing but without the hands-on components of in-person or cohort learning. If physical interaction with faculty and peers is a priority, hybrid or campus-based alternatives may be better. 

Research Opportunities

Virtually all doctoral programs involve some research. If you’re pursuing a PhD, research will play a significant role in your studies. Although practical doctorates don’t emphasize it as heavily, they will still require some short-term research projects. Consider the potential for further research opportunities as you evaluate your top schools. 

Cost and Financial Aid Options 

Prioritize funding and available financial aid and weigh those possibilities alongside overall program cost. Many programs recognize the burdens and demands of doctoral work and strive to offer competitive financial aid. But even if your dream program appears too expensive, additional opportunities can help defray the costs. 

Accreditation

All programs should be administered by schools with institutional accreditation. This credential is granted by individual agencies authorized by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation . Some programs may have additional field-specific accreditation, as well. This is particularly true in business, healthcare, and education-related programs. 

Advantages of Getting Your Doctorate Online

Enrolling in an online doctoral program comes with distinct benefits regardless of your field, discipline, or long-term career aims. Features like increased accommodations, access to key resources, and the ability to tailor an individualized course of study are beneficial, especially if you’re looking to work while obtaining your degree. These perks also enable you to earn your doctorate more quickly, with fewer restrictions and greater mobility. Below are some of the advantages online doctoral programs offer. 

The Flexibility of Scheduling and Location 

The most prominent advantages include flexibility in delivery and location. Earning your doctorate online means you’ll be able to work from wherever you like with few on-campus requirements. In addition, online learning will give you greater control over pace and scheduling. 

Cost-effectiveness

Overall cost will always vary by school, but generally, online programs tend to be less expensive than other options. At Drexel University , for instance, students pursuing an online practical doctorate in education enjoy a 25% discount on tuition. Other programs may extend similar opportunities, like flat-rate tuition, to online students. 

Customization

While students at all levels benefit from customizable programs, it may be the most valuable for doctoral students. Online programming gives you greater control over your studies, allowing you to personalize the experience . This means you’ll be building deeper expertise in your field while receiving direct support from faculty and industry professionals. 

Access to Resources

Online doctoral programs extend a range of robust resources to help guide you through your studies and position you for success after graduation. These include career and professional development tools, student support services, and technology resources for those new to navigating a virtual learning environment. 

Access to Diverse Perspectives

Online doctoral programs attract students from across the globe. Working alongside colleagues and faculty with diverse perspectives will not only deepen your professional network; it will also broaden your sense of cultural awareness. Access to these perspectives will enhance your standing as a job candidate in the global marketplace. 

Improved Technology Skills

Although most students already possess basic technology skills, online doctoral programs will take those abilities to the next level. You’ll use technology constantly to communicate, submit key assignments, and interact with course content. This will deepen your facility with ubiquitous tools while also expediting your path to completion. 

Resources for Potential PhD Students

• Conal Conference Alerts This site aggregates conference announcements and recent calls for papers relevant to doctoral students. It allows you to filter by region, topic, or discipline and create handy email alerts.
• Grad Resources The resources included on this site focus on the mental, emotional, and interpersonal side of the doctoral experience. They include a crisis hotline and a range of useful articles on community connection.
• ImaginePhD Geared toward doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences, this hub provides professional planning tools and career exploration resources.
• Inside Higher Ed A Times Higher Education publication, this site offers doctoral students the latest news, analysis, and developments in their field. It also includes an active job board.
• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity For those planning to enter academia, this resource supports diversity and faculty development by providing on-demand access to mentoring and strategic planning services.
• PhD Subreddit This discussion forum provides a space for doctoral students to gather and support one another. It tends to focus on PhD students but includes and welcomes those pursuing practical doctorates, as well.
• ResearchGate Scholars, doctoral students, and faculty across disciplines use this site to share and discover relevant research. Its social features make it easy to follow topics and authors of interest.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education This publication maintains the largest U.S.-based newsroom focused on higher education. It includes a career center for jobseekers, late-breaking news, and data analysis.
• The PhD Project Established in 1994, this organization works to advance corporate diversity by increasing the diversity of business school faculty and graduates. It also hosts an annual conference and other regional events.

