The successful development of an independent doctoral identity is a transformational journey from student to scholar requiring frequent peer and faculty feedback-based interaction and immersive, constant doctoral-level research and writing. An independent doctoral identity does not emerge fully formed as Athena from the head of Zeus; rather, it involves a series of transformational processes—a challenging journey—from student to doctoral scholar. A doctoral identity is entirely distinct from a student identity: It requires fully-independent agency developed by frequent peer and faculty feedback and the requisite research and writing skills necessary to successfully complete a dissertation. The primacy of socialization and feedback and mastery of doctoral-level research and writing skills work in concert to help transition a student into a doctoral scholar.