Rachel Gilman can do many of the things that a PhD program in the humanities would require you to do, without enrolling in a PhD program in the humanities.

What you might think is missing from your self-directed efforts is the guidance of a skilled mentor. In my experience, few of the faculty you meet in grad school are skilled mentors, anyway. And even when enrolled, it is still your responsibility to cultivate those mentor-protege relationships.

As someone who describes herself as “ready for anything,” I think it makes sense to try your hand a personal and professional development experience that does not come with the institutional constraints and expense of a formal PhD.

Do you have ideas about what that might look like?