Expert: How to Evaluate Programs

E. Scott England is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He also serves as the Director of the Education Leadership EdD program. He has previously served as a first and third grade teacher, an elementary principal, and a district superintendent.

What is the best way for applicants to assess levels of diversity and inclusivity in potential programs, particularly regarding race, gender, and other underrepresented groups?

Most universities offer a student profile somewhere on their website that can give prospective candidates an idea of the diversity of the institution as a whole. I recommended reaching out to the department head or program director to determine what diversity and inclusivity are for respective programs. These factors will, of course, be influenced by geographical location and institution type. Candidates should also look at the diversity of the program faculty — but keep in mind that if adjuncts are utilized for some courses, they often don’t have faculty pages.

What are the critical differences between practical doctoral programs (e.g., EdD) and a more research-driven course of study (e.g., PhD)?

The coursework looks significantly different in practical programs compared to PhD programs, which are going to revolve greatly around the theory. PhD programs are going to have more research-driven inquiry practices along with scholarly aspects. A PhD can also be offered across many disciplines, tailoring instruction specifically to the field of study. An EdD is designed to enhance practical knowledge in an area of education, typically leadership. Rather than a theoretical approach in research, practical programs most often have applied approaches (i.e., action research or program evaluation). The other major difference is the opportunities the two different degrees can offer. If the prospective candidate wants to work in higher education, a PhD could lead to more opportunities at research universities.

What can future applicants do now to help prepare for the rigors and demands of study at the doctoral level?

The best thing to do now is to establish good habits for studying, reading, and writing. Creating a dedicated time and space will be one of the easiest ways to lessen stress during the study. It’s impossible to give the best time because people have varying chronotypes. The best thing is for each person to understand their chronotype and create a dedicated time when they’re most productive.

How big of a factor is institutional versus departmental reputation for these programs?

I do not believe this is a big factor for most and was maybe more relevant in past decades. Of course, some institutions have a reputation based on name alone, but this doesn’t translate to quality programs. Prospective students would need to first determine the purpose of getting a doctoral degree before deciding if institutional or even faculty reputation is going to carry the most weight and lead to future opportunities.

Do you have any other advice you would like to offer to those interested in pursuing doctoral study?

The biggest hang-up for candidates finishing is the dissertation. It looms over them. Most students wait until finishing coursework before starting. They go from being around faculty to being essentially on their own to tackle such a large task. While some might disagree with me, I find what works well for students is to work on the dissertation simultaneously with coursework. I say this with the caveat that a lot will change with the dissertation as the student goes along. The idea is to create momentum and habits early so that when coursework is finished, the same dedication can be shifted to the dissertation. My other recommendation is to adhere to formatting and citation rules early in the program to again build the habit of doing things correctly. It is never fun to receive a draft back with copious amounts of edits, recommendations, and comments on things that could have been attended to early on in the process.

Which program are you applying to?

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Applying to PhD Programs: When, Where, How, and Why?

So, you are thinking you might want to pursue a PhD. That’s great! However, it can sometimes be difficult to decide whether to really go for it. Maybe you are weighing the time commitment required or the prospect of leaving a job you love. Maybe you are wondering whether you are prepared for such an undertaking or whether you’d even have a shot at getting in. When considering such an important move, it’s good to adopt a methodical approach to the decision-making process. 

This article is designed to help you think through some key factors in making important decisions about graduate school. You might ask yourself the following key questions:

• When should I apply?
• Where should I apply?
• How do I get in?
• Why do I want to go? 

Let’s consider these questions one at a time.

Question 1: “When should I apply?”

The right time to apply to graduate school is when your personal, academic, and professional experiences have aligned such that you know for certain you want to further your knowledge and skills in a specific field. Read on for some signs that these experiences are, in fact, aligned.

In your personal life

Think about when you were first introduced to your field of study. What made you want to keep learning about it? Is that drive to know more about your field of study still there? If the answer is yes, then you might be personally ready for graduate study. Memorable personal experiences – and the lessons you have learned from them – can also make you personally ready for graduate study. 

