VERY URGENT - advice needed for current phd student

Graduate School
1

<p>I just finished my first semester of a PhD program.</p>

<p>I had a heck of a time adjusting to graduate school, ignoring the fact that I had even more of a problem adjusting to the unorganized tangle of classes and exams they put us through. I met with my program director in the middle of the semester who said if I don't get a 3.0 by the end of the year, I would be put into a master program, he sent me a letter stating this as well. </p>

<p>So I improved by the end of the semester and brought my grades up, but not enough to have a 3.0. I ended up with a 2.13. I know it is terrible, but after going through this transformation this semester, I knew with a lot of hard work I could get a 3.0 this spring. I'm not being naive here, I really am angry at myself and I know I could do it. </p>

<p>The directer of my program resigned before the end of the semester, and now there are at least 3 people serving in his place, one for each year of grad students. So the person in charge of first years emails me to meet with them urgently. I met with them today, and was told the program committee had met and I had two options - withdraw now so I can say I withdrew myself, or have them terminate the program for me. They said they had no knowledge of the previous meeting with the previous director. I wasn't given the option of diverting to a self-funded masters program, just told to pretty much leave, with the suggestion of taking non-degree courses (which I can't afford) and applying next year. </p>

<p>I was told to withdraw by noon tomorrow (our semester starts Monday) because waiting after that could 'lower my gpa even more.' Which I don't really understand. </p>

<p>So I got home and started reading about the graduate schools policy on this. The policy is that they can terminate your program at any time, but they have to give you advanced notice (whatever that means, but I'm sure 2 days before the semester starts isn't advanced enough), as well as giving you a chance to appeal. </p>

<p>The more I think about it, the more I think I shouldn't go quietly without trying, that maybe I should start the semester, let them file the termination, and appeal. Maybe doing that I could at least get put into the master's option. </p>

<p>I'm very angry at the moment (at myself and the program), so I'm trying not to let that cloud my judgment. No matter what happens, I have to stay in the area, where there are few tech jobs...so I'm pretty much screwed...</p>

2

<p>Didn’t you show these people the letter from the previous director making this deal?</p>

3

<p>No, I didn’t bring it with me. Stupid, I know…maybe I’m being too trustworthy, but I wasn’t expecting to be thrown out of the program at a moments notice…</p>

4

<p>show them the letter from the previous director and talk to your advisor about the situation. i would lobby them to at least let you finish out the year.</p>

5

<p>Appeal, your former director is retired, not dead. If you can’t find the letter, he may be able to vouch for what he told you.</p>

<p>All this aside, wouldn’t it be better to call this a wash and apply for a new program somewhere else for next year? How well could the rest of your Phd go if this is how it started?</p>

6

<p>Belevitt:</p>

<p>If she withdraws, does that mean her grades are still reported? Even if they are not, she will have to write a convincing argument for the next school about why she withdrew. I assume she will not be getting recommendations from her old school, so I think she would have a hard time. I doubt any program would take someone who failed so hard in a graduate program already (if grades are reported). They can see quite clearly how she would perform in their program and she has not had the time to prove that she can do better. </p>

<p>I would definitely take everything into consideration (and ask people in your department) before a decision like that. It might be worth it in the end to withdraw but you need to ask the head what your chances will be later on.</p>

7

<p>Thank you everyone for your advice. </p>

<p>As of now, they have not actually filed to terminate my program. Yesterday was ‘giving me the opportunity to withdraw’ so I can say I withdrew over being terminated. If I want to appeal I will have to start classes/rotations, let them file the termination paperwork, and then appeal that. </p>

<p>If I try to get back in the program later, will having my program terminated rather than withdrawing voluntarily hurt my chances do you think? I was told that if I took classes as a non-degree student and got my GPA to a 3.0, I would have a good chance of getting back into the program. But I don’t know how withdrawing vs termination would affect that.</p>

<p>Going to a different program really isn’t an option now. I am stuck in this part of the country.</p>