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I will finish my master study soon, and my master supervisor is happy about my work and would like to give me an offer of PhD. I am also happy on this, but I really want to try other opportunities. Should I give up the current opportunity, and try to apply other universities? By doing this, I have a risk I will have nothing if all my application fail. Is it ethical or appropriate to accept the current offer first, then keep on applying other universities? Is there any way I can balance the risk?

Sursula
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bingung
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    Did you tell your advisor, "I am seriously considering your offer but would like to apply to other universities, too"? If not, why not? If yes, what did he say? – ff524 May 06 '14 at 05:41
  • Yes of course. But at what point I should make up my mind? The selection results of other universities span across a large time range, if I wait until all selection results are available, it would be too late to accept my current offer. Another worry is that will he writes a good reference for me if he wants to keep me in his group? – bingung May 06 '14 at 05:55
  • Before getting accepted (in Europe, at least), you are usually shortlisted for an interview. Then you can use the standing offer as a leverage, and encourage them to speed up the process if they want you. – Davidmh May 06 '14 at 11:55
  • Also, as you have an offer, you can set a minimum threshold in how interesting the project is for you before applying! – Davidmh May 06 '14 at 11:56

1 Answers1

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Should I give up the current opportunity, and try to apply other universities?

Why do you have to give up this opportunity to apply to other universities? Find out when your advisor needs your decision by; apply to other universities in the meantime; and when the time comes to give your advisor your decision, evaluate that offer as well as any other offers you have in hand at the time.

Is it ethical or appropriate to accept the current offer first, then keep on applying other universities?

Not unless you tell your advisor that's what you're doing.

Another worry is that will he writes a good reference for me if he wants to keep me in his group?

If your advisor is a reasonably competent advisor, then he will want what's best for you. If that means looking into other opportunities, then he should be supportive. If he isn't supportive, then either

  • he will make a terrible advisor. Consider yourself lucky that you found out now, and get away fast. Or,
  • he thinks you'll do best staying where you are. If this is the case, ask him why he thinks so. Consider his answer carefully, then make your own decision.

The selection results of other universities span across a large time range, if I wait until all selection results are available, it would be too late to accept my current offer. Is there any way I can balance the risk?

Obviously, you'll have to commit to a choice at some point. But this is highly situation-dependent. The best person to advise you on this matter is your advisor. He can tell you when he needs your decision by, estimate your chances of getting into the programs you're interested in, and weigh the risks of each approach with your specific goals in mind.

ff524
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