The Most Important Skill For Success In Doctoral Pursuit
Introduction
Perseverance comes tops among the skills that guarantee success for any student who pursues a doctoral program. Indeed, success in a doctoral school hinges on perseverance. The majority of students drop out along the way because they lack this vital skill. The skill means that one has unsurpassed commitment to pursue a goal despite the difficulties experienced in its pursuit.
Ideally, the road to doctoral success is challenging and entails huge commitment to academics (Castro, Garcia, Cavazos, & Castro, 2011). Indeed, many students drop out of the pursuit subject to its complexity. It is estimated that at least 672,000 fewer women than men finish their doctoral degree (Castro et al., 2011). In social psychology, men tend to be more resilient than women in tough situations. Doctoral pursuit has many challenges along the way and that is why perseverance is a necessary skill for success in the doctoral school. It is crucial that one perseveres these challenges. A research study among students with doctoral credentials revealed that doctoral pursuit is characterized with numerous research demands and time constraints to meet deadlines which are very stressful to the majority of students (Madhlangobe, Chikasha, Mafa, & Kurasha, 2014). The students reported that those who succeeded under these tough institutional challenges were motivated by their ability to persevere. It, therefore, demands that this skill is part and parcel of any student who wishes to pursue their doctoral dreams successfully.
In conclusion, doctoral students should possess this competency throughout their career pursuance because it is a skill that will keep them going despite the hurdles that come along with this professional journey. A doctoral degree is challenging and quite involving since success in the program relies on more than one’s cognitive ability. Perseverance is the overarching skill for successful doctoral pursuit.
1. Castro, V., Garcia, E., Cavazos, J., & Castro, A. (2011). The Road to Doctoral Success and Beyond. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 6, 51-77.
2. Madhlangobe, L., Chikasha, J., Mafa, O., & Kurasha, P. (2014). Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS): A Case Study to Describe Motivational Factors That Encourage Zimbabwe Open University ODL Students to Enroll, Persist, and Graduate With Masters and Doctorate Credentials. SAGE Open, 4 (3), 1–15. DOI: 10.1177/2158244014544291
The download will start shortly.
The download will start shortly.