Should I go?

[heyo]

I applied for several PhD programs this year, and have received one funded acceptance. I applied there mostly as an afterthought, having made a very low effort scan of potential topics, and since applying cost $0 and about 5 minutes, I figured I'd just send it in. Well now, I have yet to hear from only two of my "main" schools - my other responses having been rejections - and since it is so late, I'm not very hopeful. 

 

Thing is, I'm not sure whether I'd be content at this school. It is not top-tier, and I was not particularly impressed by the students or the department. The professors were fine, but I'd expect with the competitiveness of tenure that this is not exceptional. I think I could find a topic among them that I could work on, but none of them are topics that I'm thinking "Wow! Now THAT is cool. That's what I definitely want to do for 5 years."

 

At the same time, I'm already one year out from undergrad, with nothing notable happening in that year. I'm in computer science, relating to topics in algorithms and applications to robotics. I can't really think of anything I could do in the coming year that would really help a grad school application, and I feel like turning down an offer now would just decrease my likelihood of ever attending. I'm not even sure what on my applications was lacking - how could I improve when I can't even know what I did wrong? Am I even going to stand any more of a chance next year?

 

Still, I would rather not work as a general software engineer, and I feel basically confined to that alternative if I don't go. If I do go, I can't help but feel I would be unsatisfied, always wishing I had made it to a better program.

 

Does anyone know this feel?

[iphi]

Does this program have you earn a Master's degree first? You could stick it out until you get your MSc then (nicely) explain that you want to go in a different research direction for your PhD and transfer schools then.

[heyo]

Does this program have you earn a Master's degree first? You could stick it out until you get your MSc then (nicely) explain that you want to go in a different research direction for your PhD and transfer schools then.

 

Yes, I think most PhD students end up getting a master's. Funny you mention that, because at the visit one professor was saying something about how you could leave  for another school with a master's (though she wasn't saying lots of people do that), but I also remember hearing things (I don't think from the professor) about that being frowned upon and that professors you're leaving would basically be pissed at you. I don't know why the professor would mention that I could leave - it was kind of a weird segment of our conversation.

[iphi]

Yes, I think most PhD students end up getting a master's. Funny you mention that, because at the visit one professor was saying something about how you could leave  for another school with a master's (though she wasn't saying lots of people do that), but I also remember hearing things (I don't think from the professor) about that being frowned upon and that professors you're leaving would basically be pissed at you. I don't know why the professor would mention that I could leave - it was kind of a weird segment of our conversation.

 

Yeah you have to give a legitimate reason. Sit down with them and say "this is the direction I want my research to go, I would love to continue it here at School X, but I understand that it's not a priority for you, therefore I am thinking about applying to other schools..." This is about a year or two in the future so you have plenty of time to think about it. They might be upset, but if you do it gracefully they really have to take your excuse (research interest) at face value. Besides, no one wants to mentor a student and put all that time and money into someone who doesn't really want to be there.

[heyo]

Yeah you have to give a legitimate reason. Sit down with them and say "this is the direction I want my research to go, I would love to continue it here at School X, but I understand that it's not a priority for you, therefore I am thinking about applying to other schools..." This is about a year or two in the future so you have plenty of time to think about it. They might be upset, but if you do it gracefully they really have to take your excuse (research interest) at face value. Besides, no one wants to mentor a student and put all that time and money into someone who doesn't really want to be there.

Wouldn't I then have to forget about recommendations by any of them? Since I've had not much luck this year, you can probably imagine my recs aren't stellar, and in two years they'll be stale as well.

[iphi]

Not necessarily, but that's why you have to give them a good excuse. You'll need one from your POI no matter what, but the other 2 you can try to get from profs you worked with maybe in other departments or who won't care/be mad if you switch.