What did my referee mean by asking about my “Plan B”?
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I am applying for PhD this Fall. Came across one of my referees today, had a great conversation and then he asked if I had a plan B if I would not be admitted. Does it mean he thinks I'm not good enough?
phd
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Oddthinking
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John Doe
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up vote
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I am applying for PhD this Fall. Came across one of my referees today, had a great conversation and then he asked if I had a plan B if I would not be admitted. Does it mean he thinks I'm not good enough?
phd
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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12
When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
5 hours ago
1
@Thomas That's also great advice for infuriating passive-aggressive, sarcastic people. "Wow, you're clearly familiar with basic geometry." "Thanks!" "It wasn't a compliment." "Sure sounded like one. Thanks!"
– Nic Hartley
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I am applying for PhD this Fall. Came across one of my referees today, had a great conversation and then he asked if I had a plan B if I would not be admitted. Does it mean he thinks I'm not good enough?
phd
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am applying for PhD this Fall. Came across one of my referees today, had a great conversation and then he asked if I had a plan B if I would not be admitted. Does it mean he thinks I'm not good enough?
phd
phd
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
edited 23 mins ago
Oddthinking
1053
1053
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
asked 5 hours ago
John Doe
211
211
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
12
When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
5 hours ago
1
@Thomas That's also great advice for infuriating passive-aggressive, sarcastic people. "Wow, you're clearly familiar with basic geometry." "Thanks!" "It wasn't a compliment." "Sure sounded like one. Thanks!"
– Nic Hartley
2 hours ago
add a comment |
12
When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
5 hours ago
1
@Thomas That's also great advice for infuriating passive-aggressive, sarcastic people. "Wow, you're clearly familiar with basic geometry." "Thanks!" "It wasn't a compliment." "Sure sounded like one. Thanks!"
– Nic Hartley
2 hours ago
12
12
When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
5 hours ago
When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
5 hours ago
1
1
@Thomas That's also great advice for infuriating passive-aggressive, sarcastic people. "Wow, you're clearly familiar with basic geometry." "Thanks!" "It wasn't a compliment." "Sure sounded like one. Thanks!"
– Nic Hartley
2 hours ago
@Thomas That's also great advice for infuriating passive-aggressive, sarcastic people. "Wow, you're clearly familiar with basic geometry." "Thanks!" "It wasn't a compliment." "Sure sounded like one. Thanks!"
– Nic Hartley
2 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
19
down vote
Don't overthink this. It sounds like he's just showing a friendly interest in your plans. No matter how "good" you are, graduate admissions always has some degree of uncertainty, and so everybody should consider what they will do if they don't get admitted. He just wants to know what that would be for you.
If he really didn't think you were good enough, he wouldn't have agreed to be a reference for you.
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Probably not. I had a really similar conversation recently with one of my referees for an MA that I'm applying for in the fall. He elaborated by saying that he wants to see me succeed, and wondered if I would continue to try and bolster my skills for reapplication in the event that I did not make it in. The road to success in academia is paved with failure, and I'm sure your referee is genuinely looking out for your best interest and not implying anything negative.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
19
down vote
Don't overthink this. It sounds like he's just showing a friendly interest in your plans. No matter how "good" you are, graduate admissions always has some degree of uncertainty, and so everybody should consider what they will do if they don't get admitted. He just wants to know what that would be for you.
If he really didn't think you were good enough, he wouldn't have agreed to be a reference for you.
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
Don't overthink this. It sounds like he's just showing a friendly interest in your plans. No matter how "good" you are, graduate admissions always has some degree of uncertainty, and so everybody should consider what they will do if they don't get admitted. He just wants to know what that would be for you.
If he really didn't think you were good enough, he wouldn't have agreed to be a reference for you.
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
up vote
19
down vote
Don't overthink this. It sounds like he's just showing a friendly interest in your plans. No matter how "good" you are, graduate admissions always has some degree of uncertainty, and so everybody should consider what they will do if they don't get admitted. He just wants to know what that would be for you.
If he really didn't think you were good enough, he wouldn't have agreed to be a reference for you.
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
Don't overthink this. It sounds like he's just showing a friendly interest in your plans. No matter how "good" you are, graduate admissions always has some degree of uncertainty, and so everybody should consider what they will do if they don't get admitted. He just wants to know what that would be for you.
If he really didn't think you were good enough, he wouldn't have agreed to be a reference for you.
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
answered 5 hours ago
Nate Eldredge
103k32294395
103k32294395
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Probably not. I had a really similar conversation recently with one of my referees for an MA that I'm applying for in the fall. He elaborated by saying that he wants to see me succeed, and wondered if I would continue to try and bolster my skills for reapplication in the event that I did not make it in. The road to success in academia is paved with failure, and I'm sure your referee is genuinely looking out for your best interest and not implying anything negative.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Probably not. I had a really similar conversation recently with one of my referees for an MA that I'm applying for in the fall. He elaborated by saying that he wants to see me succeed, and wondered if I would continue to try and bolster my skills for reapplication in the event that I did not make it in. The road to success in academia is paved with failure, and I'm sure your referee is genuinely looking out for your best interest and not implying anything negative.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Probably not. I had a really similar conversation recently with one of my referees for an MA that I'm applying for in the fall. He elaborated by saying that he wants to see me succeed, and wondered if I would continue to try and bolster my skills for reapplication in the event that I did not make it in. The road to success in academia is paved with failure, and I'm sure your referee is genuinely looking out for your best interest and not implying anything negative.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Probably not. I had a really similar conversation recently with one of my referees for an MA that I'm applying for in the fall. He elaborated by saying that he wants to see me succeed, and wondered if I would continue to try and bolster my skills for reapplication in the event that I did not make it in. The road to success in academia is paved with failure, and I'm sure your referee is genuinely looking out for your best interest and not implying anything negative.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
answered 4 hours ago
KM-
462
462
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
John Doe is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
John Doe is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
John Doe is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
John Doe is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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12
When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
5 hours ago
1
@Thomas That's also great advice for infuriating passive-aggressive, sarcastic people. "Wow, you're clearly familiar with basic geometry." "Thanks!" "It wasn't a compliment." "Sure sounded like one. Thanks!"
– Nic Hartley
2 hours ago