|
|
Post by ABD on Oct 21, 2011 20:38:17 GMT -5
I'm filling out an online application that includes a "supplemental question" asking whether I possess a Ph.D. I am ABD and will graduate in May. I hesitate to click on "no," for fear that my application will just get ignored, but I don't want to click on "yes" and then have my application tossed for lying or something.
Advice?
|
|
|
|
Post by veteran on Oct 21, 2011 21:17:25 GMT -5
You may be extremely confident that you will get your PhD in May but for a search committee that is not a given. You are ABD. You do not possess a PhD. You cannot say you have one despite the fact that you will in 5 months no matter how you think it may affect your chances.
|
|
|
|
Post by unclekarl on Oct 24, 2011 23:14:49 GMT -5
The only exception to veteran is if you've defended the final diss, & lack the diploma. I've seen that happen in hires where people may have completed the work, but there is an 'institutional lag' due to graduation dates, thesis processing, etc. The department or university will often sign a letter saying you've completed all work, & are waiting for things to come through.
Apps are generally not ignored if you're really close and have a good c.v. Not many places would choose a 2009 Ph.D. with no pubs over someone who's ABD and has five!
|
|
|
|
Post by ABD on Oct 24, 2011 23:27:37 GMT -5
I actually called the university's HR office today and asked about this. The person I spoke with told me that I probably should have answered "yes," despite the ABD status. At any rate, she told me she would include a note for the search committee so that they would know that I'm ABD and have a firm expectation to graduate in the spring.
|
|
|
|
Post by hmm on Oct 26, 2011 17:16:20 GMT -5
I actually called the university's HR office today and asked about this. The person I spoke with told me that I probably should have answered "yes," despite the ABD status. At any rate, she told me she would include a note for the search committee so that they would know that I'm ABD and have a firm expectation to graduate in the spring. This sounds like either: 1) The HR person was an idiot 2) The person who wrote the application question was an idiot. In any case, ABD != have a PhD, and so the question should probably have been "Do you currently hold or expect to have completed a PhD by [date]?" Sounds like somebody dun f-ed up! |
|
|
|
Post by hmmm on Oct 28, 2011 16:37:13 GMT -5
I vote for scenario #2.
If this is the school I think it is, they also had their app system set up so that your CV and all three rec letters were supposed to be uploaded as a single pdf. Bad design.
|
|
|
|
Post by ABD on Oct 28, 2011 17:43:25 GMT -5
Yes, it is the school you are thinking of, and yes, I completely agree. References often want to keep letters confidential, so I don't get why they'd request that. Plus, it would be kind of technically and logistically a pain in the butt. FYI, a nice woman in their HR office told me to have my references email their letters directly to her, and then she would forward them on to the SC.
|
|
