We all understand the courage required for someone to consider pursuing a PhD. Individuals who have a great interest in getting in-depth understanding and thorough learning in their respective field. But what are other essential qualities to characterize someone as a great PhD student? These set great doctoral students apart and pave the way for academic excellence.
There are few basic foundations, such as intelligence, curiosity, creativity, discipline and productivity. We need to understand that brilliance isn’t everything. But one should know how to smartly tackle complex problems at the frontier of knowledge. You need to have a desire to ask ‘why’ and explore uncharted topics for advanced understanding. While talking about creativity, we must acknowledge advance and innovative solutions by surpassing your field boundaries. The essence of success is sustained effort to turn ideas into results.
But now the question arises that the above mentioned traits are maintained by every dedicated scholar, even if they don’t plan for a PhD. So what is beyond the basics to be considered?
“Perseverance, Mentorship, Communication skills and Networking Ability.”
The PhD journey is filled with challenges, so you should always push through failures and rejections which is vital. To find and get the right master for you demands the ability to build relationships within your academic community. With the right mindfulness, direction and mentorship, you are also required to effectively articulate your ideas, both in writing and presentation. Embrace the apprenticeship model to accelerate your growth as a researcher. These can make or break your research impact.
If you possess these qualities and are passionate about contributing to your field, a PhD might be the perfect path for you.
– The Author is Mr. Ajay Thiara , Founder & Managing Director of 360 College Review
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