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Being Bright Is Not Enough: The Unwritten Rules of Doctoral Study

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This book should be on every university library shelf, just for starters. Written by a psychologist, who was also founder and former director of a joint two university doctoral program in Education, it is written in a warm, easy style and yet spells out in clear detail the unwritten rules of doctoral study. She states that her experience with hundreds of doctoral students as well as professors provided the inspiration for this valuable guide which is designed to help pave the way for doctoral students in any discipline. She makes explicit, in a knowing and straightforward way, the kinds of information that can make the difference in the feelings of confidence with which students can make their way through their doctoral experience. It deals with many of the 'nuts and bolts' of graduate study that many books present. However, it is her insightful knowledge about the role of personal relationships and how they effect student progression that puts the book in a special class.

This book includes more than technical assistance. It describes pursuit of a doctorate in the social sciences as an emotional journey. Most students fail, not for lack of intellectual ability, but for psychological reasons. This book describes relationships that help or hurt the student's quest. It is invaluable.

"Peggy Hawley knows," could be the simple interpretation of this advice guide for those in pursuit of the terminal degree.

I expect that, like me, many doctoral learners will approach this book with some hubris. After all, we got this far without Peggy looking over our shoulders and coaxing us on right? Motivation isn't something we lack; knowledge is something we have a lot of and thrive on acquiring. Therein lies the immense appeal of this book: the foreknowledge of things that may go badly.

That is never on our radar in a meaningful way--and a good thing too, otherwise we'd be a world of pessimists. However, it pays to know the pitfalls that have befallen many like you and me, who have been no less capable or motivated. The best laid plans of mice and wo/men are won't to go astray. If you're keen on knowledge then you should have the fundamental curiosity to know why?

The Dropout Phenomenon is a sobering look at the variety of challenges that reduce the completion rates of an already small pool (in relative terms). Beyond that Peggy provides an informed guide on how to proceed through the several stages toward earning your degree. It is not a monolithic task. A finely tuned understanding of the different elements--topic selection, chair, committee and you, writing the proposal, your dissertation and its defense, etc.--will lend insights that should help any student to optimize time and effort, and maximize results.

For me the lessons are doubly prescient as I attempt to stop my slide from Ed.D to ABD. The gremlins are lurking nearby.