In an MA/PhD, but considering applying to other PhD programs...

[fmd]

Hi, this is my first time posting. I wanted to get some advice anonymously before I started talking to people within my department. This fits in with the general category of "application advice," so I hope nobody thinks it's completely off base for the purposes of this forum.

I'm in the first semester of my MA/PhD in Lit right now, fulfilling the coursework for my MA. I'm at a school with a mid-ranked PhD program where I'm getting some great teaching experience and, you know, all of the things that you do when you get an MA. I have no problems with the program I'm in, but I think I can "do better," which I put in scare quotes because I'm already incredibly lucky as it is. I wasn't the strongest candidate in the world when I applied for PhD programs last year, and this school (I think) really took a chance with me. I'm doing well here and this is a supportive environment, but looking back at my application season, I know I can do orders of magnitude better the next time I apply.

So I'm considering taking advantage of the fact that I will move on non-competitively from the MA to the PhD where I am now. Essentially, I can stay at this school and get a great education with pretty good job prospects (I mean, relatively. Snowball-in-hell, I know) no matter what (as long as I still do a good job, of course). So in 2016 I want to apply to all of my dream PhD schools in a wild fantasy rush of no-holds-barred application-ing.

My question is: how do I broach this topic with other grad students and with the DGS, who I have regular meetings with, in a way that communicates how much I appreciate the opportunity and would be perfectly content working with all of them for the next 6.5 years, but that I want to give myself every opportunity to succeed and really would like their help in the next application season (as letter writers, peer reviewers, supporters, etc)? I just don't want to come off as opportunist (maybe I am) and I don't want to alienate anybody, especially my peers.

Has anybody navigated a situation like this? The DGS prefaces any conversation about my future PhD with a "If you decide to get it here..." but I know that they are invested in having the MAs stay, and many of the MAs do end up staying for the PhD, so I'm conflicted about how to approach this when I do inevitably tell everybody my plans. Any help or sage advice from this community is very well appreciated. Thanks.

[bhr]

Any good program will encourage you to explore other options (unless it's a single degree program). If you have to apply to stay, in particular, than you are hurting yourself not to find out where your best potential fit is. Your profs (and particularly your advisor) want what's best or you.

[1Q84]

3 minutes ago, bhr said:

Any good program will encourage you to explore other options (unless it's a single degree program). If you have to apply to stay, in particular, than you are hurting yourself not to find out where your best potential fit is. Your profs (and particularly your advisor) want what's best or you.

That being said, also be aware of politics and the atmosphere of your current department. I know that faculty and department leaders should be looking out for your best interests but there are always folks who don't see it that way. I'd do a lot of exploratory work first and put out feelers to people that you know you can trust. 

In the end, I don't think anyone is expecting you to sacrifice your future for your department, especially in an MA program, so you should definitely do what's right for you.

[ProfLorax]

In terms of wording, I think you already have it.

Start with "I'm applying to a few PhD programs for Fall 2017 to see what happens." Follow with, "I want to give myself every opportunity to succeed and really would like their your help in the next application season." 

[ExponentialDecay]

Get a mentor among the permanent faculty if you don't have one already and start discussing your options with them now. And be brilliant. People are a lot more on-board with opportunism when they think you've got a chance.

[Horb]

Just be as a clear as possible about how thankful you are. My program would find it rude if I tried to apply for a PhD program while committed to their MA/PhD program, but your place sounds different.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Horb

[fmd]

Thanks for all the great advice, everybody. I did choose this program over others because they didn't seem to think it would be rude if I moved on after my MA. I'm encouraged by the people who don't seem to think this would be a big deal, and next semester I'm just going to broach the subject with one of my professors in the most sensitive way possible while subsequently doing my best to do really good work. I'm excited to not have to include any "safety schools" (to the extent that those even exist) in my next round of applications and to have the freedom to really go for it.