Leave PhD program with a masters?

Question

Does anyone have any experience with leaving a PhD program with a masters? I would be leaving of my own volition because I feel like maybe I would be happier in a different setting- not asked to leave. Assuming I want some sort of career in academia, and to further pursue a PhD, how damaging is it to leave with a masters? In reapplying for a PhD program would I be limited in the caliber of programs that would accept me?

In regards to Professor X's answer, my only excuse is I'm not really happy, it's not a great fit..would stuff like that fly in a personal essay? I would imagine most people in that situation end uo with some variant of that argument..

Answer 1

If you decide to apply to a PhD program in the future, all you must do is explain why you left your current program.

It is possible that some programs might be wary that you might decide to leave again, but if you address any possible concerns they might have, I think you should be fine.

EDIT: In answer to your second question, you will have to be more specific in your personal statement, as in "The structure/content of the program was not amenable to my goals," or "Employing my preferred methodology was not an option in that program" (but written a bit more professionally). "Not a good fit" will be read to mean that there was a personality conflict that you were unable to resolve (not a good thing).

And I forgot to mention earlier that strong letters from the professors in your current program will be absolutely crucial.

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

I have a PhD. One thing I know for sure is - you cannot do PhD work without liking it 110%

The fact that you are considering to leave your PhD is not very encouraging :))

Don't worry about getting into PhD later - you can always get into a program - in your personal essay you are expected to write why you want to do your PhD, not why you left your previous PhD. If anything, you can use that to your advantage by saying you always wanted to do a PhD, and for personal reasons you could not pursue that interest. End of the story.

Having said that - if you are already in a PhD program, unless you are really hating it - I would encourage you to complete it.

By the way, don't do PhD just for getting into Academia. It is just unfortunate that academia requires a PhD to advance in that career. There are lot of good teachers who don't have a PhD, and there are lot of innovators/inventors who don't have a PhD. Enjoy doing research, getting a PhD is just a by-product.

If you cannot enjoy doing research - that is fine too - lot of people don't like doing research, and quit their PhD programs. Just move on to other things. Or you can get your PhD first, and then move on to other careers - for example business world, and not do research.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

i left a phd program because of physical problems with a M.S. (there was a spinal surgery that failed). i was in good standing and had another year of coursework to finish. i wrote a small thesis on the preliminary research trial i'd done in preparation for a large study for the dissertation and left.
i would think that as long as you are on good terms with the faculty, your grades are good, and you can get some letters of recommendation from the department chair and other faculty, it shouldn't be a problem. i feel confident that if i wanted to apply to another program that it wouldn't be a problem.

just be careful not to burn any bridges--academia can be a small place depending on your specialty--but we are all adults at this point. sometimes one needs to make a change. that is just life.