$15000 Doctorate NA

[ashkir]

Narrowed down my two options for a doctorate to the University of Saint Mary, EdD in Leadership and VUL DHA. Cost and time to complete are similar, with St Mary being 6k more and an additional year. It reads less, similar to how I had it in my decision process. After being approved for both, I decided to go with VUL and will be part of the May cohort.

A lot of time ahead to change my mind, but it all feels like it is coming together nicely.

The Saint Mary's program looks pretty decent. Not nearly as long as many other EdDs I've reviewed. I'm adding this to my short list for next year. I definitely need RA. I know everyone doesn't need an RA program. And for those who don't and just want a doctorate, the VUL DHA seems like the way to go. I still can't imagine cramming a doctorate into a year. Seems like you'd never sleep or have a break. i'm actually enjoying taking a weekend off from my studies this weekend. Not something I've been able to do since I went back to school in February 2020. Kind of amazing how much freedom I have at WGU. Not something I expected, but I'm enjoying it! 

Have you started your cohort at VUL?

Not checking the thread as much, so thank you for your patience. Yes, I started in May; I am halfway through one course and just awaiting the final grade on another. My third class has been loaded and will be starting shortly. The program has plenty of busy work; however, I can still go on weekend adventures; this is important as I did not move to Europe to hang in the house writing papers when there is so much to see and do out here. I've had some moments (mostly early) when I felt that I took on a little more than expected, and then after receiving positive feedback and high marks on case studies and essays, all settled down. I knew there was enough within me to get through the program, so leaning into the challenge and being grateful for the opportunity is my mindset.

Now, I am more on a daily high thinking that comes 2024; I will have earned a doctorate. It's a satisfying academic headspace to be in.

Since the Professors and courses have been discussed in reasonable detail ( the first 3), I will not be adding information to the forum other than to confirm the details on the thread are correct. I am currently enrolled in three courses:

Change Management/Dr. Gupta -. Gupta is a fair grader and provides entertaining weekly Zoom sessions. Compared to my previous self-paced courses, the 16-week course takes a bit to get used to. On the positive side, the workload is very manageable, and the only drawback is the time it takes to receive feedback and grades. I am on track for an A.

Organizational Communication/Dr. Hammond - This class is straightforward and aligns well with traditional business degree topics. Dr. Hammond may be a bit elusive in his guidance, but overall, you pick up on the subtle clues he provides for assignments. My final grades came in yesterday, and I finished with an A.

Leadership & Professional Issues/Dr. Wodicka - This course has just started, and the one upside is that you can work ahead. I have taken on the challenge and completed a few weeks' assignments. Until told otherwise, I will try to finish this 8-week course in less time than scheduled. Unlike Gupta & Hammond, Dr. Wodicka requires discussion posts to be 300+ words each (two a week). The other courses had no length requirement, but less than 300 words were acceptable. Luckily, each discussion post has 2-3 questions, allowing for more than enough to write about. 

I am pleased with the program and appreciate the network forming in the private groups for the program. There is a mix of students scoring high marks and feeling confident, while others are just getting by and celebrating their survival skills. Some students are considering dropping out daily, and others are not performing well. Unfortunately, I fear that several of them may be asked to leave unless something changes dramatically.

Traveling all of August should make the program adventurous–having multiple finals,  case studies, discussion posts, and Zooms while traveling should make my flight back to Germany in September a good time to sleep. Hopefully, it will also be a time of celebration from earning two more A grades.

Fun Fact: Wodicka just checks the sidebar counts. so if you underperform you'll still get full points. So if you need to take a shortcut, Wodicka is safe to do it on. Hammond/Gupta also go by the total # of posts. If you respond to 3 in one week but 1 in another week it evens out. Do the extra credit ones, if you feel like you might get overwhelmed!

I got an A (95%+) in every single class except the IRA (last one) which I got a 89.9%

[siersema]

Fun Fact: Wodicka just checks the sidebar counts. so if you underperform you'll still get full points. So if you need to take a shortcut, Wodicka is safe to do it on. Hammond/Gupta also go by the total # of posts. If you respond to 3 in one week but 1 in another week it evens out. Do the extra credit ones, if you feel like you might get overwhelmed!

I got an A (95%+) in every single class except the IRA (last one) which I got a 89.9%

Any tips for the IRB?

[ashkir]

Fun Fact: Wodicka just checks the sidebar counts. so if you underperform you'll still get full points. So if you need to take a shortcut, Wodicka is safe to do it on. Hammond/Gupta also go by the total # of posts. If you respond to 3 in one week but 1 in another week it evens out. Do the extra credit ones, if you feel like you might get overwhelmed!

