Reasons for a rescinded offer to a biological sciences program

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm wondering what are some reasons why a PhD program in biological sciences would rescind an offer already made.</p>

<p>Here's my issue:
I'm a senior who decided it would be a good idea to take an introductory computer programming class. Good idea for the skill, bad idea for my GPA. I understand that graduate school admissions don't care a ton about GPA, as long as it's not horrendous. However, I'm concerned that I may end up getting a C in this class. I want to emphasize that it is not a course I need to graduate nor is it a requirement for the program. I've currently got ~3.6 cumulative GPA, and I don't anticipate that I'd get anything lower than a B in any of my other coursework. If anything, it'd be all A's besides programming. </p>

<p>I'm just very concerned that I'm going to be penalized for trying out a new kind of class to develop a new skill.</p>

2

<p>no, you will be fine. Go for it. </p>

3

<p>You won’t get your offer rescinded for a C.</p>

4

<p>I have heard of 2 scenarios where a PhD offer was rescinded.
1.) Some funding (or anticipated funding) for the lab (or the particular research) that the PhD candidate was to join died unexpectedly.
2.) The PhD candidate was to join a particular associate professor’s team… but then the associate professor ended up not getting offered tenure and has to leave the school.</p>

<p>I don’t think this happens often. And I think at some schools, this scenarios don’t result in rescinded offers. But, I have heard that, at some places, these 2 scenarios can cause such a rescinded offer.</p>

<p>In regards to getting a single C, I don’t think that will result in having an offer rescinded.
At least, not that I have heard of.</p>