For example, perhaps you were diagnosed with a condition and have spent the past decade managing it. The psychological strain of this experience has made you highly empathic toward patients suffering from chronic conditions. You’re now committed to studying the effectiveness of various approaches to promoting mental health among this population.

Or maybe one of your fondest childhood memories is birdwatching with your dad, who taught you all about various species and their migration patterns. This experience led you to pursue ornithology, and you still get excited about learning about birds.

Something doesn’t have to be profound to others for it to be deeply meaningful to you.

In your academic life

You’ve demonstrated – via high grades or assignments on which you went above and beyond the basic requirements – that you have a strong grasp of the technical aspects of your intended field. You’ve done more than memorize core concepts and theories; you’ve contemplated how they relate to the broader aims of the field. You’ve taken more advanced classwork, completed an independent project, or did professional work that involved innovation and research. And you now want to apply those theories and concepts in graduate school and your career.

Let’s say you majored in civil engineering. You’ve excelled in all your engineering courses, as well as in chemistry, math, and physics. In the process, you’ve learned how to apply the core principles of each field to design resilient infrastructure that does not fail in extraordinary events and is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable.

In your professional life

Whether you’ve worked/volunteered in a relevant setting for six months or six years, you’ve learned about and contributed to the rigorous research process. Ideally, you’ve taken on multiple roles, each one more demanding than the previous one. But at every stage, you’ve taken your responsibilities seriously, because you understand that each task, no matter how seemingly trivial, must be performed diligently, lest you risk compromising the data and ultimately the findings of the entire study.

As an undergraduate research assistant, you might have begun with basic responsibilities, such as data entry and cleaning in Excel. After demonstrating that you are reliable and diligent, you were able to help conduct studies and maybe even run some of your own analyses using the data.

Then, by the time you entered your current role (the one you’re in when you apply to PhD programs), you are able to not only evaluate all the variables being assessed but also identify other variables that aren’t being measured and articulate why they should be included in future research. At this point, you’re able to generate your own research questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and even design a hypothetical study in which the findings are interesting regardless of whether your hypotheses are supported.

When you’ve identified these signs in your personal, academic, and professional experiences, you’re ready to apply.

Question 2: “Where should I apply?”

To identify the right program(s) to apply to, it is crucial to  look beyond the school’s ranking or reputation . The “2024-2025 Best National University Rankings” by  U.S. News & World Report  should not be your primary source for one simple reason: PhD programs are very idiosyncratic. Even if you have chosen a field of study (ideally, the field in which you received your undergraduate and/or master’s degree), there are likely many research areas within that field and even more specific topics within each area. The right research area for you will depend on your previous research experience, as well as on the specific topic(s) you want to investigate.

For example, within  the field of psychology , there are many areas, including clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, evolutionary psychology, personality psychology, and social psychology. Then, within, say, social psychology, there’s a vast array of specific topics, such as attitudes, aggression, decision-making, emotion, prejudice, and prosocial behavior, to name a few. As you can imagine, these topics are not mutually exclusive. In fact, combining topics can generate unique findings. Therefore, when thinking about where to apply, you might prioritize programs where the faculty are studying combinations of topics you find particularly interesting.

Another factor to consider is that programs differ as a function of the research methods they employ. Thus, when thinking about where to apply, in addition to identifying programs where the faculty are researching the specific topics you are most interested in, it’s necessary to consider whether those faculty members are using methods that you would like to apply in your future career. Do you want to master advanced statistical techniques? Do you want to work with state-of-the-art technologies? Do you want to interact with people? Do you want to observe phenomena in the “real world” or in experimental settings? It’s not only about what you’re researching; it’s also about  how  you’re researching it.

Once you’ve identified programs based on those considerations, it’s time to  identify prospective faculty advisors within your chosen programs . After all, you’re not just applying to PhD programs; you’re applying to work with specific faculty members, and they are the ones who will be reviewing your application and deciding whether to accept you. Based on the faculty members’ professional biographies (which you can usually find on the program’s website), you’ll probably be able to identify the professors whose interests are most like your own.

