Beajay,

Thanks for sharing your real life experiences on this. I too have concluded that I have to stay employed. I am still going to push the numbers because perhaps I can be employed making slightly less money (in a job with slightly less stress) and then do the PhD part-time. The increasing stress of the current position is at the heart of the matter in a lot of ways for me, even if I was not going to continue to do additional schooling. I am extremely burned out... So for me the main option is to assess my finances in a big picture kind of way and determine how much of a pay cut I can afford to take in another full-time job so that I can maintain a modest (i.e. non-extravagant) standard of living and also pursue my goals. Much of what I will target in a future position will be to work at the university where I plan to attend for the PhD if possible - that way the schooling will be free...

Again, your candor about this is appreciated and I wish you the best in all your endeavours in the future...

Actually my situation with Psych is similar - no PhD pgm at current institution, plus I would have to take a bunch of undergrad and potentially MA level courses to be admitted at the PhD level at other institutions. So that is one reason why soc wk and pub health are at the top of my list.

Best to you in your process of moving forward. Don't get discouraged and don't give up your dream. You can find a way!

Best...
;-)

Hi Folks,

I really do appreciate the recent feedback - thanks Bluespace and Pjlu . I continue to mull this whole thing over in my head; I too had concluded that I could not take the risk of leaving my current employment, which is fairly secure (today anyway :)!) and carries good benefits. I am, however, going to crunch some numbers and continue to assess how things might possibly be able to play out in different configurations - I have time, no rush here... Pjlu's idea of distance learning has also been on the table in my head for a while, just need to get a better sense of the programs. Part-time employment (as was suggested by Bluespace) is not easy to get at my current employer, but it is not impossible - there are people doing it. Also still have not thrown out the idea of picking a program local institution and trying to get a job there (in whatever field) so that I can go to school there for free...

Additionally, I need to/am trying to pinpoint the exact PhD that I want (Soc work, Pub health, Psychology, not sure - SW or PH seem the likely options). Am beginning some networking, additional investigation into programs etc. In other words, still doing the research overall...

I am going to post back here when I have more questions. This dialogue and others that I have read at this site have been very helpful to me. Helps me to put things in a context so that I can build on them.

Thanks for the feedback and helping me to focus it all...

Best...

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking along the same lines as you both. Think I need to either 1) find a PT program that I can handle or 2) get a job at the university where I plan to take the PhD. Again thanks for the reality check!

Hi Folks,

Am in the process of finishing up an MA (hopefully by the end of August!) at 53 after graduating from undergrad over 30 years ago. MA (health promotion) is not in the field that I have worked in for 32 years (IT) - so it is a totally new direction. Am feeling compelled to do a PhD after a year or so break after the MA. For PhD - not sure in what yet - public health or social work perhaps. Looking for these arenas to bring about a 2nd half of life career (love IT, am grateful for the life it has provided me, but need a change - want something where I can hopefully make a difference in someone's life in some small way).

But here is my dilemma - am a divorced parent of a special needs child, have a mortgage, and need to keep medical benefits going for myself and my son etc. Cannot see how I can do a PhD part-time (it has been a stretch doing the MA just in terms of time, home life, lack of time for fitness/weight gain, etc.). Plus some of the programs at local institutions do not offer part-time.

So my questions... Has anyone older (with commitments) stopped working to do their PhD? If so how did that work out/is that working for you? How much extra did you have to add to any funding you got in order to keep your life responsibilities (mortgage etc.) going?

Thanks