hopeful Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 I applied to 3 programs, and I've only heard from my last-choice school (acceptance with funding). Should I go, or wait till next year and apply to my first choices again, plus a few other schools? I'm working now, although not in the field, so money/occupation isn't a problem, but I don't want to let another year go by... Help!
rising_star Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Why freak out if you still haven't heard from two programs? And why did you apply to a program you don't want to attend?
snagsby52 Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 I applied to a lot of schools for English knowing that it was going to be really hard to get in. I would go to the third place school unless you absolutely hate it when you go visit. If you are unhappy, then you can transfer.
xnormajeanx Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Why freak out if you still haven't heard from two programs? And why did you apply to a program you don't want to attend? i think a lot of us end up applying to a few "safeties" we arent THRILLED about attending!
Minnesotan Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Why go to a school you're not thrilled about attending, though? Attrition rates are high enough among people who are in their top choice programs. Leave the spot for someone who really wants to go to grad school there.
hopeful Posted March 5, 2008 Author Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks for your thoughts. It's not that I'm against attending, it's just that there are so many wild cards in this school...I'd feel better taking a chance and going if I knew how easy it would be to transfer, if I had to. Any idea?
xnormajeanx Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Why go to a school you're not thrilled about attending, though? Attrition rates are high enough among people who are in their top choice programs. Leave the spot for someone who really wants to go to grad school there. i know this, and i told myself when i was applying that i was only applying to schools i would feel good about going to. but it's been months since then and minds change!
rising_star Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks for your thoughts. It's not that I'm against attending, it's just that there are so many wild cards in this school...I'd feel better taking a chance and going if I knew how easy it would be to transfer, if I had to. Any idea? It's not so bad if you get a master's while you're there. In my discipline, it's pretty common to do a MA at one school and a PhD at another. I would definitely visit the campus and ask as many questions as you can to get a better idea about what's up with those wild cards.
WOFMIH Posted March 25, 2008 Posted March 25, 2008 Yes, getting master's there is an option. But how would you explain dropping out of your PhD track when you apply to another school for a PhD? Given that you might also need the consent of your teachers at this program, from whose LOR's you can benefit.
StarvingStudentYeah Posted March 25, 2008 Posted March 25, 2008 I personally think it would be very poor form to take a position at a school you are luke warm about with the idea that if it doesn't fit you'll just schluff them off and attempt a transfer. For that matter, I find it EXTREMELY annoying when I hear PhD ppl get the MA and then walk. In essence, you have screwed the scool (they invested a lot in you) and the person who would have been in that slot and would have finished. Basically, it amounts to lying. IMO the only way you could morally go to the third choice would be to contact them and let them know that you were luke warm, and will consider transferring out at some point. If you tell them this is your attitude and they still want you then fine - otherwise you are being dishonest. I don't know what field you are in, but in my field and many I know about firsthand transferring from one PhD to another is HIGHLY frowned upon. One, it's not really a transfer, but more like starting completely over. Most PhD programs have a TINY cap on credits transferred into a PhD ~3-9 and the coursework generally needs to be basically exact with syllabi available for perusal. I know of program that will not consider a PhD who has already began work elsewhere. Another thing I find puzzling why anyone would apply to a school that once they're in they don't really feel good about. I only applied to schools that I'd be stoked to attend - there were seven of them. I was told to apply to more, but those are the seven I felt I would be thrilled to attend so those are the only ones that I applied to. I can understand minds change, but if you did your work when determining which schools to apply to I can't imagine what info came to light for such a change. Also, if you only applied to three programs - and only really liked two I have to wonder if you really love your field or if you just love the idea of going to those two schools. I mean, getting training in a field you love that not everyone can do should be a pretty exciting issue if you love your field - I can't see how only two schools in the world would be appropriate places for you to accomplish this.
StudyMom Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 I applied to five, four I totally loved and one because the program in my field is so strong. I got accepted at my first choice and wait listed at the third but I would have been really pleased to be accepted at any of those schools. I find it odd that you are concerned about a 3rd place school. Are they really bad in the field or something and if so, why did you spend money applying there?!
visoke Posted April 9, 2008 Posted April 9, 2008 I can understand your comment that minds change, and sometimes after applying we realize that a certain school would not be right for one reason or another. I was recently accepted at a school, was/am really excited about the department and program, but have some concrete financial concerns due to the extremely high living costs of the city (LA), and am having some serious doubts about spending 5-6 years barely scraping by and living in a hovel - when there are other great programs in other cities that would afford much better quality of life. So, my point is, we all have our reasons for having second thoughts. That being said, it would be silly to accept an offer that you aren't truly excited about. And from everything I've gathered, it looks very bad to transfer into another PhD, and is very difficult to do. Of course, you could go for the first year, see how you like it -decide if the field is right for now- and then either stay or leave. This is a bit ethically sketchy since there are plenty of people who would love to have your spot and the school is investing in you. However, schools are well aware that they are taking gambles on people, and they will survive just fine if you decide to leave the program! Just out of curiosity, what program are you considering?
firecolon Posted April 9, 2008 Posted April 9, 2008 I say take the offer. You will feel really stupid if you try again next year and get rejected everywhere.
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