But it is not enough to be confident that you want to work with a given faculty member. Next, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with that professor’s recent work by reading research papers they’ve published in the past couple years. As you’re reading, ask yourself whether this faculty member writes and thinks clearly and presents arguments and evidence in a compelling manner. You will be mentored by this person for five years (or more!), so it’s crucial that you find someone you admire and are motivated to learn from.

In sum, the steps in deciding where to apply for PhD study are as follows:

• Choose your field of study.
• Identify your preferred area(s) within that field.
• Discover the specific topics you find most fascinating.
• Consider what methods you want to employ.
• Evaluate the merits of prospective faculty advisors.

Question 3: “How do I get in?”

Once you’ve determined that you’re ready to apply, and you know  where you want to apply , the focus shifts to whether you’ll be accepted. Getting into a PhD program is largely  a matter of fit . The faculty members who evaluate your application want to know what insights you can offer to their current and future research studies, how your interpersonal style will contribute to their lab or research hub dynamics, and whether you are committed to extending their research in a meaningful way after you obtain your doctorate. You can convey all this crucial information in your statement of purpose.

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of your statement of purpose. You might have an exceptional CV, but if your statement of purpose is lackluster and fails to convey to your prospective faculty advisor that you are the right fit, then you are unlikely to be accepted. Conversely, you might have a modest CV, or even a weakness, such as a low GPA, but nevertheless be accepted if you convey in your statement that (1) you have taken (and will continue to take) concrete steps to become more prepared for PhD training, and (2) you possess unique skills and knowledge that are highly relevant to your prospective advisor’s research area but that might not be reflected in traditional metrics of achievement (e.g., your CV, GPA).

To  write a compelling statement of purpose , you need to articulate everything relevant to Question 1: “When should I apply?” You have already reflected on how your personal, academic, and professional experiences have aligned such that you know that you are ready to apply. But it is not enough  for you  to know that you are ready. You need to convince  your prospective advisor  that you are. 

This is where Accepted can help .  The most valuable service we offer is essay consulting. We can teach you how to craft a narrative about your journey that is coherent, authentic, and distinctive. During each consultation, we will challenge you to think more deeply and clearly than you ever have about where you’ve been and where you’re going. You will learn how to identify and effectively convey the reasons your prospective advisor should accept you.

Question 4: “Why do I want to go?”

A PhD is an academic degree that prepares you to conduct original research, perform advanced statistical analyses, interpret empirical results, and evaluate competing theories. You will be trained to become an academic – that is, a university professor who directs a research lab and teaches students the nuances of a specific field. The skills you acquire during your doctoral training can be applied to industry, governmental, and nonprofit settings; however, doing so should not be your primary goal. Your prospective advisor will want to know that you are committed to the work of an academic. It is great if your research has important implications for those other sectors, so long as you are still committed first and foremost to the production and dissemination of knowledge in your field. The thought of conducting original research in a university setting should make you excited to get started.

Thus, the best reasons to pursue a PhD are intrinsic. After all, a PhD is a Doctor of  Philosophy . You get a PhD because you are passionately drawn to the philosophy of your chosen field. You can’t help but think about it in your everyday life, because you see it everywhere. It is a lens through which life makes sense. Discovering its guiding principles, subject matter, and potential applications allows you to identify patterns in the world around you – and sometimes within yourself as well. So why should you pursue a PhD? Because you can’t  not .

Vanessa Febo has ten years of experience teaching academic and professional writing at UCLA, with a special certification in teaching writing techniques. She has drawn on this expertise to guide clients to placements at top institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, and USC. Before joining Accepted, Vanessa coached UCLA students through the application process for graduate programs, major grants, fellowships, and scholarships, including the Fulbright, Stanford Knight-Hennessey, and the Ford Foundation Fellowship. Additionally, Vanessa has extensive experience successfully guiding clients through applications for a diverse range of programs, including those in business, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. Want Vanessa to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources

• Get Accepted to PhD Programs in the Humanities , podcast Episode 568
• How to Apply Successfully to STEM PhD Programs , podcast Episode 566
• Graduate School in Psychology: PsyD or Psy Phd, Which Is Right for You?

