Name

Isha Patel

School

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Degree Program

Third year PhD student in Clinical, Social and Administrative Sciences

Previous Degrees

Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration from Ohio State University, 2008; Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from University of Pune, India, 2007

Dissertation Topic

Not yet chosen

Research Interests

Racial health disparities; adults with special healthcare needs

Advisor

Dr. Rajesh Balkrishnan

Advisor’s Research Focus

Health economics; healthcare incomes

Hobbies

Reading, sketching, swimming, watching movies

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I chose University of Michigan’s PhD program in clinical, social and administrative sciences because I wanted to continue working with my advisor. I originally enrolled in a PhD program at Ohio State University. However, the pharmacy department at Ohio State University got shut down. Fortunately, my advisor was offered a job at University of Michigan, so we moved our team over to that school. Essentially, I followed him here.

I chose my doctoral program in clinical, social and administrative sciences because this area of study does not require me to perform detailed laboratory work like many other areas of health science. I do not have the patience for that kind of work, which I found out while studying pharmacy as an undergraduate. In my current program, we do a different kind of analysis, which only involves the use of secondary data. That means we look at the results of laboratory tests that have already been performed. We use those results to design projects and write papers, which is the kind of work I am better suited for.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

I prepared myself for my PhD program mainly through my undergraduate pharmacy program at University of Pune in India, where I grew up. Through that program, I gained the foundation I needed for the rest of my education. After I emigrated to the United States in 2003, I focused on preparing for the tests that international students are required to take for admission to an American graduate school.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I was required to pass the GRE in order to attend Ohio State University. Since I am an international student, I also had to pass the TOEFL in order to prove that my level of English was adequate for graduate study. My advisor said that the written portion of both of those tests were important selection criteria because our area of research requires us to write well.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I discussed my unique background. I compared the differences between the government healthcare programs offered in India, where much assistance is provided free of charge to the people, and the United States, where healthcare is disproportionately expensive. I also wrote about how I wanted to do research that would lead to more cost-efficient healthcare in America.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my letters of recommendation, I selected faculty who I had a good relationship with. Ideally, I would have loved to get a recommendation from my dean or the chair of my department, because the American convention is to get recommendations from people who are important in your field, like professionals or advisors. Unfortunately, in India, we do not have the same academic system as Americans, so I had to face certain academic politics. My choices were limited, but I tried to choose people who had PhDs in my area.

I would recommend that students from other countries who want to study in the United States or the United Kingdom try to get in touch with professors who work abroad, even during their undergraduate studies. That way, when an international student needs a recommendation, he can get it from a person who is native to the country where he wants to study. It will give that recommendation more authority.

What types of questions were asked in your admissions interview?

In my admissions interview, I was asked about my background and why I wanted to get an advanced degree. We discussed what I hoped to get out of the program, and they let me ask a few questions. I was very nervous about my interview because I had never done anything like it in India. But the entire interview only took about 30-45 minutes.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in clinical, social and administrative sciences?

My advice for students who are applying to graduate programs is tailored to international students like myself. If you are planning to move to a different country for graduate school, the best way to prepare is not with books. Instead, you should spend time studying the culture of the place that you are migrating to. You should also find out as much as you can about the university you will be attending and your specific program of study. If you know what the expectations are, classes will seem less confusing. You will find it easier to make friends so you do not feel such a sense of isolation.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My PhD program at University of Michigan awards a masters degree en route and typically takes 5 to 7 years to complete. For the first 2 years, I concentrated strictly on finishing my coursework. Some people start thinking about their dissertation research immediately after they are admitted to grad school, but in my opinion, students should not overwork themselves at first.

Now I am in my third year. I am done with my coursework, and I now concentrate fully on developing my dissertation research. This is what I will be doing for the next 2 or more years. When I finish my dissertation, I will defend it in front of a committee and then I will graduate with a PhD.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

I am not sure exactly what my dissertation will be focus on, but I am exploring ideas for acceptable topics within the area of racial health disparities. I have published a few papers about that, so I have a reasonably good idea of the kind of research and effort I will have to put into the project.

