Deferring an offer of acceptance?

[DanM]

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Hello all,

I'm looking for some informed advice. I applied to several social psych PhD progams (received one offer) and a couple of clinical psych programs (one interview but no offer). Throughout the process it became clear that my passion lies in clinical psych, although I still very much enjoy social research. Consequently, I'm leaning toward re-applying next year with more of a focus on clinical programs. But I also know there's a very real possibility that I could end up with no offers next year, at which point I'll regret turning down the one offer that I did receive.

Does anyone know how willing Canadian schools are to grant a deferral of an acceptance? At this point I'm looking for any information that could help make my decision easier!

 

[PsychScience]

Hello all,

I'm looking for some informed advice. I applied to several social psych PhD progams (received one offer) and a couple of clinical psych programs (one interview but no offer). Throughout the process it became clear that my passion lies in clinical psych, although I still very much enjoy social research. Consequently, I'm leaning toward re-applying next year with more of a focus on clinical programs. But I also know there's a very real possibility that I could end up with no offers next year, at which point I'll regret turning down the one offer that I did receive.

Does anyone know how willing Canadian schools are to grant a deferral of an acceptance? At this point I'm looking for any information that could help make my decision easier!

Honestly, I can not speak at all to Canadian schools. However, in the US, the flexibility of schools in granting deferrals is really school and department dependent. Some graduate programs will grant a deferral upon request, others will grant deferrals only in situations in which there is some pressing extraordinary circumstance that would necessitate a deferral (family member that is ill, spouse just assigned to a post in Okinawa Japan, etc). And there are a few that will not grant deferrals for any reason, but instead will encourage you to "reapply" the next year.

This being said, I think your best bet is to check with your specific program to get a sense of their policies regarding deferral because there could be a huge range of variability. However, hopefully someone more familiar with the Canadian system can respond to your question. Best of luck, whatever you decide 🙂

 

[Doctor Eliza]

I don't know anything about Canadian schools in particular, but in general...

1. It is rare to allow a deferral
2. If they do, it is usually for something like "I am going through chemo"
3. It is essentially a contract that you WILL attend their program the following year and so applying to other places is breaking that contract.

Sorry. I know that's not what you were hoping to hear....

Dr. E

 

[bcliff]

Why don't you accept the offer and either still apply for '14, or wait until you earn an MA and apply then. Not the best case scenario, but it's something.

 

[DanM]

Thanks for your replies 🙂.

briarcliff: I considered that, but I feel it would be dishonest. Besides, it would essentially be a wasted year because my social courses likely couldn't transfer over to clinical.

 

[PsychScience]

Why don't you accept the offer and either still apply for '14, or wait until you earn an MA and apply then. Not the best case scenario, but it's something.

Thanks for your replies 🙂.

briarcliff: I considered that, but I feel it would be dishonest. Besides, it would essentially be a wasted year because my social courses likely couldn't transfer over to clinical.

It is probably a good idea to avoid doing this. Many programs view this as "poaching" students and so may not accept a student who is currently enrolled in another program that they do not intend to complete.

 

[bcliff]

It is probably a good idea to avoid doing this. Many programs view this as "poaching" students and so may not accept a student who is currently enrolled in another program that they do not intend to complete.

I was just offering alternatives. In my experience, entering a PhD program and leaving after you've earned your MA isn't unheard. I've known several grad students that have left their original programs after earning their MA's for various reasons - Not sure if this just my experience though.

 

[DanM]

I was just offering alternatives. In my experience, entering a PhD program and leaving after you've earned your MA isn't unheard. I've known several grad students that have left their original programs after earning their MA's for various reasons - Not sure if this just my experience though.

Any idea how difficult would it be to "catch up" to others who have been taking clinical courses? And would my lack of direct clinical research experience not be an impediment? Because I'd seriously consider this route if it's feasible.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I was just offering alternatives. In my experience, entering a PhD program and leaving after you've earned your MA isn't unheard. I've known several grad students that have left their original programs after earning their MA's for various reasons - Not sure if this just my experience though.

This is of course an option (i.e., there's nothing to physically stop you from doing it), but at least in my experience, individuals who leave after their MA often don't do this to go to another psychology program*. Rather, it's either because the program didn't feel they were appropriate to continue training, or the individual left for personal reasons (which has included going to attend med school).

*The biggest/most common exception I can think of is if the person's original POI leaves for another program. Then, sometimes, the individual will finish their masters and follow the advisor to the new program (if they didn't happen to follow them over immediately).

 

[EmotRegulation]

Does the social program you applied to have a clinical program in the same department? Can you "minor" in clinical? Has anyone ever switched over to clinical? Sometimes faculty from one division are willing to mentor students in another program...like work with a social psychologist but take the clinical courses, etc.

I actually don't think lack of clinical research is necessarily a deterrent. There are plenty of us out there who bridge the border between social and clinical. For example, I'm a clinical psychologist but go to social conferences and such, and there are others who are the reverse. If you do decide to turn down the social PhD offer, you may benefit from seeking out people at the borders of social/personality/clinical when you reapply.

 

[DanM]

Thanks for all the replies 🙂