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How to Choose a PhD Program: 3 Tips

After careful consideration of your strengths and weaknesses and your professional goals, you’ve decided to get a PhD. Now what? Here are three pieces of advice on how to choose a PhD program based on your interests.

Choose PhD programs based on what you want to study.

Which programs are right for you depends on what you want to study. It’s important to give careful consideration to your discipline and specific research interests before moving forward. You should narrow programs down according to your interests. At the same time, it’s a good idea to  apply to multiple graduate programs (about a dozen or so).

Therefore, thoroughly researching which PhD programs are worth your time will help you to get into the right program.

See how PhD programs in your discipline are ranked.

A program’s ranking shouldn’t be the only criteria by which you make your decision, but it should still be a strong consideration. You can find the most recent rankings by searching for your subject of study here .

Get acquainted with the scholars in your field.

Just as important as a program’s rankings is whether its professors are working on similar projects or using similar methodologies to your own. 

Do some research to find out which professors work with graduate students in the programs you’ve selected. You can even reach out to them to see if they’re interested in your potential research before applying. Finally, look at the program’s job placement page to see if the program (and the faculty) have a good track record for helping students get jobs.

Once you’ve zeroed in on a research topic or question, researched program rankings, and found some scholars with which you’d like to work, you can finally start putting together your application materials .

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Should I Get a Master's Before a Doctoral Degree?

Do you need a master's degree to get a Ph.D.? No, but experts suggest considering these key factors before deciding.

Should I Get a Master's Before a Ph.D?

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A master’s eases the transition to graduate work and may make you more competitive when applying to doctoral programs.

Although it's not usually a requirement, earning a master’s degree before applying to a Ph.D. or other doctoral program can be a good way to get accustomed to graduate-level coursework while gaining valuable research experience and connections in your field.

But it can also be an expensive and time-consuming detour on the route to a doctorate, so it’s important to consider whether the benefits of earning a master’s before a Ph.D. outweigh the cost.

Here are some factors experts say you should weigh.

Reasons to Get a Master’s Degree First

Karin Ash, a graduate consultant at Accepted, a college admissions consulting firm, says the research experience students can gain through a master’s tends to give them an edge in doctoral admissions.

Master's studies can also expand opportunities for students who already have significant research work behind them. Ash notes that some students she works with have research experience but choose to explore other research areas through a master's before deciding on a focus for their doctoral studies.

If your undergraduate major was fairly different from what you plan to study at a graduate level, getting a master’s degree first can help bridge the gap, says Julie Posselt, a professor of education and associate dean of the University of Southern California Graduate School. Posselt, who earned her master's before pursuing doctoral studies, says master’s studies can also help you decide whether what you’re studying is right for your academic interests and career goals .

“I learned through my master's program that the field that I had started to pursue was much more narrow than what I wanted for the long term,” Posselt says. “So instead of investing five years in a field, I was able to invest a shorter amount of time – two years – and then make the decision that if someday I wanted a Ph.D., it was going to need to be in a broader field than the one that I had during my master's.”

Ash and Posselt say a master’s can be a good way to network with experts in your field of interest and make connections that will be valuable in a future career.

“A lot of STEM students tell me they don’t have professors who know them as their classes are large,” Ash wrote in an email. “Obtaining a master’s degree will allow them to develop relationships with professors who can then write substantive recommendation letters .”

Reasons to Go Straight to a Doctoral Program

Master's degrees can be expensive , and students often don't receive significant funding to complete their studies.

“My concern is the increasing debt that American students have from their undergraduate education," Posselt says, "and the fact that most master's programs don't fund them, and as a result, students have to take out significant loans" to complete a master’s.

"I always encourage students, if they're going to get a master's degree, to try to find a place where they can get funding along the way,” she says.

On the other hand, Ash says it’s common for Ph.D. programs to be fully funded , so it may be unnecessarily costly to earn a master’s degree first – especially if it means taking out student loans .

In addition to considering the tuition cost, Posselt says it’s important to consider the earnings you could lose by delaying the start of your career by a year or two to pursue a master’s degree.

