Accepting slot as back up

Graduate School
1

I was wondering if this situation occurs often:

I was accepted into PhD program with a one year deferral option. Currently, I am working, and I would like to continue working for at least one more year here and defer my PhD slot. However, I do not have a renewed contract and I won’t know if I will still have a job until late May, about a month after I need to accept, decline, or defer my PhD slot.

I was thinking about accepting the slot, paying my fee to hold my slot, but then if I do get renewed to work, I would just say that I am not able take my slot/move anymore because of circumstances. I realize I would love my deferral spot, and that’s ok. I was just wondering if people do this often.

I’ve heard of people doing this for masters programs all the time, but wasn’t sure about PhD level programs. Do people often do this?

2

You can certainly do it. You might lose your deposit but if that is not an issue, then covering your bases is OK. The real question is why apply to a Ph.D. program if you would rather work for another year? It sort of tells me that 1) you don’t really want to get into a Ph.D. program or 2) that the Ph.D. program that has admitted you is not really the one you want. Don’t use a Ph.D. program as a fall back option. If you aren’t convinced that you want it and that you want that specific program, don’t accept.

3

^What xraymancs said. Were you just using a PhD as a backup option in case you don’t get renewed at work, or do you really want to go get a PhD?

Deferring admission into a PhD program is relatively common, but doing it because one wants to work an additional year isn’t really that common.