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Graduate School After a Career: Dr. Josh’s Journey and Advice for Non-Traditional Students
- Another Degree
- Nov 8
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Many people pursue graduate school later in life - not just after a gap year or two, but after years of professional experience, career changes, or raising families. Returning to graduate school after a long break from higher education brings valuable perspective, but also unique challenges in navigating advanced academic training as a non-traditional student. These challenges can be especially complex for first-generation college students or anyone applying to graduate programs without the built-in support of a current college or university.
Before pursuing graduate studies and eventually earning his MA and PhD in English, Another Degree mentor Dr. Josh worked as a carpenter, an English teacher on a Fulbright Scholarship in Germany, a public radio reporter featured on NPR, a technical writer, and a UX researcher. Today, he’s a tenured professor of English specializing in rhetoric and professional writing - one of several tenured and tenure-track professors who mentor with Another Degree and bring years of direct experience serving on graduate admissions selection committees.
His varied experiences and skills make Dr. Josh an exceptional graduate school mentor- whether you're seeking guidance on applying to academic programs like the MA, MFA, or PhD; looking for a thoughtful listener to help you develop personal clarity and narrative cohesion in your application essays and personal statements; conducting thesis or dissertation research; preparing academic manuscripts for publication; or exploring graduate studies in relation to academic and non-traditional career paths.
In this interview, Dr. Josh tells us more about what helped him through graduate school, what he's working on now, what he hopes for the future, and how he can support emerging scholars through Another Degree.
Book now to view his availability. Dr Josh is available for dissertation coaching, advising for academic and alt-ac careers, and graduate school admissions consulting and application help for MA, MFA, and PhD applicants.
Q1: Did you always know post-graduate studies and your career path were in your future - or did your path unfold differently?
Dr. Josh: No, I don’t think I did. After college, I worked for about 7 years before starting my MS, which I took a long time to complete (I was working full time and attending graduate classes part time). It wasn’t until the final year of my MS program that I decided to apply to a PhD program.
Q2: What’s something you loved about your graduate school experience?
Dr. Josh: I absolutely loved my PhD program. We had a really great cohort, so that helped a lot. But I also enjoyed taking so much dedicated time to read, learn, and write about topics in my field.
Q3: What’s one insight or piece of advice you wish you had before starting grad school?
Dr. Josh: As a non-traditional student, I often felt a little outclassed by some of my peers. Everyone seemed so smart! It took me awhile to realize that many of us feel “imposter syndrome.” I was lucky to have very supportive faculty who made it clear that if they didn’t think we could succeed, they wouldn’t have admitted us to the program.
Q4: What are you working on right now that excites you - whether in research, work, or creative projects?
Dr. Josh: I’ve been doing a lot of writing this fall, and really enjoying it. In mid-October I submitted a manuscript for a chapter in an edited collection. Then I turned around and sent off a proposal for a contribution to another book.
Q5: What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of that wouldn’t show up on your resume or CV?
Dr. Josh: I’m proud of the community building and networking I’ve been able to do at my current university. I love meeting people from other disciplines and looking for ways we can collaborate with each other. I’m currently in the brainstorming stages with a colleague in one of the hard sciences, and I think it will turn into a really interesting collaboration.
Q6: What do you hope mentees take away from working with you?
Dr. Josh: I’d love for my mentees to be able to approach the grad school application process with insight and confidence. I had very little perspective on how things work when I was applying. Now that I’m on the other side, I’m excited to be able to share the knowledge I’ve gained in my 12 years on faculty with people that want to embark on similar journeys.
Q7: What’s a book, podcast, or resource you often recommend to mentees?
Dr. Josh: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, by Dan Harris. I strongly believe in self-care in graduate school and beyond. Self-care can look like a lot of things for people with different interests, but one common thread is mindfulness. This book provides a very accessible introduction to the topic.
Q8: What changes do you hope to see in graduate and professional education over the next decade?
Dr. Josh: I’m hopeful we’ll be able to adapt to generative AI in productive ways. This will mean different things in different fields, of course, but I think we’re at the beginning of a major shift. Today’s graduate students will be leaders in this transition.
Q9: What’s your favorite way to relax or recharge?
Dr. Josh: I run, walk or hike several times a week. I leave my earbuds at home and try to soak up the outdoors. In the evenings I watch a lot of early 2000s TV with my kids. We’re currently working our way through Lost and 30 Rock.
Is Dr. Josh the right mentor for your academic or professional journey? Request to book below!
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