Whenever one door closes, another opens.

We've been thinking and praying about my Ph.D. The result? I think that dream will have to wait.

I can't bear to leave little Kayla - even if the thought of intellectual and social growth is somewhat enticing. Motherhood is my full-time mission at the moment.

Thus, that door closes (for now).

But another door has opened. I will be working from home for the local school district wherein I currently work. More details to come...

Graduate School from a distance, Part II

Excuse me, Dr. Benton (President of Pepperdine University). Ahem, can I ask you a question, Dr. Bok (President of Harvard University)? I have a comment to share with you, Dr. Gutmann (President of the University of Pennsylvania).

Please be innovative. Think forward. Roll into the next generation ahead of the pack. Appeal to the millennials. --

Start a rigorous, reputable online graduate program. Yes, feel free to incorporate several weekend or weeklong residential experiences throughout the program...in fact, I recommend it. Go against the grain of the stodgy, traditional brotherhood. Do something different in a completely excellent way.

For families. For the future. For...me?

Graduate School from a distance

It's just after 10:00 p.m. and I'm thinking about my Ph.D. again. I just went in and was looking at my sweet little baby girl sleeping. Her long lashes, her serious but angelic expression, her soft skin. I know that her babyhood will be over in the blink of any eye and I don't want to miss a thing - not for work, not for school, not for anything.

A Ph.D. in a traditional setting would require hours away and I don't know if it's sensible to pursue that mission.

But I don't want to give up my dream of earning my doctorate and being a professor. I want to open up doors for the future.

It's about time that a reputable university (Think: Princeton, Brown, Rice, Stanford, U of Penn, MIT, etc.) unveiled a distance program with a solid academic curriculum.

More on this tomorrow...

The Professor

I did some research yesterday on various careers in order to be sure of the direction that I want to take. After making an extensive table of pros and cons, I determined that I do indeed want to become a professor.

P.S. If you are investigating various careers and would like to take an assessment, there is a fairly comprehensive one available for free through Monster. You can check it out at http://mymonster.com/JobStrengthProfile/Intro.aspx. Have fun!

Customizable Degrees

It's unfortunate that I can't customize a degree to meet my career interests. In an ideal world, I would concentrate on communication and then throw in some business, public relations, debate, and public speaking courses. I'd include some classes in media, technology, marketing, family studies, and health. Finally, I'd add in a foreign language - perhaps two.

I actually would not be surprised if this becomes the new "way" for higher education institutions - interdisciplinary and personally customized degree plans. After all, such a format benefits both the student and the future employer (and, ultimately, society) because the outcome is a well-rounded student who is motivated enough to create their own path and passionate enough to pursue it.

Ph.D. Update

Here's the latest. I met with four people in the Retailing & Consumer Sciences Department last week. The Chair was especially hospitable and kind, but I'm not sure the program is the right fit.

I am also slated to meet with six people from the Communication Department in the next two weeks and I will attend a half-day conference with the Marketing Department in late March.

At the moment, my first choice is Communication with a minor in Marketing or Public Health.

Ph.D. update

Here's the latest. I'm 90% sure that I've narrowed my program list down to (1) Communication and (2) Retailing & Consumer Science. I have several meetings scheduled at the university within the next two months to help solidify my decision. I will apply for admittance in the spring of 2008. The deadlines are in early to mid summer 2007.

Ph.D. motivation

Several people have asked me about what motivates me to get a doctorate degree:

(1) To continue my quest for knowledge and to squelch out boredom - my primary motivation for heading back to graduate school is purely intrinsic. I love learning and being in school allows me the freedom to do so. It also forces me to "stretch out my brain" on a daily basis.

(2) To earn credibility so that I can ultimately impact society for good - Professors are a formidable presence in our world. They are respected and revered as leaders and torch-bearers. They have a profound and pervasive influence on the thoughts and morals of their wide-reaching community network. Indeed, they mold the minds of the newest generations.

(3) To open career doors for the future - I'd like to be a professor and a writer. Obtaining my Ph.D. will help me to do both.

Ph.D. decisions

As many of you know, I would like to apply for admittance into a doctoral program for the fall of 2007 or the spring of 2008. I have narrowed my list of programs down to the following four (in order of interest): 1. Retailing & Consumer Sciences, 2. Communication, 3. Marketing, and 4. Family Studies & Human Development.

I currently have a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Educational Counseling. My primary career interests are Professor and Author. Other careers that intrigue me include: Event Planner, Marketing Director, Magazine/Book Editor, Motivational Speaker, Documentary Producer/Creator, University Administrator, Public Relations Rep, Researcher, and/or Business Owner. At this juncture in my life, I am not interested in continuing in the K-12 educational sector or in moving into the private practice/counseling/psychology arena.

Family & friends, I'd love to hear you weigh in on the topic. What program do you think fits my career interests, goals, and personality best?