“How long does it take to complete a dissertation?”
As a dissertation coach & data-analysis expert, and I’ve been asked this questions hundreds of times. The answer depends on who you ask. The following as excerpts from a conversation on LinkedIn:
“It took me 29 months to complete mine”– M.T.
“Hiring someone can help to speed up the process” – V.K.
“Too Long!” – C.D.
“Mine is taking way too long” – J.J.
“I have a friend [who is now] in her third year of trying to get the proposal approved.” – K.A.
“It took me 18 months to do my dissertation” – B.D.
“The program took 6 years for me.” – L.K.
“It has taken 2 1/2 years.” – D.G.
“It took me three years to finish my dissertation.” – T.F.
“Working with a coach often speeds up the process” – K.M.
I recently spoke with an administrator at a large online university who told me that their students typically take about two years to complete their dissertations…those of them who finish, that is! Did you know that fully half of all students who begin a doctoral program never graduate? They take on tens of thousands of dollars in student loans; they complete the full curriculum of course work; and they eventually walk away without the “Dr.” designation to show for all their hard work. Half!
Why does this happen? Well, there are reasons and there are excuses, but they don’t change the fact that these people leave the program in little better professional position than when they started. The lucky ones who do graduate generally find that it took them far longer than they would have ever imagined. With dissertation-phase tuition costing $1000 – $1500 per month, how can you afford not to proactively manage your final charge up Mt. Academia?
Don’t let yourself succumb after months or years of treading water in Lake Dissertation. As an experienced dissertation coach, I can help you not only to beat the odds by graduating, but also to approach the entire dissertation process with confidence, effectiveness, and certainty, eliminating significant amounts of stress and saving months in time and tuition.
Think about walking across that stage in the full academic regalia of a Ph.D., DM, Ed.D., or DBA, silly hat and all! Think about friends, family, and colleagues calling you, “Doctor.” Think about the pride you’ll see in their faces — and in the mirror. Now stop thinking about it!
