With classes starting virtually this semester, we want to help students connect through our blog. For our first blog post for the academic year, we are featuring a few students from the most recent doctoral student cohorts enrolled in the International & Comparative Education program: Talìa Gonzalez, Yesim Hanci, Chris Henderson, Hyungoo Lee, Sarah Ingraham, Katrina Webster, and Marcella Winter. These students share their advice for those considering applying to doctoral programs. Learn more about all of the doctoral students studying International & Comparative Education at TC here.
We reached out to members of the two most recent cohorts of doctoral students to ask about their main motivations for applying to the doctoral program here at Teachers College. Chris Henderson mentioned the alumni he has come in contact during his professional experiences led him to TC. Katrina Webster, on the other hand, wanted to continue to build the relationships she had started with the TC faculty and community during her MA program. Sarah Ingraham and Chris agree that the program at TC aligned with their aspirations and allows them to contribute more deeply to the field, given TC’s involvement historically in International and Comparative Education.
Chris, Katrina, and Sarah share advice about the application process to those thinking of applying. They collectively mention the importance of clarity around an applicant’s research interests and why they are pursuing a Ph.D. Sarah and Chris also highlight the importance of connecting with faculty. Chris believes relating one’s past experiences and future aspirations to the perceived strengths of the program are key components of a successful application.
Looking forward, Chris, Katrina, and Sarah were asked about their interests after completing their doctoral program and how their studies will benefit them. Katrina hopes to improve and coordinate the contributions of multinational corporations to education. She would like to do this through research or program implementation. Sarah hopes to contribute to research that will inform policy and practice in international education. Chris, having ten years of experience working in international educational development previously to starting his doctoral work, is looking to consolidate his experiences and build his leadership skills. He wants to focus his efforts on issues he is passionate about and within a particular region. He aspires to work in a leadership position with a United Nations agency or a bi-lateral development institution.
Marcella Winter, Talìa Gonzalez, Hyungoo Lee, and Yesim Hanci each described the past year as a doctoral student in four words. Both Talìa and Yesim used the word ‘challenging’ to describe their experiences. They also used the words ‘motivating’ and ‘empowering,’ respectively. Marcella applied ‘surprising’ and ‘life-changing’ as descriptions of her first year as a doctoral student. She also used the phrase ‘would do it all again.’ Hyungoo highlights ‘engagement’ and ‘reorientation’ as a description of the past year. When asked to expand, Hyungoo said “[T]he first year was difficult yet edifying as it really augmented my understanding of international educational issues and the overlying structures and underlying contextual influences surrounding them.”
Finally, Marcella, Hyungoo, Talìa, and Yesim gave some advice for the newest cohort. Talìa highlights support: support for one another in the program and reaching out for support when needed. Yesim also mentioned the importance of asking for help, and she gave advice on studying for the certification exam and exploring different types of courses. The certification exam was mentioned by Marcella, as well. The certification exam is taken after completion of the Advanced Doctoral Seminar during the first year of the program and covers all major areas of the International and Comparative Education field. Marcella advises students to prioritize the Advanced Doctoral Seminar readings and remain organized. Yesim and Hyungoo agree on the importance of connecting with cohort members, many of whom become life-long colleagues.