Hearing back from PhD programs

[wanderer123]

Hi, I'm in a major dilemma right now and would appreciate any advice. (This is also my first post ever, so forgive me if I make any rookie mistakes.) I applied to 7 PhD programs for ___ Culture Studies. The universities are a mix of Ivys and public schools. I'll explain with a timeline.

Late December/early January: I had interviews with two professors from School A (an Ivy), and haven't heard back since.

Mid January: I had an "interview" with a professor from School B, who I've met before on Zoom prior to applying. In the interview, the professor said I was a top candidate and asked how committed I am to attending School B, if I were to receive an admission offer. The question caught me off guard and I asked if I could take a few days to consider my response, since at that very moment I wasn't sure. The professor (almost apologetically) said yes, adding that I shouldn't feel pressured to follow up, as he knows how awkward the question is. He explained that the reason they ask is because students sometimes accept the offer, only to back out at the last minute and force the department to forego the funding they prepared for those students; other students admit School B is a backup and that they're invested more in other schools, upon which they're removed from consideration to avoid the aforementioned risk.

Late January: Following the School B interview, I decided to first wait and see if other schools would contact me for interviews/informal offers. After receiving rejections from Schools D (public) and E (Ivy), and still not hearing back from others, I began to grow anxious and wondered whether I was rejected from the rest. I also worried that my noncommittal response and lack of follow up for School B had led their committee to remove me from consideration. Eventually, having convinced myself that School B's informal offer is the only one I would receive, I emailed the School B professor in desperation and said "after further consideration, I am fully committed to School B and won't regret my decision if other schools gave me offers later". A few days passed, and with no reply from School B, I assumed the worst and began searching for jobs online.

Yesterday (5 days later): Yesterday afternoon, I received an interview request from School C (another Ivy); surprised but happy, I set a date with the professor. A few hours later in the evening, I received an enthusiastic reply from the School B professor, who thanked me for my previous email and said the department had given me full funding, fellowships, etc. He said the graduate program director will contact me with further details, the division will send me an official letter, and he hopes I will accept.

 

While newer, School B's program and faculty are very good. It was high on my overall list but not quite at the top. On the other hand, School C has a world renowned program/faculty and far greater resources. The competition is fierce and the upcoming interview with School C may or may not go well. But now that School C is actually a possibility, I'm deeply regretting my premature email to School B.  For all I know School A or one of the other schools might reach out with an offer next. 

On the one hand, I don't want to give up on School C just yet. On the other hand, rejecting School B's offer after my previous email would be disrespectful, and might sour goodwill in a small, close-knit academic world... though I haven't formally accepted their offer yet. Clearly I messed up, but what should I do now? How might I reply to the School B professor?

[Maximum Cadence]

Hi wanderer123,

It would be easier if you just named the schools — everyone else does — but the principle of the following advice remains the same. I see your dilemma but you seem to have answered your own question. There’s a chance you could forego a 'better' school by sticking to your word but it’s not as though what you’ve been offered is bad:

4 hours ago, wanderer123 said:

School B's program and faculty are very good. It was high on my overall list

You’ve already had some rejections and there’s no certainty you’ll get any more offers. As you pointed out:

4 hours ago, wanderer123 said:

The competition is fierce and the upcoming interview with School C may or may not go well.

Besides, its not as though the implications are unclear:

5 hours ago, wanderer123 said:

He explained that the reason they ask is because students sometimes accept the offer, only to back out at the last minute and force the department to forego the funding they prepared for those students

5 hours ago, wanderer123 said:

rejecting School B's offer after my previous email would be disrespectful

The only danger is that the offer from School B doesn't materialize. With this in mind, since you accepted the School C interview before the School B offer, it would seem ethical to go ahead with the School C interview. If the School B offer subsequently fails to appear (and you've actually checked with them about this), and you're made an offer from School C, then you can accept School C. However, if School C makes you an offer and School B's offer has materialized then you'll turn down School C with the moral victory of knowing that you could've gone to a better school (C) but opted instead for a good school that believed in you from the start (B).

Hope this helps,

MC 

[wanderer123]

Hi Maximum Cadence, thank you so much for your perspective (and apologies for the late reply)! It's very helpful and I have a better idea of how to proceed now.

[Maximum Cadence]

No problem – these decisions are never easy!