Passing on a PhD this year so that you can line up funding for next year?

[Golden Monkey]

Wondering if anyone else is thinking of doing this--deciding not to attend a PhD program this year so that you can try to line up funding ahead of time next year, then reapply?

The thought of spending the next year (or longer) well below the poverty level is sounding scary, so I'm thinking of hitting the big "reset" button.

[MJ0911]

I've been thinking about deferring (rather than starting from scratch and reapplying), for the same reasons, plus visa-for-my-partner reasons, plus my dog's passport won't be ready until September! But yes, funding in the UK is super-hard to come by, so I'm continuing to apply for jobs and working on the basis I will probably have to defer if I don't get offered full fees + stipend funding. My top choice got back to me within 2 weeks of applying, so I'm hoping that indicates I'm high on their list and that they'll put me forward for funding, but at the end of the day it's university-wide funding rather than departmental so I'm not hopeful.

Edited March 9, 2011 by MJ0911

[Poppet]

I'm really considering this too. Except that unlike you, I'm applying for a masters, not a Phd. And I'm 31 years old.

I don't know if I can put this off for another year.. But I also don't know if I can go, say, $50,000 in debt for a single year of school. I don't know what to do.

[Golden Monkey]

I'm really considering this too. Except that unlike you, I'm applying for a masters, not a Phd. And I'm 31 years old.

I don't know if I can put this off for another year.. But I also don't know if I can go, say, $50,000 in debt for a single year of school. I don't know what to do.

Well, I'm 43, so it's all relative!

[MJ0911]

I'm really considering this too. Except that unlike you, I'm applying for a masters, not a Phd. And I'm 31 years old.

I don't know if I can put this off for another year.. But I also don't know if I can go, say, $50,000 in debt for a single year of school. I don't know what to do.

Eurgh, masters are super hard to find funding for too. Have you heard from LSE yet? Keeping fingers crossed for you!

[StrangeLight]

it can be difficult to even win outside funding without being part of a program already.

if you have a funded offer, even if it's a TAship, then i'd say to take it and apply for external funding while you're in the program. if it's an unfunded offer, but your program is usually unfunded, i'd defer (if possible) rather than just reject outright because next year you may not get external funding or admission to programs.

[Golden Monkey]

it can be difficult to even win outside funding without being part of a program already.

if you have a funded offer, even if it's a TAship, then i'd say to take it and apply for external funding while you're in the program. if it's an unfunded offer, but your program is usually unfunded, i'd defer (if possible) rather than just reject outright because next year you may not get external funding or admission to programs.

Oooh... good to know. I did think it seemed very, very odd that people would be able to line up funding without being in a program already, and I wondered, "how is this possible???"

[Poppet]

Well, I'm 43, so it's all relative!

Touche!

Eurgh, masters are super hard to find funding for too. Have you heard from LSE yet? Keeping fingers crossed for you!

Thank you! I spoke with them again this morning and they said that a decision was made on the 7th, but that since they update the tracker in order of receipt of decisions, they are still only processing decisions made on March 4th. Mine should be up next week. I guess I can't fret too much about deferral decisions until I find out whether I've even gotten in anywhere yet.

[Golden Monkey]

Touche!

Thank you! I spoke with them again this morning and they said that a decision was made on the 7th, but that since they update the tracker in order of receipt of decisions, they are still only processing decisions made on March 4th. Mine should be up next week. I guess I can't fret too much about deferral decisions until I find out whether I've even gotten in anywhere yet.

I had no funding for my master's. I had a scholarship plus a loan, but that was it. I lucked out and got a job with the university, though, and went from being a full-time student to part-time, but got almost-free tuition after that.