If you are trying to decide on a dissertation topic, you need to be aware that innovation is a big factor at a large university. Your idea cannot be too closely related to another professional’s work because it has to be your own scholarship. You also need to choose a realistic project. “Innovative” does not have to mean “world-changing.” It just means you have to come up with a new, practical idea that will contribute something to your field.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

Since I have not fully begun my project yet, I can only speak about my expectations. It is going to be a phenomenal challenge, but I know the university has support systems in place.

One thing that worries me is coming up with the numbers I will need to support my ideas. I know that my best work is in qualitative research, but our department at University of Michigan stresses quantitative data analysis. In order to be successful, I will need to learn how to perform complex data analysis, which I expect to be a challenge.

I also think that finding all of my resources will be difficult. I know that my advisor and my professors will help me find literature that pertains to the topic I choose, but that part seems overwhelming to me right now. My colleagues tell me that once I decide on a concrete topic, I will gradually become an expert on that topic as I research it.

How is the dissertation process different from working on a masters thesis?

In general, I would say that the amount of work that goes into a masters thesis is far less than the amount of work that goes into a dissertation. The scope of a dissertation is much broader. It is a longer process, and you have to be prepared to defend your ideas in front of scholars. However, since my program at Ohio State University combined a masters degree with a doctorate, I did not have to write a thesis, so I cannot answer this from personal experience.

Does your program have an internship component?

My PhD program at University of Michigan does not require an internship, but our professors strongly recommend that we do an internship in our focus area every summer. People in my program often intern with medical and pharmaceutical consulting companies. It is very helpful to have that kind of work experience, because after a student graduates, they will have a network of contacts that they can use to find employment.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor plays an important role in my doctoral education. He is a learned expert in his field, and that helps my reputation because other people assume that my advisor’s students will be a reflection of him. Therefore, if he provides me with a good recommendation, it will help my career in the future.

In fact, I think that the most important aspect of a PhD program is having a good advisor who is both encouraging in his or her support and constructive in his or her criticism. It is essential that your advisor understands you and can guide you to complete your PhD program in the specified amount of time.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, comprehensive exams are required, but they are not a conventional closed-book format. We have to write a theroretical paper and a NIH-style proposal as part of our comprehensive exam.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

I don’t know exactly how much my program costs because all of the doctoral students at University of Michigan are financially supported. But I know it costs upwards of $50,000 per year when you consider the cost of tuition, books and lab fees.

How are you funding your education?

I am paying for my education through my job as a teaching assistant. In exchange for helping to teach a class, my tuition is paid for and I get a stipend for living expenses.

At University of Michigan, there are 3 types of aid. You can get a fellowship, in which your education is completely paid for without any extra work on your part. You can be a research assistant, which means you work for a professor to find literature or conduct analyses for him. Finally, you can be a teaching assistant, which might mean teaching a class on your own or doing the grading for a class that a professor teaches.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in clinical, social and administrative sciences?

The time commitment varies depending on where a student is in their program. For instance, while I was completing my coursework, I had to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in my classes and another 20 hours per week working as a teaching assistant.

But since I have moved on from my class work to focusing exclusively on my research, there is no fixed time requirement. I have found that this style of research demands that I be flexible in my schedule. Sometimes I stay up all night working, and sometimes I will not work for 2 days in a row.

I think that it is important to set deadlines for yourself. You should also learn to prioritize your work. Do the most important things first, then worry about smaller or ongoing projects.

How has graduate school affected your family life?

My graduate program has dramatically affected my personal life, particularly when it comes to family. I have not attended any family gatherings or traditional ceremonies since I started my PhD program. It feels like I had to give up 5 years of my youth in order to get my PhD.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I would like to work for an industrial consulting company for several years after I graduate, then possibly enter academia. I work better on my own, so I don’t like teaching enough to immediately make it part of my career. In addition, despite the recession, industry jobs pay more.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in clinical, social and administrative sciences?

I would tell a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in clinical, social and administrative sciences that where you get your PhD matters less than the focus of your studies. You have to be passionate about your area of study because a PhD program is both rewarding and very frustrating. It takes over your life for 5 or 6 years.

I also think that it is a good idea to get your masters degree and go out into the field to gain some job experience before you begin a PhD program. That is advantageous because it prepares you to manage your time efficiently and to work within deadlines. I believe that is a much better way of getting your PhD than just getting into a program after a bachelors degree, even though that is the course I took. It will make a huge difference to your studies if you get real-world experience before you begin a graduate program.