When will I be able to claim my new 'doctoral student' status?

[reallyluckyone]

Hey guys, 

 

I already accepted the offer from a school, where I'll be starting my PhD this fall. The question is that when exactly I can claim that I am a doctoral student of this school. The reason I am asking this is that I am going to teach some courses during the summer at another school and it would be much better if I could say that "I am a doctoral student from school X" rather then "i don't have any affiliation". To put it another way: would it be legit to have a school badge in July-August or not? 

 

Thanks! 

[hashtag]

I don't think it would be ethical to say that you have "doctoral candidacy," or any kind of specific wording that suggests that... But, I think it would be okay to say "I am currently pursuing a PhD at __________" 

 

Play around with the rhetoric and figure out what feels right.

[hubert1990]

doctoral candidacy is a term used for those who have passed their comps and are writing their dissertations. before completing comps, you are a phd student

[wtncffts]

I'm not exactly sure of the context in which you'd be saying "I'm a doctoral student...", but I'd just be completely honest and say "I've been admitted and will start a  PhD program at X this fall", perhaps without the first part if that's too long.

 

Though I can't really see it happening, if you made it sound like you already actually there someone could ask questions about the school, program, someone they might happen to know there, etc., and you'd have to backtrack, which is never very comfortable.  

[jose42]

Obviously, being a "candidate" or an "ABD" is something very different from being a "doctoral student". OP is asking about the latter. This being said, I plan to say "I'm a doctoral student" once I officially start my program, not before.