John12345

IM/BI VG/VG E/VG (No Award/HM) First reviewer didn't say much. Liked the proposal, but knocked me for failing to address the broader impacts with respect to conversation. The research proposal was a straight-up basic research proposal in behavioral ecology. My references told me I should try to find a conservation impact, but I just wasn't able to find a decent link. Second reviewer, thought I had a strong undergraduate record, which I found surprising (3.6), and liked the proposal as well. However, I got knocked on my work experience and for "gaps" in employment. I knew that was probably coming. I've worked as a short term research/field assistant for the past three years and wasn't able to list all of my positions.

I've debating between 2 schools which have admitted me. The first is an MS program and the second is a PhD program. A third school, my first choice, fell through. Is it worth it to consider doing the MS and then re-applying to PhD programs, with the hope of getting into a really good program? What sort of circumstances would it take for you to consider this? Also, I will note that I graduated 3 years ago.

The main thing with the MS is that the professor is heavier on physiology opposed to ecology. He's also a new professor, though I suppose he is well published for his age. I don't know him really well (I actually was applying to a different lab at the school, but they ended up not being a position to take on a student), but he does seems like a decent fit personality-wise. The other PhD program is with a more established professor. He blend physiology and ecology, but considers himself a ecologist. All of my phone and e-mail conversations have been good, but he comes across as standoffish in person. His lab also has a high-drop out rate which is alarming. I suppose the MS isn't that bad of fit. However, I was pretty set on this other program having just been accepted only to find out there isn't any money. Granted, it wasn't a perfect either. I knew I didn't like the department (a little thin and, obviously, poorly run). However, the professor was a great fit.

I've debating between 2 schools which have admitted me. The first is an MS program and the second is a PhD program. A third school, my first choice, fell through. Is it worth it to consider doing the MS and then re-applying to PhD programs, with the hope of getting into a really good program? What sort of circumstances would it take for you to consider this? Also, I will note that I graduated 3 years ago.

yeeaaah, I'm not giving out any school names, it's way too small of a world. Paying my own way is definitely out as is an RA'ship. Deferring is a possibility, but I am checking on what that would do to my funding prospect (whether or not I would have to compete with new students or be assured a position before any new students). However, I do have other options (a MS program and PhD program), so I am still very wary of this. I'm just not crazy about either. However, I guess if I did the MS first, it could open up some better schools 3 yrs down the road...

I am debating between a couple of offers. One is for a PhD program at a decent (but not great by any standard) program with a professor that I am not crazy about. The other is a MS program at a school with a good master's program (lousy PhD program though) and a professor I like more. Is it worth it do the MS and try to apply 2-3 yrs (probably 3, sigh) down the road to an better PhD program?

So a couple of weeks ago I get an e-mail from my top choice saying that they have admitted me into their PhD program (Ecology/Evolutionary), with the caveat that admission does not guarantee financial support. This wasn't much of surprise as all applicants are told the same thing at this school when initially. During my visit, my potential advisor talked a little about this and he assured me that with my credentials that it shouldn't be a problem. This morning, however, I open an e-mail from the school which states that they will not be able to offer any financial support. Apparently, they a few current grad students are coming off of some fellowships and they overestimated the number of TA'ships that would be available. Of course, they were also kind enough to suggest that if I came and paid my way for a year, that it could positively influence my prospects for funding in the future. Seriously? Has anyone else encountered this? I realize there isn't a lot of money floating around for ecology, but I have never heard of an unfunded PhD program in biology. What sort of school chooses to conduct business in this manner? And what sort of department chair, fully aware of the job market within academia, suggests that a student incur debt with no guarantee of future funding. Now, granted, after doing some reading, I've heard that sometimes that offering an unfunded PhD is a polite rejection. However, if that is the case, wouldn't it make sense to notify the applicant that they would be unfunded from the get go? Also, I am being put up for fellowships at better ranked schools with whom I have a worse report, so I would think that I would be a viable candidate at this school. Anyway, I am just wondering if anyone else has come across anything like this before and how you responded. As for me, I now have to decide whether I should commit to a PhD program at a school I am not crazy about or MS at a different school and then try to springboard into an even better program 3 yrs down the line. Advice on that decision would also be welcome.

So after visiting schools I thought I had a clear idea of which programs I preferred. However, now that I have heard from schools and learned some of the additional caveats, I have found myself second guessing myself. Right now I am trying to figure out how to evaluate two of the schools I have heard from. School A Prof does good work, but standoffish and is hard to connect with on a personal level Prof is well respected within the field Prof works with birds, which fits my background Decent/good chance of getting fellowship Decent department Unusually high drop-out rate within the lab School B Prof does good work and the personality is a great fit Prof is well respected within the field and his field is also little bigger Prof generally works with fish, but doesn't care if I want system I chose Probably gonna have to TA Department is a little thin in my area with the exception of the prof in question Prof travels a lot I like his students and they will be around for a while I am leaning towards School B based on the my compatibility with the advisor, but there is good and bad to both. How do you weigh this stuff?