Dealing with PhD Program Waitlists

[epiepiepi]

I've been accepted to a great Epidemiology PhD program with full funding (program A), and would be 100% happy to go there. However, I am currently waitlisted at a place (program B ) that is a much much better fit for what I want to do, and I would rather go there if I get off the waitlist. My getting off the waitlist is contingent on my POI getting some grants, and not on someone responding to an offer, so there is no clear timeline for when I should expect to hear back.

If I don't hear back by April 15th, I definitely want to accept the offer from program A, and program B knows that I would like to hear back on my final status by April 15. My question is: what if funding goes through from Program B after April 15th, when I've already accepted Program A's offer? I COMPLETELY understand that is not an ideal case and disrespectful to Program A, but I really really think Program B will help me in my career and is a better fit for my research interest, and I will just be happier there for the next 4 years. What would you guys recommend in case this happens? Stressing out about this way too much. Thanks for the responses!

Edited March 30, 2018 by epiepiepi

[ThousandsHardships]

I think you should just be honest. Tell Program A that you're very excited about their program and would like to accept their offer, but that there's a chance that something may change in the event that you're accepted off the waitlist for another school that may be a better fit. Ask them what they would recommend. Some schools may offer you an extension on the decision deadline, or they might encourage you to accept and wait it out. These things happen all the time. It's a normal part of the admissions process. As long as you're upfront with it and polite in all your interactions, no one will get offended.

[eek_]

I agree with the above poster, but also-be as self-interested as you need to be. If they need a commitment  then go ahead and give them one. If you get accepted into program B at a later do not feel obligated to stay with program A. This is YOUR life.

[epiepiepi]

10 minutes ago, eek_ said:

I agree with the above poster, but also-be as self-interested as you need to be. If they need a commitment  then go ahead and give them one. If you get accepted into program B at a later do not feel obligated to stay with program A. This is YOUR life.

 

30 minutes ago, ThousandsHardships said:

I think you should just be honest. Tell Program A that you're very excited about their program and would like to accept their offer, but that there's a chance that something may change in the event that you're accepted off the waitlist for another school that may be a better fit. Ask them what they would recommend. Some schools may offer you an extension on the decision deadline, or they might encourage you to accept and wait it out. These things happen all the time. It's a normal part of the admissions process. As long as you're upfront with it and polite in all your interactions, no one will get offended.

Thank you guys so much! This is absolutely helpful. I actually feel really bad knowing that some people on the waitlist are waiting to hear back on Program A, and that I'm kind of keeping the spot for myself until I hear back from Program B, but you are right there is a need to be self-interested in this process.

What do you think about the potential of falling-out with the program? Epidemiology (especially my subfield) is so tiny, and I don't want to get blacklisted in the future. Is there even a potential that Program B will hear that I accepted then rescinded from Program A, and they might take that against me as well?

Edited March 30, 2018 by epiepiepi

[ThousandsHardships]

2 hours ago, epiepiepi said:

 

Thank you guys so much! This is absolutely helpful. I actually feel really bad knowing that some people on the waitlist are waiting to hear back on Program A, and that I'm kind of keeping the spot for myself until I hear back from Program B, but you are right there is a need to be self-interested in this process.

What do you think about the potential of falling-out with the program? Epidemiology (especially my subfield) is so tiny, and I don't want to get blacklisted in the future. Is there even a potential that Program B will hear that I accepted then rescinded from Program A, and they might take that against me as well?

As I mentioned, this is a completely normal part of the admissions process. There's no need to keep any of this secret. As long as you keep interactions professional, there's no reason for anyone on either side to hold anything against you.

Edited March 30, 2018 by ThousandsHardships