PhD in art, education emphasis: should I attend sans assistantship?

[fine mess]

I apologize for reposting but I only got one reply in another subforum.

I was accepted into a State University with a good Art Ed program. I applied for two assistantships offered by the University's art school grad program. However, I'm now told that funding for the ed department doesn't include assistantships after all (the reason is unclear, but I guess it has to do with the school wanting to attract more MFA candidates than PhDs). The other assistantship is highly competitive, so my odds aren't great to win it. If I don't get an assistantship I wonder if I should bother taking on more debt? Shouldn't one's PhD be paid for by the University? Is this no longer to be expected? Hoping to hear from Ed PhDs...Thanks!

Edited February 27, 2013 by fine mess

[ZeChocMoose]

Shouldn't one's PhD be paid for by the University?

 

Yes.  Don't self-pay for your PhD.  There are so many reasons why it is not worth it. Also assistantships besides giving you tuition remission and a stipend should be giving you the necessary skills and experience to get a job in your field once you graduate.  Also the national graduation rates for PhD programs are only 50%.  If you end up dropping out, you'll be stuck with debt and no degree which is not a good spot to be in.  

 

The question I would ask if you do receive the competitive assistantship, are you stuck with reapplying each year to see if you can win it?  I talked to PhD students in programs where funding is contingent year to year. It definitely makes everyone more competitive with each other and anxious about money.  PhD studies are hard enough w/o worrying about how you are going to pay your tuition and rent. 

[fine mess]

Yes.  Don't self-pay for your PhD.  

 

The question I would ask if you do receive the competitive assistantship, are you stuck with reapplying each year to see if you can win it?  

Thanks for the reply, ZeChocMoose!  I know someone who racked up a lot of debt going over his estimated graduuation by a year to gain his PhD without funding(he is currently teaching at a college). As for the assistantship, if I win it, it's good for two years, and after that I doubt there'd be much. However, I'm willing to take my chances if I win that one as it relates directly to my area of research. I didn't realize there were such low rates of graduation for PhDs, but my ability to graduate is an area in which I am confident. 

[ZeChocMoose]

I didn't realize there were such low rates of graduation for PhDs, but my ability to graduate is an area in which I am confident. 

 

Yes, unfortunately completion rates are that low and there is some great research on why PhD students don't complete their degree-- usually academic ability isn't one of the major concerns. Most people enter thinking they are going to complete the degree and then life happens along the way.  

 

I would ask very specific questions to your program on what is the graduation rate for your program and what is the average time to degree (especially if you are walking into this knowing that you are going to have to pay for year 3 and beyond.)  You also would want to know with the job market is like for PhDs in art education esp if you are going to be funding a portion of your schooling.  Personally, I would just reapply next year.

[fine mess]

Thanks again.

I know that there are fewer positions available for art education profs but also fewer candidates as opposed to MFA grads. MFA grads are lucky to get adjunct positions, whereas I stand a decent chance at professorship so long as I publish and attend seminars. That said, the current economy is probably shrinking the market.

A doctorate wouldn't hurt for pay scale increase if I returned to teaching k-12 but the bump wouldn't be worth paying off loans, and it probably won't make me more hirable. In fact, I feel that my experience and degree level have hurt my chances in the past, as they make me an expensive hire.

I will check into average time to degree. However, I expect it's pretty subjective. 

I wouldn't have applied for the program if I knew their grad assistantships didn't extend to art PhDs other than art history. I'll check back in if there's any interest in a week or so with the assistantship results but if I don't secure funding I probably won't be attending. At least I know how my GRE scores from grad school (Master's round) compare to my current knowledge base...