<p>So, I am getting an nice 80% Tuition Waiver for my PhD program which I start soon.</p>
<p>However, I have now decided I want to go for the Masters instead,which is only 2 years, but there is no Waiver for the Masters, and I have to pay the full 100%</p>
<p>Both the Masters and PhD course content is the SAME FOR THE FIRST YEAR and the both cost the same per annum.</p>
<p>Now, my question is, is it possible for me to just go ahead on the PhD track for the first year (same as masters), and receive the waiver for the 1st year. Then in the second year , tell the university that I actually want to opt for the masters i.e. essentially 'drop out' with a masters after 2 years. </p>
<p>In this scenario, do you think the University will ask for the waiver back for the 1st year before I complete the Masters?? </p>
<p>Or could I get away with paying only 20% in the 1st (after waiver), and then 100% in the 2nd year (without waiver)?</p>
<p>Could you get away with it? Likely. Is it immoral? yes. Will it probably result in the burning of bridges that you don’t want to burn? Absolutely. </p>
<p>The reason that PhD programs come with a tuition break is that they expect to get several years of research out of you before you go. Tricking them like this is exceptionally poor form.</p>
<p>If you have already decided to stop with a masters degree rather than go on to the PhD, you need to tell the school now. As aldo pointed out, it’s giving you the waiver for a reason. It’s not about what the course content is – it’s what the school expects to be getting from you in return for the waiver.</p>
<p>several graduate programs are quite aware of this strategy. You should review the various paperwork that you signed when accepting the offer. In our program, students who take the path you suggest are obligated to repay their scholarship.</p>
<p>This sounds like taking advantage of the department. This would be unethical. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t stress out about it though, this is a calculated risk that departments take when they recruit. They have a really good handle on attrition rates and probably have grown to expect this behavior from some percentage of new recruits. Since it sounds like you are in a humanities department, I assume you will be supporting the department by TAing and surely your efforts will more than pay for your 8 dollar an hour stipend they give you in exchange. </p>
<p>So what happened between when you applied in the fall and now? Where did the enthusiasm for the Phd go? Maybe you should start grad school with an open mind and expect to enjoy it so much that you won’t want to leave after only two years.</p>
<p>Many programs such as those I help administer are not passive in letting students take this unethical route. Simply put: we can’t afford it in the current economic climate. There is much more pressure to recover costs from those who voluntarily drop out of the program. Many graduate programs (science and humanities) do have such recovery/repay clauses especially for the first year when many programs support students without asking them to work as TAs</p>
<p>It’s not unusual for someone to drop out of a PhD program and get a master’s as a sort of consolation prize. I suggest you listen to Belevitt about giving a PhD program a try. Back in the Stone Ages, my husband applied to a MSE program at a top school – and they accepted him instead into their PhD program. He hadn’t even considered getting a PhD, but because they gave him a full-ride plus a scholarship and stipend, he couldn’t refuse. They told him that he could always leave with a master’s degree after he fulfilled those requirements, if that’s what he chose. He fully intended to just get the master’s until halfway through his first year. And then he knew he would stay. </p>
<p>Programs don’t do that kind of thing these days. But they do know that not everyone will make it through. Since you’re intending to go to graduate school anyway, why don’t you enter the PhD program and give it a shot? I don’t know your reasons for deciding after acceptance that you don’t want a PhD, but you may find that those reasons may not be there in a year. Clearly, something about your training impressed the department and made them confident that you were PhD material.</p>
<p>yes it is unethical, but people do it,
I know a few people did this… and it brought a lot of disappointment to both the professors and the department. </p>
<p>but I can tell you this----they wont be able to stop you, if you want to do it, then do it. low moral people are everywhere, even in PhD programs</p>
<p>to mom: it’s possible OP had this “strategy” in mind long before applying to the PhD programs to take advantage of the system, I don’t think it’s worth it for us to help him in any way.</p>
<p>Hi there, thanks for all the replies. I understand its a bit of a iffy topic as far as ethical reasons go, but its the reality of it, and money is money in the end and always brings up harsh choices.</p>
<p>However I think I will go ahead with the PhD track and see how long I last, if it gets too much Ill have no choice but to finish with the masters (which Ill be more than happy with to be honest). </p>