Name

Shannon Corkery

School

University of Arizona

Degree Program

Fourth year PhD student in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in Family Studies and Human Development

Previous Degrees

Master of Science in Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University, 2008; Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, 2008

Dissertation Topic

Commitment levels and motivators within relationships

Research Interests

Relationships

Advisor

Melissa Curran

Advisor’s Research Focus

Pregnant and unmarried cohabitors

Hobbies

Hiking, playing trombone, crocheting

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I chose to attend the University of Arizona for graduate school because I had a personal connection there and I liked its collaborative environment. When I initially considered graduate school, I looked at the institutions where people that I knew and respected had earned their degrees. At the time, I was working in a lab with a faculty member who had completed her post-doc at the University of Arizona, so that inspired me to explore its program. I was also pleased with the way that the faculty at the University of Arizona encouraged collaboration among graduate students rather than competition. It seemed like the right learning environment for me.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

To prepare for graduate school, I made it a point to seek out opportunities to work in research labs. Graduate programs are usually grounded in research, so I believe that it strengthened my application to be able to say that I had lab research experience, even though it was in a volunteer capacity.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I was required to take the GRE in order to be considered for admission at the University of Arizona. But because I am a good standardized test-taker, I didn’t put much effort into preparing for it.

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

In my personal statement, I demonstrated my desire to continue studying family and consumer sciences by detailing my research experience. I wrote about every experience I had in the research lab as an undergraduate so that the admissions committee could see that I had been involved in different levels of research and I knew what I was getting myself into.

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

I needed 3 letters of recommendation to get into the University of Arizona. I obtained the first 2 letters from faculty members who offered to write me a recommendation after I did well in their classes. I got the third letter in a nontraditional way, because I wanted it to be written by someone in my research lab but I didn’t know who to approach. The entire lab ended up writing me a letter together and signing it.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in family and consumer sciences?

I would advise students to use their personal statements to identify their strengths to the admissions committee. They will have your r?sum?, so they can see the facts, but you should let your personal statement reflect the things you want to stand out. Don’t make them guess at your skills when you have a self-marketing tool like a statement.

Graduate School – The Program

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

My program typically takes about 5 years, although it is a combined masters and doctorate program, so people can stop before that if they choose not to go on to get a PhD. During the first year, students take the foundational courses like family theory and statistics. In the second and third years, students get to take elective classes in their areas of interest while they study for the comprehensive exams that are taken in the fourth year. Then students spend the remainder of the program writing their dissertation.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

I haven’t started writing my dissertation yet, but I have an idea about what I will write. I want to explore the ways that people measure commitment within relationships. Many people think that you are either committed or you are not, but studies suggest that there are actually different degrees to which a person is willing to commit within a relationship. So I will be examining the factors that motivate people to commit to each other at different levels.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor is extremely student-oriented, and she makes it clear that she wants me to succeed. During the semester that I was finishing up my thesis, we met twice a week so that she could assess my progress and offer advice. Now she is my cheerleader. She constantly nominates me for awards and supports my academic progress.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my program does require me to pass comprehensive exams before I am officially allowed to begin my dissertation. We have a couple of options for those exams. We can either take a traditional test or we can write a literature review that will help us set up our dissertation research. I have chosen the second option.

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

I think the main difference between studying at the doctoral and at the masters level is in the amount of freedom I have as a scholar. When I was a masters student, my advisor would check in on me all the time to make sure I was doing what I needed to do and writing correctly. But as a doctoral student I have more free rein because she trusts that I know what I am doing.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

I don’t know how much my PhD program costs because I am not paying for my education out of pocket.

How are you funding your education?

My education is fully funded as long as I work about 20 hours for the department each week. The funding covers tuition and provides for health insurance and a small salary.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in family and consumer sciences?

The best answer to that question is that the time commitments vary according to the courses that you are taking and where you are in the program. Lately, I have been working 10 to 12 hours each day. But there are other semesters where it is more laid back. And it isn’t like I have no free time. I manage to walk my dog every day and I take off at least half of the weekend. Graduate school is all about time management and not procrastinating.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

The main way that graduate school has affected my personal life is due to distance. My family all lives back east in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, so I don’t get to see them very often. That is a sacrifice that I chose to make so that I can eventually get into a position that allows me to live wherever I want. But it isn’t always easy to deal with that separation.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I want to be an established faculty member at a university in the northeast United States. Right now, I am not sure if I am more interested in the teaching or the research side, but I know I plan to stay in academia.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in family and consumer sciences?

I recommend that students who are interested in studying family and consumer sciences at the doctorate level take the time to discover whether they prefer to be working in the community or in a lab doing research. Figure out which style of work fits you best because if you don’t like research, a PhD program is probably not a good option for you, and there is nothing wrong with that.