What kind of time commitment is pursuing a PhD?

Question

I know it's obviously a lot, but it's tough to judge from what educators and schools say. For example, as an undergrad, they tell me that to get an A in a class I'll have to do 'at least 2 hours of studying and homework per hour in class' which, so far, has proven to be completely bogus. I hardly study at all and get mostly A's, a few B's.

So, really, how much of a time commitment is getting your PhD in, say, political science? (My major and what I'll pursue). Some people say it'll leave me with no time for anything else, but people said the same thing for being an undergrad and I'm managing 31 units (yes, 31 units) this semester just fine.

So, really- how much will it take?

Answer 1

I found the time commitment per class for PhD level classes to be a little greater than it was for undergraduate classes -- but if you keep up with it, the coursework is manageable.

But the problem with that theory is that the real time commitment isn't with the courses, it is with the Prelims and the Dissertation.

A typical PhD will take about three years of coursework.  At the end of the second year, you will probably have to take a written exam (mine was  a two day exam from 9:00-5:00).  An Oral exam is usually taken near the end of the third year.  After that, you have to write your dissertation.  This can take anywhere from one to five years to do.

I started my dissertation in the middle of my third year.  I treated writing it like a job.  I went into my office at school every day, sat in front of the computer all day writing, gathering data or doing statistical modeling.  At the end of the day, I went home, and did very little work on my dissertation during the evening.  I certainly had plenty of time to have a life.

A PhD is a lot of work.  But it can be done without sacrificing everything.

Answer 2

24/7

Answer 3

wow,a  whole undergrad....

There is quite a bit of a difference between getting a under grad degree vs a PHD.