It's also worth investigating whether the doctoral program you're considering will accept some of the credits you earn in a master's program, as that could shorten your doctoral studies. But Posselt says the transferability of master's-level coursework is relatively weak and varies by institution.

Even if you do apply master's coursework to your Ph.D., it may not be worthwhile.

"Many Ph.D. programs will accept credits from courses taken at the master's level if the coursework is relevant to the program," Ash says. "However, often the applicant is veering to a more specialized education and will need to take the appropriate coursework to become proficient in that subject area. This could mean they end up with many more credits than needed to graduate."

If you’re still unsure whether you should pursue a master’s first, Posselt says it’s important to consider the leverage the degree could have when it comes to doctoral admissions. A master’s is more valuable in some fields than others, she notes, so consulting with advisers and mentors from your undergraduate studies is a good way to determine how useful it will be when pursuing doctoral work.

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Graduate who pursued PhD for conservation found passion in community building, mental health advocacy

Photo courtesy Olivia Davis

Editor’s note:  This story is part of a series of profiles of  notable spring 2024 graduates .

During their college careers, some students either choose to participate in research opportunities or serve their community — but Olivia Davis, who is graduating with a PhD from ASU's biology and society program, made both a priority.

Davis spent her PhD conducting conservation research with a real-world impact. Among other subjects, she studied how to improve the process of evaluating a species’ endangered status and created a metric that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which is responsible for protecting endangered species in the U.S., has already agreed to adopt to more effectively protect the environment. 

She’s extending the impact of that work through writing about it in creative nonfiction, which helps her show why conservation — and her research along with it — is meaningful, both personally and socially. Now that she’s completed her dissertation, one of her next goals is to turn the story of her PhD into a nonfiction book. 

Amid all that work, Davis has also tirelessly served her community. In addition to constantly organizing and facilitating events to get her peers together, from book clubs to sustainability committees to Brown Bag seminars, she also served as the mental health chair on the e-board, or the student government for the School of Life Sciences.

In that role, Davis implemented training that enabled faculty to recognize signs of distress in students and get them help. She also held reoccurring events to connect students with mental health counselors. Even though Davis is no longer the mental health chair, she’s set a precedent of caring about mental health within her department, both in and out of her e-board role. 

It’s difficult to understate the impact Davis has had on her peers; other graduate students in the biology and society program recognize her as central to their community. 

“Olivia is the person who gets everyone feeling comfortable in a non-judgmental space and inspires others to invest in their community, because she always does it so selflessly,” says Alejandro Bellón, a fellow PhD candidate. 

Cassi Lyon, another recent biology and society graduate says, “Olivia has become a resource for both students and faculty in SOLS (School of Life Sciences). I have been in meetings where a faculty member goes ‘Ah, I have to ask Olivia about that.’ It’s impressive that Olivia has become so integrated in our community that both her peers and mentors go to her for advice.” 

“Olivia is one of the most caring, thoughtful and selfless people in SOLS," says PhD candidate Baylee Edwards. "She is always the first to volunteer to help with a project, and she consistently attends events to support the department. And on a human level, she's just incredible. She remembers small details like what you were going to be doing over the weekend and makes a point to ask you how it went, and even when she's stressed about her own work, she always finds time to make sure everyone else is doing okay.” 

Luckily, the community won’t be losing Davis just yet: she plans to stay at ASU, but instead of focusing on conservation, she’ll be working in an NSF-funded postdoctoral position with the Cooper lab to research graduate student experiences with mental health, in hopes of finding ways to make people like her feel less alone. 

Question: What are you most proud of from your time at ASU?  

Answer: A lot of the dialogue I’ve gotten going in SOLS about mental health. The grad office was really receptive when I was mental health chair for the e-board, which was a new position ... We connected with ASU Counseling Services, got to know them and created initiatives within our control. We did events like surveying students about mental health, a rock-climbing event, a sound healing event, a bi-weekly coffee where people from Counseling Services came and talked to students and we also implemented training for faculty. We’re hoping to use that as a model for ASU broadly.  

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus for studying, meeting friends, or thinking about life?  

