Despite a rigorous admission process that screens out all but the highest achievers, about 50% of all who enter a PhD program drop out before finishing their degree. “Why Do So Many Graduate Students Quit?” Te-Erika Patterson’s Atlantic Daily article suggests that universities may be contributing to this high rate of attrition.
Mental illness is often cited as the reason people can’t cope with the demands of completing a PhD, but not all of the thousands who abandon their program each year are struggling with mental illness. “Research suggests that the majority of students who enter doctoral programs possess the academic ability to complete their studies,” says Patterson, but a negative academic environment may lead to mental distress and a decision to drop out. Students complain about the lack of quality advising and support from faculty. The “culture of critique” which pervades many PhD programs focuses on weakness and can erode students’ confidence. Students report feeling powerless and afraid to ask for help with their problems, causing extreme distress.
A ‘multiple-mentor’ model with various faculty and staff supporting students in working toward their professional development goals can help give students what they need - and take some of the pressure off of very busy faculty. By engaging in mutual problem-solving early on, students and mentors can work collaboratively to help keep small problems from becoming insurmountable. Implementing these positive changes would likely improve PhD graduation rates - left to languish at a low level for too long - and protect the investment that students and universities are making in doctoral programs.