[Asking sensitive questions? (potential PhD advisor)]

Thanks for all the help, everyone! I'm finding that the most challenging and scary part of this whole process, for me, (post-application anxiety, that is), is related to the need/desire to be tactful and strategic in soliciting information. It's challenging to find he best way to word things with people you've never met, and when it's all electronic communication. Especially for someone as inherently neurotic and socially awkward as I am...

 

For the same reasons you state, prospective graduate students in the sciences are also discouraged from applying/attending programs where there is only one person that they might want to work with. I only applied to schools that had at least 3 people with related interests and when I visited the programs, I looked for at least 2 people I could see myself working with, just in case the first person I worked with did not work out.

 

Thanks DontFly & TakeruK - those points are very helpful!

 

I've been trying to choose programs that "check a number of boxes" (namely, have people working in Ancient Phil, Kant, Hegel & phenomenology), but it's been difficult to find a department that offers great teachers in all those areas (of course), so my new challenge has been trying to find the best compromise. The program I mentioned has a rock star in one of those areas (the POI who may be retiring), but the rest I'm not so sure about. Still, I'm starting to think that it may not be worth the gamble.

[Questions that need answers]

 

I found my first acceptance letter from Syracuse yesterday (in my spam folder)! Even though it's my fourth choice, I don't want to rule them out just yet. Problem is, I'm not expected to hear from my other top schools until around mid-April - around the same time Syracuse wants their confirmation deposit. So my questions are:

1. Should I take a visit to Syracuse for one of their preview days?
2. Is there any harm in asking my other schools to provide me with decisions earlier?

 

 

I was encouraged to contact schools from whom I had not heard back (but from whom I wanted to) once I received offers.

 

E.g., "Dear Graduate Director, I was wondering if the admissions committee has already made their offers for (program)? I have already heard back from a few programs, but I was really hoping to hear back from (your program) before making my decision"

 

I was unsure about it, but since there were two schools from whom I was really hoping to hear, I gave it a shot and received very helpful advice in return (one waitlist response, one response that the committee had not yet met).

 

Good luck!

[how to reject RA offer (letter sample ) help!]

I wouldn't mention specifics... I'd treat it like a kind and thoughtful breakup.

 

E.g., "Thank you very much for your offer of admission/funding. I have given it a lot of thought, and while I recognize the many great opportunities available to me at School X, I believe that another program better matches my interests. Accordingly I would like to decline your offer."

[Asking sensitive questions? (potential PhD advisor)]

Thanks, that's very helpful.

 

I hadn't listed a POI in my application (I was discouraged from doing so, and I was glad that I did), so it in no way surprised me to hear back from a different faculty member that the one I hope(d) to work with. I was actually kind of relieved to be able to have this exchange with someone outside of my immediate area of interest, because it feels less odd to ask about the suitability of other potential advisors.

 

In any case, I emailed and just asked the question directly ("Do you know if X is still taking on graduate students?"). Fingers crossed.

[Asking sensitive questions? (potential PhD advisor)]

A very plausible and valid criticism. Thanks!

[Asking sensitive questions? (potential PhD advisor)]

I may be wrong about this, but I get the sense that things are different in the humanities, since our funding doesn't come directly from the faculty member (but rather from the whole department).

 

The reason I suspect he may not be taking on graduate students has nothing to do with funding availability and everything to do with the fact that he may no longer be teaching/may be retiring (but the departmental website isn't clear about this). That's what makes it an awkward question to ask.

[Asking sensitive questions? (potential PhD advisor)]

I've received an offer from a program with a POI who is very, very highly respected in the field but who may not still be teaching or taking on graduate students. A different faculty member wrote me to congratulate me on my offer and to ask if I had any questions about the program.

 

Is it impolite/inappropriate to ask whether or not the POI is still taking on students? Can anyone suggest a tactful and respectful way to phrase that question?

 

The POI in question is listed as a "Distinguished Professor," in case it's relevant.

 

Thanks!

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2015-2016]

Thanks for all the information, everyone! And congrats to all who have made it on to the next level (I applied directly to SSHRC and got my good-news letter a few days ago too - yay!)

 

Fingers crossed for everyone!