marigoldlee

Sorry, I'm comfortable with saying semester because that's what my undergrad was on. This school is trimester- so we're technically beginning again in a few weeks.

Hi TakeruK-- thank you so much for both your response and your congratulatory wishes! 1. I definitely agree with you about informing the department/director as soon as possible. Being honest and upfront is important to me, so I think I will schedule that meeting within the next 2 weeks. 2. / 3. With regards to what I have to gain/lose by staying/leaving, I think this is where I am most conflicted. This is really where I had planned on continuing my studies, so I have set up my life so much here. I do enjoy the coursework that I am doing here, and above all else, I currently work as a TA and I absolutely love that! Additionally, from an unfortunately more practical standpoint, I'm not entirely sure what else to do if for some reason I was dismissed more quickly. My living situation as a graduate student is dependent on my financial support from the program, and so I'm not sure quite how that would all work. Of course, like you said, most basic jobs pay at lead what a grad. student stipend pays, but a last minute short term position can be very very difficult to obtain. I think this is one of my primary concerns. I really like your suggestion about asking if anyone has any more menial/short term lab work that might need to be done-- maybe a professor who needs an extra set of hands for a short term project , but doesn't have funding at the moment (my current funding is from a departmental fellowship, not a lab). Thank you again!

Hi All, Complicated situation here...but could really use some advice and suggestions. My significant other and I began seeing one another about four months before I graduated from my undergrad school. He is a military officer, and while we're still relatively close (about 3 hours drive) since I've gone to grad school, he has since received orders for a location on the other side of the country. This past week, he asked me to marry him (!!!), which of course is a dream come true and I couldn't be more excited. But, currently being in a PhD program, that presents certain challenges. I absolutely want to marry him and go with him to his next duty station. His next station is four years long (though there is always some probability things do change in the military), so in an ideal situation we would just be apart from one another the final year of a graduate program at another school. I have previously worked for one of the professors at a school near where he would be, and so was able to apply for a late admissions position. I have been accepted and have not sent in my final decision, but that (or another job that I have been offered in the area) will be my next step this upcoming Fall. Unfortunately though, what I'm feeling like is "what do I do right now?!" I'm currently in a sciences PhD program, and am feeling a lot of pressure from my program to commit to a lab. I feel strange working to commit to a lab knowing full well that I'll be leaving by the end of summer? Should I just leave now (but I don't know what I would do then for ~4-5 months...school was my primary commitment and just finding a job on the spot for such a short term can be nearly impossible)? Should I meet with my program director and explain the situation? But could that result in my dismissal right away? Should I leave at the end of the semester, or at the summer? I just don't know....and could definitely use your help! Thank you in advance!!!!