A: I liked the Gerber lab space. Especially during my time here, we really made it a community space, which is nice because grad school can be lonely and isolating. But also, outside the writer’s house. And being able to have the writing world so close to the science building, it feels very poetic. 

Q: What are your plans after graduation?  

A: I’ll be doing a post-doc with Katey Cooper where I will be making a video repository of scientists talking about their failures, and having grad students watch these videos and see how it impacts them based on identity and mental health conditions. We’re hoping that will start a broader dialogue about failure in science because there’s a lot of imposter syndrome that comes from people thinking science always needs to look a certain way. So we’re hoping that will help graduate students feel less alone. 

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April 29, 2024 8:46 AM

Nancy Tuchman

Dean, School of Environmental Sustainability

Loyola University Chicago

Scope of work: As founding dean of Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability, Nancy Tuchman has provided vision and leadership since its inception as an institute in fall 2013. The school includes a biodiesel lab and an urban agriculture program, both student-run.

Biggest professional win: In 2020, the Institute of Environmental Sustainability was promoted to Loyola's 13th school, becoming the School of Environmental Sustainability. The school has grown to offer eight undergraduate degree programs, a Master's in Environmental Science and Sustainability and three graduate certificate programs, and serves over 500 students.

Other contributions: Tuchman's awards include the Society for Freshwater Science Fellows Award and the Leadership in Science & Education Award from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

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  Over the last two decades, aquatic ecologist Nancy C. Tuchman, PhD , has spearheaded the vision for sustainability at Loyola University Chicago. Since founding and directing the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy in 2005 and the Institute of Environmental Sustainability in 2013, Tuchman has led Loyola’s transformation to become one of the greenest colleges in the nation — shrinking the university’s environmental impact and preparing the next generation of eco-conscious leaders.

  How did your sustainability efforts at Loyola begin, and how has the work progressed?

 As someone who works in conservation, I was concerned about the university’s environmental footprint. So, in the early 2000s, I raised this issue with Loyola’s president. In 2004, the university’s capital improvement plan included a pledge to make our campuses more environmentally sustainable.

 Since then, we’ve cut our water use per square foot by 34%, and we now divert 44% of campus waste from landfills through recycling or composting. Perhaps most importantly, we’ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the Lake Shore Campus by nearly 80% and will be carbon neutral by 2025.

How did the School of Environmental Sustainability get started at Loyola?

 We continued to build momentum with our environmental initiatives. In 2013, Loyola established the Institute of Environmental Sustainability (IES) and began to offer undergraduate degree programs. By 2019, IES had around 400 students and a graduate program. In 2020, the university expanded IES to launch the School of Environmental Sustainability.

 Our focus on sustainability differentiates Loyola from our peer universities. When we surveyed incoming students this year, 57% said that commitment to the environment was important in their college decision.

How has SES grown and developed?

We now have more than 500 students, including over 60 graduate students, and undergraduates can choose from seven majors. To support this growth, we’ve nearly tripled our faculty and staff and continue building an interdisciplinary team of outstanding educators and researchers.

Our Urban Agriculture Program is one example of our impact and the engaged learning opportunities we offer. The program gives students hands-on experience with sustainable food production. Since the program started 10 years ago, students have produced more than 20,000 pounds of healthy, sustainably grown food that they donate and sell locally.

How does your work align with business trends in the corporate world?

We’re seeing growing interest in sustainability among corporate leaders and consumers. At SES, we’re equipping students with the expertise to adapt business practices for environmental sustainability.

Last year, we launched a new bachelor’s degree program in environmental economics and sustainability. This program connects environmental problems to business theories and economic analysis, preparing students to become leaders in the new green economy.

What is your vision for the future of sustainability at Loyola?

We’re currently working on our next Carbon Action Plan and intend to go beyond carbon neutrality. We aim to completely decarbonize our campuses, which means eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels and investing in new technologies. We’re already installing new geothermal systems and investigating cutting-edge heat exchange systems.

Another goal is to make Loyola a zero-waste campus. Our athletic events are already zero-waste, and we look forward to expanding on what we’ve learned to reduce and divert waste from all campus operations.

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