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Sharing Experiences on Surviving and Learning in a PhD Program
The speaker entered the doctoral program in 2020 and completed the five-year journey. She admitted that the first two years were especially demanding. Besides reading a large number of English-language papers, she had to prepare discussion questions in advance and often worked on assignments until New Year’s Eve, while some classmates continued writing until the second day of the Lunar New Year. The challenge of doctoral coursework was not only the 32-credit requirement to qualify for the candidacy exam but also the heavy reading load and intensive discussions, which she described as a truly “brain-burning” process. Regarding the qualifying exam, she shared a step-by-step strategy—focusing on one subject at a time. She also advised practicing handwriting toward the end of preparation so the hand could recall the rhythm of writing during the exam. Moreover, she emphasized the importance of peer support. As the only student from the early-childhood education track in her cohort, she often had to join courses and study groups from other fields. These partnerships became a crucial source of strength through the difficult stages. On academic publishing, she encouraged new doctoral students to start with oral presentations to gain experience and receive feedback from professors, then refine coursework or research proposals into journal submissions. She reminded them to pay attention to journal requirements such as IRB review, informed-consent forms, and AI disclosure statements. In her view, the doctoral journey is not merely about completing a dissertation but about the continuous integration, correction, and reflection between theory and practice. Overall, her doctoral experience was filled with both pressure and growth. From coping with heavy coursework and qualifying exams to submitting journal papers, she learned to manage time, adjust her mindset, and make effective use of resources. Ultimately, she came to see the doctoral program as a process of cultivating both scholarly competence and personal resilience.
Implemented by
Department of Early Childhood Education
Date:
2025/09/18
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