Defer? Desist?

[orestes]

Hey, guys. I know this isn't the most original topic on this board, but I'm having serious reservations about starting my PhD. I have been accepted with 5 years of full funding (but a paltry stipend) to an excellent university for a PhD in the social sciences. However, since I sent out applications, I have become more apprehensive of whether a PhD is right for me.

I applied primarily under the urging of my parents and advisers, all of whom believe that I will excel at the doctoral level, and because I enjoy the idea of teaching. Since then, however, I've done plenty of reading and spoken to a few folks about their doctoral student life and the prospects after school. Between the attrition rate, the difficulty in finding a tenure-track position within reasonable time, etc., it seems like an unwise career choice unless you are fully committed. I am not obviously not fully committed.

Making matters worse, while I do have professional experience, I have never really had to properly job hunt -- through luck, great opportunities just made themselves available to me during summer breaks + as part-time work during semesters -- so I don't think I have a full awareness of the professional options available to me. I went through undergrad, to MA, to my PhD application without pause, so Academia is all I really know at this point.

Ideally, I would like to take a year off to better consider my options, but in reality, I don't have a great reason for deferment -- I applied under false pretenses (largely because I was digging through the Universities' website, and not adequately going through the wealth of first-person experiences).

I don't want to dig myself deeper into a hole, so what is your recommendation for minimizing damage at this point? (To myself, my references, the schools, and to my future prospects should I decide a PhD is the right direction after all.) And how should I communicate that to my programs and advisers?

Edited February 2, 2011 by orestes

[nhyn]

i'm not sure how she did it, but i know an applicant who deferred 1 year so she could do a MA in a closely-related field (MA in Ed that focuses on Neuro, which is the field she was admitted for).

i have been going through the same thing: i've always been doing psych, is there something else I'm even more passionate about? I havent even tried out anything else yet. I'm too young! but at the same time, I dont have the conviction that i will excel at, say, being a chef (which i think i could totally enjoy but not sure if i could put up with the stress). i think...

a. you should just go for it if:

- you understand that fear is a good thing. it will motivate you to look for jobs actively. sure, it's hard in academia, but i think it's hard elsewhere too. there's always going to be something.

- you know that a lot of grad students are probably not 100% committed either. i've worked with grad students who are so passionate, it intimidates me. those people are destined for success, i'm sure. but i also have friends who are grad students, and who consider their grad studies a kind of job that they like, and don't make too much out it (as in, they don't try to romanticize it and are very objective about it - but then again these friends are in bioengineering and have slightly better job options than us social scientists )

b. you should not go for it and definitely ask about deferment options - probably just asking casually first before you detail to them why, if:

- you don't have anymore attachment to the work you do. one of my friends stopped seeing the point in critiquing the same books over and over again and decided to quit her English PhD at a very very good institution, and she was also in a state of doubt when she started. And a degree in English promises even less than what a degree in social sciences does, so of course she was scared for her job prospects, too. So I guess what I want to say is, as long as you think the work you do is meaningful to you, it should be ok. But if you don't see the point, don't do it.

- as a grad student, even if youre busy, i believe theres still time to do other things (family, hobbies, etc.). but if you think your life is going to completely disappear and you're the type who can only focus on one thing, and would like to explore the world more, then probably you're ready to spend 5 years of the younger part of your life on academia yet.

im sorry if my advice is completely useless - this is what ive concluded after going through this "crisis" myself and receiving advice from my grad students friends (as mentioned above) and my other wiser friends. you're still so young, i'm sure whatever decision you make, it's gonna be ok. its really what you make of it.

Edited February 2, 2011 by nhyn

[UnlikelyGrad]

I would go for grad school in your shoes.

First of all, there's no reason why you have to get a job as a professor. Companies hire people with Ph.Ds for other jobs--my brother has a PhD in a social science and is making a lot of money in his job.

Secondly, I hate to say this, but there are a lot of people out there with social science degrees--bachelor's and master's--all looking for jobs. A PhD from an excellent university would make you look a lot better than other applicants.

Finally, not all programs will guarantee you funding if you defer. You can check to see if that's the case at your school, but it's definitely something you should keep in mind.

[was1984]

What's the difference between taking a year to 'find yourself' outside of a Ph.D. program versus inside of one? If you're not sure, just go for a year and see what you think.

[Vacuum]

This is definately a hard decision to make. I think no matter what you do, there really isn't any job security anymore. Of course if you are more specialized and there are less people like you, your chances will be better but nothing is gaurenteed. For example, some companies don't hire people with MA/PhDs because they expect to move up to quickly in the company or expect too great a salary to start. Others won't hire someone with an MA because they only want PhDs. Some will hire BAs with tons of experience. See where I'm going with this?

If you were given the option to defer, and decided to do so, usually the board has to approve your deferral. They can always say, 'no'. If later down the road you decide you actually 190% want to complete your PhD, you will have to re-apply to that program (or others). How will the prospects of completing a PhD change from now to that time? Will they accept less people? Will tons more people be applying compared to now? Will you have a family/house/pets/whatever that you can't pick up your life and move to another city like you may be able to now?

I have deferred from an overseas program before and you do need a valid reason for doing so. Mine was cost, which I am assuming is a pretty common reason. Perhaps yours would be similiar? They might be paying for your program, but perhaps the stipend isnt great enough to cover living costs? Not sure if that is valid in your situation though. I'm not sure what other reasons you could give other than something health related or family emergency that would warrant deferrment. Definately saying 'I'm not 100% committed to a PhD' would be suicide Until you have a valid reason, I wouldn't even enquire about if deferring is possible because quite frankly, that would make it seem like you are thinking about deferring haha.

It is also not the end of the world if you decided 2 years in to your PhD that you didn't want to do it anymore. Tuition is a huge chunk of change and since you aren't having to pay that, it isn't such a huge loss in that sense.

hmmm decisions decisions...

[ZeChocMoose]

I would say if you are not passion and interested in the subject matter you'll be studying, it will be difficult to get through your program. My master's cohort started with 11 people and we graduated with 8 people. I would really try to gauge my interest whether I want to study (fill in the blank) for at least 5 years.

Also there is a lot to be said for taking some time off and having an adventure. I took 2 years off between my bachelor's and master's -and- (hopefully) 3 years off between master's and PhD. Don't believe people who tell you that you won't go back to school. (Quite a few people tried to tell me this.) If you really want it for yourself, you'll make it happen. The time off gave me life experience, I got to travel, and I took jobs in random states that I probably won't have lived elsewhere.

Also don't feel pressured to attend because you applied and got admitted. And try not to let other people's expectations influence your decisions. You have to live with these decisions, not them.

My advice, go with your gut. Good luck!