I got an A (95%+) in every single class except the IRA (last one) which I got a 89.9%

Any tips for the IRB?

Pray to your gods. But, no seriously, don't piss off Professor Hampton. She's very strict, and she will hold it against you if you ask too many questions. She's not friendly and approachable. She's extremely smart and very busy.

It feels like she has a distaste for the program, but, I think it is just how her personality comes across. She's very thorough and her lessons are probably one of the most organized. It's very important to pay attention to her zoom.

Of all the professor's zooms, IRB's is the most important. ASK QUESTIONS. Share your screen with her with the class, ask for advice, etc. She'll show and explain things ONLY on the zoom. She tells you to make office hours, but, then she'll berate you for making office hours for something she covered in Zoom. She doesn't tolerate a lot of quesitons. Especially, on topics she already covered.

Her feedback sounds very harsh. But, it's just because she's blunt. She doesn't sugar coat it. Her feedback is very personalized, and targets you personally. Her feedback will directly attack your weaknesses, and you as a person individually. But, that is the point. IRB is meant to be harsh. It's meant to be tough. You perservering and getting through it is what forges you as a doctorate student. If you can't handle a harsh critic from an IRB chair, then you can't handle it in corporate America.

I absolutely hated that class. But, in hindsight, it is absolutely necessary.

[siersema]

I got an A (95%+) in every single class except the IRA (last one) which I got a 89.9%

Any tips for the IRB?

Pray to your gods. But, no seriously, don't piss off Professor Hampton. She's very strict, and she will hold it against you if you ask too many questions. She's not friendly and approachable. She's extremely smart and very busy.

It feels like she has a distaste for the program, but, I think it is just how her personality comes across. She's very thorough and her lessons are probably one of the most organized. It's very important to pay attention to her zoom.

Of all the professor's zooms, IRB's is the most important. ASK QUESTIONS. Share your screen with her with the class, ask for advice, etc. She'll show and explain things ONLY on the zoom. She tells you to make office hours, but, then she'll berate you for making office hours for something she covered in Zoom. She doesn't tolerate a lot of quesitons. Especially, on topics she already covered.

Her feedback sounds very harsh. But, it's just because she's blunt. She doesn't sugar coat it. Her feedback is very personalized, and targets you personally. Her feedback will directly attack your weaknesses, and you as a person individually. But, that is the point. IRB is meant to be harsh. It's meant to be tough. You perservering and getting through it is what forges you as a doctorate student. If you can't handle a harsh critic from an IRB chair, then you can't handle it in corporate America.

I absolutely hated that class. But, in hindsight, it is absolutely necessary.

Thanks. It certainly sounds like it will be an interesting last term starting in September. I’ll keep this in mind. Rewatching zoom sessions may be a good option to grasp what’s needed.

[KSoul]

A significant update on IRB @Dr.Ashkir. I just finished the 1st semester with three A-grades in the books. Enjoyed these classes and look forward to tackling them next semester. From all accounts, IRB sounds like it will be a lowlight to the program; however, I have five classes to finish before I even spend any quality time thinking about it.

[ashkir]

A significant update on IRB @Dr.Ashkir. I just finished the 1st semester with three A-grades in the books. Enjoyed these classes and look forward to tackling them next semester. From all accounts, IRB sounds like it will be a lowlight to the program; however, I have five classes to finish before I even spend any quality time thinking about it.

Start making friends and study partners now. If it ends with a group IRB again, they'll be your lifeline.

[eLearner]

I'm curious about the tuition structure. Since it's a 1-year program, do students have to pay the full $18,000 during that 1 year? And does the school just hold your diploma and transcript until you do?

[Ericf]

So I am starting in two weeks in this program. Do you have to attend every single Saturday zoom session. Is anything tapped at all and can you work ahead in these first two courses.

[ashkir]

So I am starting in two weeks in this program. Do you have to attend every single Saturday zoom session. Is anything tapped at all and can you work ahead in these first two courses.

Highly recommend meeting every Saturday. There's a lot of information on those zooms and sometimes really big tips/hints for your essays. There's a pretty on point syllabus but I HIGHLY recommend to not work ahead. They changed things in my term and assignments. You do get points for the Zoom, and if you don't attend the Zooms, you can lose up to 10% of your grade. One C is okay, but once you hit a second C, you're out.

If you miss the meeting, you'll have to write an essay what happened on that zoom.

[eLearner]

I'm curious about the tuition structure. Since it's a 1-year program, do students have to pay the full $18,000 during that 1 year? And does the school just hold your diploma and transcript until you do?

Anyone?

I've sent the school several emails about this and other things, but they never reply.