SiSi26

I did my Masters at Sussex at IDS and loved it. I am now looking to pursue a PhD. Even though I loved Sussex and think it is an ideal place to do a PhD there is no funding. I decided not even to bother applying. The PhD students there and at IDS spend most of their time trying to get funding. It hurts their research. Ultimately, you should not pay for a PhD. You want to go to a school that is going to support you, even with money. It adds credibility to your research. I would always go where the funding is. This way you can actually get through your PhD in 3 years. Besides its only 3 years and Germany is not so far away from the UK with cheap flights (with the money you could use to visit the gf and its much cheaper to live in Germany than Brighton). I think you and your gf can afford to be apart for a little while. no? I am in a similar situation now so it is a tough one to make, but if you are both in Europe, its an easier one. Also the 'reputation' of the department and university matter, but only so far. Good luck!

In response to bmarcus, I have been told that is one of the worst things you can do - accept and then back away last minute. Faculty have mentioned that its worth taking as much time as possible and delaying the acceptance to see the other opportunities available. Accepting an offer and then backing out tends to really mess up professors funding and plans. You are possibly hurting another student's funding chances and the partnership / contacts you have at the school. If they are not offering you any money…than I would probably just accept it, pay the deposit and then sacrifice the deposit if another offer comes along. After all, MBA programs tend to have so many students bringing in money...

I am wondering about the same thing. But in my circumstance I have one early offer and want to use it to have schools make their decisions more quickly.

Hi Everyone, I am wondering if we can develop a list of questions to ask the Department before accepting an offer to a PhD program. Some possible topics to consider: funding, work space, supervision, TA/RA work, courses etc. Love to get your advice. Thanks!

Quantum Buckyball - reaaaaally good to know. I had no idea about that difference. PhD acceptances at this uni always come with funding, which I am assuming have TA requirements. Do you think it would hurt to call them up and clarify all of this?

Hi Everyone, I am seriously considering doing a PhD at the University of Toronto. I am wondering if anyone has had experience doing a PhD there or had experience making the difficult decision of whether to choose there or a different school? I did my undergraduate degree in political science at Uof T and was not impressed with the Department. I found the Faculty to be mixed in terms of commitment and research; I found the education of very high quality but the support lacking; I found the Departmental research behind the times; I found the students competitive and pushed me to feel always inadequate; The administration was too bureaucratic and made my time way more stressful than necessary. ---do I want to spend the next 5 years in this circumstance? No. That being said, the PhD I am choosing is in a different Department that I have heard and understand the research as much more progressive; The faculty so far have been more than willing to support me and my application; but I have no idea about my peers or community. Also Toronto is my hometown and I am not sure how I feel about moving back. If anyone has experience with this do let me know. I am looking for feedback on culture, support from faculty and peers because I fear more than anything being in the PhD world all by myself.

Hi Everyone, I was just accepted to a PhD program in Geography. I think it is early acceptance as I applied at the end of December and it is only early February now. The problem is that they require acceptance of the offer in three weeks. How do I say to them I need to wait to find out about the other schools and their offers? How long should I ask for? What is reasonable? Thanks everyone!!