Making a Mistake

[neuropsyance]

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Just curious.....

Lets say you accept an offer, then regret your decision. How would things go over if you decide not to attend a Ph.D. program?

 

[loveoforganic]

This is really vague.

 

[neuropsyance]

Friend of mine applied to a few experimental programs when she knew she wanted to do clinical work. She got into one of those experimental programs, accepted, and now wants out. I was just curious about how this whole thing goes. I can't imagine it goes over well.

 

[psich]

No, it doesn’t. When you accept an offer, you have made an agreement with the program. They have agreed to pay you (if it is funded) for you to do research for them and they have also set aside resources aside for you based on your acceptance. If you decide you do not want to be a part of the program, they will be upset because that spot could have been given to a student who would fulfill their expectations and follow through with the conditions of the acceptance.

If she really does not want to attend the program, then I guess she should contact the director and explain the situation.

 

[docma]

The program will not be happy. But they also do not want a conflicted, ambivalent student and may be able to offer the position to someone they also wanted who will be thrilled. The key issue is for her to be really clear: is she just having doubts about her ability to suceed (cold feet that will warm up once she is on the ground)...or did she really take the wrong path and should change course. In either case she should contact the program sooner rather than later and be honest about her dilemma. How they handle that will also tell her something about the program which is worth knowing.