Name

Jen Castellani

School

University of Dayton

Degree Program

Fourth year PhD student in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration at University of Dayton

Previous Degrees

Masters of Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, 2005; Bachelor of Arts in Technical and Professional Communication from Cedarville University, 2002

Dissertation Topic

Female leaders in conservative Evangelical universities

Research Interests

The development of people from conservative Evangelical and fundamentalist backgrounds

Advisor

Molly Schaller

Advisor’s Research Focus

Sophomore year student development

Hobbies

Novels, movies

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school or program?

When I selected my PhD program in educational leadership and higher education administration, my biggest considerations were reputation, cost and convenience. University of Dayton has a good reputation and also offered the lowest tuition of any other school I researched. The program offers convenient classes in the afternoons and evenings, which allow me to continue working full time. There are also online classes in addition to the on-campus classes, which I find convenient for my lifestyle.

 

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

 

The most important thing I did to prepare for my PhD program was pump myself up mentally. I told myself that a PhD was something I was going to do, and decided that there was no turning back. I already knew what to expect from my PhD program because I had completed a masters degree, so I did not feel like I needed to do anything else to prepare.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

 

Yes, I had to submit GRE scores when I applied to my PhD program. To prepare for the GRE, I bought a study book and I spent at least a month studying with it. I also used a workbook and a study CD to help me prepare for the test.

   

Although I studied for the test, I had a low score in the math portion. However, I compensated for this by acknowledging my low score during my admissions interview and committing to take additional courses or acquire tutoring as needed.

 

For other students preparing for the GRE, I suggest hiring a tutor to study for the math portion if math is not your strong suit or if you have been out of school for a while.

 

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

In my personal statement, I wrote about my career goals and I explained how earning a PhD at University of Dayton would help me achieve those goals.

 

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

I asked a faculty member who would give me a good endorsement to write a letter of recommendation for me. I chose that professor because I connected with him and did especially well in his classes. In addition to my professor, I also asked 2 supervisors from my job to write letters of recommendation for me.

What types of questions were asked in your admissions interview?

 

During my admissions interview, I was asked why I had chosen to apply at University of Dayton and what my career goals were. I was also asked to share a little bit about myself and my personal history. Although I was not asked about my GRE score, I explained the reasons for my score and volunteered to get statistics tutoring or take extra statistics classes.

 

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in educational leadership and higher education administration?

 

I would advise another student applying to a PhD program in educational leadership and higher education administration to become familiar with the campus before the program starts and to attend any new student orientations. Saturday is a good day to visit the campus with a campus map. I recommend scoping out the library, financial aid office and cafeterias. Although I did not attend orientation, I think it would be helpful for a new student.

 

Graduate School – The Program

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

My program takes about 5 or 6 years to complete, and requires year-round attendance. The first 3 to 4 years are devoted to coursework. After the completion of courses, students undergo a comprehensive exam and move onto the dissertation phase of the program.

 

During the first year, students are required to attend full time and take 2 classes each semester. For that reason, the first year is especially demanding.

   

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

I am only at the beginning stages of my dissertation, but I plan to research female leaders in conservative Evangelical universities. I will focus specifically on those who worked their way into leadership positions after starting at the bottom.

    

I advise other students who are in the process of choosing a dissertation topic to first find a subject that truly interests you and then choose a dissertation committee carefully. It is crucial to select an appealing topic because you will spend years devoting considerable time and energy to learning about it. When you choose your dissertation committee, make sure you choose members who you respect, particularly your committee chair. You should also ensure that the members have expertise in your research area. Likely, your committee chair will be able to assist you in selecting other members.

 

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

At this stage in my dissertation, I am compiling the materials I will use in my research. I am mostly gathering literature to read.

   

When my coursework stage is complete, I anticipate spending about 15 hours a week reading and writing. In order to conduct the in-depth research of my dissertation, I will have to receive approval from my committee. In order to get approval, I will present the first 3 chapters of my dissertation as my project proposal and then defend my proposal. When the committee approves of my topic, I can begin to collect data and analyzing research materials.

   

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor plays an integral role in my education. I feel very fortunate to I have an amazing advisor who sincerely cares about her student. When I have questions, I e-mail her and she always respond quickly. If she can’t answer my questions, she directs me to someone who can. She also encourages me and gently pushes when I start to fall behind. In addition to our working relationship, I have developed a personal relationship with my advisor. I expect to remain in contact with her after I am no longer a student.

 

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my program requires a 3-day written exam in order to move from the coursework portion into the dissertation portion of the curriculum. I have taken the test and I did not feel like the questions were especially challenging.

 

To prepare for my exam, I first asked for a copy of an old test to use for practice. I read through all of the questions on the old test to get a sense of the required material. Then I reviewed my course materials and studied any topics that were related to the practice questions. In addition to reviewing an old test, I asked classmates for their old study guides and also created an outline of course topics to study.

 

How does a doctoral program differ from graduate study at the masters level?

 

My doctoral program is very different from my graduate study at the masters level, primarily in the curriculum. My PhD program requires a lot more writing and fewer exams than my masters program. In addition, my PhD program requires several advanced research projects that involve in-depth analysis and statistics. However, during my masters program I only completed a single introductory research course.

 

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

My PhD program costs around $40,000 in total. Tuition is the biggest percentage of the cost. I am fortunate that most of my professors assign reading from articles or online books, so textbooks are not a financial consideration.

How are you funding your education?

 

In addition to a small scholarship, I mostly use student loans to fund my education. When I graduate, I anticipate around $50,000 in debt. I have the option to work as a graduate assistant, but I choose to work at an outside job because graduate assistant positions only pay around $12,000 per year.

   

How difficult do you anticipate it will be to pay off your loans after graduation?

I have no concerns about paying off my loans. My masters and undergraduate loans have a 30 year term and a very low interest rate, and my PhD loans can be consolidated with my earlier student loans.

   

Even with considerable debt, I feel that higher education is a good investment in myself. A PhD will open doors for me and I will have the rest of my career to use my doctoral education.

   

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in educational leadership and higher education administration?

My PhD program in educational leadership and higher education administration is very time-consuming, particularly because I work in addition to attending school. In order to balance the workload, I try to spread out my assignments and tasks. For instance, I plan my reading for the following week in manageable portions. I complete most of my reading on the weekend so I have the week free for my job. I also begin my writing assignments well in advance.

   

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

Graduate school has affected my personal life by sacrificing my social life. I work during the week and spend most weekends completing my reading and assignments. I rarely have time for a social life.

 

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

 

In 5 years I hope to have my doctoral degree. I would like to be in a middle management position within a university, on track to advance to the executive level.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in educational leadership and higher education administration?

 

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD in educational leadership and higher education administration, I advise you to do 2 things.

 

First, develop your time management skills. This is a challenging program, particularly for students with families or outside jobs. If you do not have good strategies for managing time efficiently, you will have a lot of sleepless nights.

 

Second, try to understand the politics within the university. There are complicated political games within higher education and you should keep your eyes open. Develop good working relationships with both faculty and classmates because you will need support.