Accept Offer now Regret :( Advice appreciate!

[EmmaW]

Hi everyone,

 

I accepted the PhD offer to my most favorite program of all I applied to a month ago. The program gave me around $19/year with tuition remission. I was pretty naive about the financial situation that I was in and had accepted the offer. Now after talking to several current students there, they said that usually my advisor will fund me at least until I attain my candidacy, but it's very uncertain after that. I talked to my potential advisor and he said he'll try his best to fund me with his grants (if they are approved of course) but there's no guarantee. And now I'm very worried about what I had got myself into.

 

I have other offers from programs of lower ranks but guarantee me full funding for my entire degree that are still waiting for my decision. I know backing out an accepted offer is very very bad but I'm so depressed thinking about not being able to finish my PhD because of funding cut short and I don't have any saving aside to cover tuition for 3-4 years.

 

Do you have any advice for me in this situation? Thanks a lot.

[hikarizx]

I'm applying to masters programs and not PhDs, but I would say you need to make a decision NOW and let the school know. I don't know the rules but if you're going to do it I think it's important that you do it as soon as possible.

[amandastarfish]

I'm kinda in the same boat with my Master's Emma... I posted about it over in "The Bank" and got a few answers. Maybe it'll help you. I'm still confused and worried about what to do as well.  

[juilletmercredi]

I would reconsider, and potentially rescind acceptance. If your PhD program belongs to the Council of Graduate Schools, then you can change your mind until April 15.

 

You said that your funding after around year 3 is uncertain, and it sounds like your advisor gave you only a vague indication of what might happen then - that he will "try his best" to fund you after candidacy IF he gets grants. Right now, grant funding rates are at historic lows. And what does "try his best" mean? Does it really mean that he will try his best or does that just mean if it's easy for him and he doesn't have other things he'd rather do with the money, he'd fund you?

 

So ask some questions - how often do students who start get enough funding to finish? What sources do they get it from? What resources are there at the university to help you seek external funding to finish?

 

FWIW I went to a program with only 3 years of guaranteed funding and found enough external funding to finish the program. However, I had also made the deal with myself that if I didn't find post-candidacy funding, I would leave with an MA.

[EmmaW]

I would reconsider, and potentially rescind acceptance. If your PhD program belongs to the Council of Graduate Schools, then you can change your mind until April 15.

 

You said that your funding after around year 3 is uncertain, and it sounds like your advisor gave you only a vague indication of what might happen then - that he will "try his best" to fund you after candidacy IF he gets grants. Right now, grant funding rates are at historic lows. And what does "try his best" mean? Does it really mean that he will try his best or does that just mean if it's easy for him and he doesn't have other things he'd rather do with the money, he'd fund you?

 

So ask some questions - how often do students who start get enough funding to finish? What sources do they get it from? What resources are there at the university to help you seek external funding to finish?

 

FWIW I went to a program with only 3 years of guaranteed funding and found enough external funding to finish the program. However, I had also made the deal with myself that if I didn't find post-candidacy funding, I would leave with an MA.

Thank you very much! My school does belong to CGS. However, in my acceptance letter they said they want me to accept/decline the offer within 2 weeks. That's why I was freaked out and accepted right away . 

 

May I ask, what kind of external funding you got? I'm international student so my chance at many types of funding is very limited and since I already got my Master's I really don't want to get out with another Master's

Edited March 19, 2015 by EmmaW

[EmmaW]

I'm kinda in the same boat with my Master's Emma... I posted about it over in "The Bank" and got a few answers. Maybe it'll help you. I'm still confused and worried about what to do as well.

Thank you. I checked out your post. Seems like you haven't accepted the offer yet so good luck with making the best decision

[blueivy]

did you find out an answer for this?