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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    When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
    – Thomas
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    @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
    4 hours ago















up vote
5
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







share|improve this question









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.
















  • 15




    When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
    – Thomas
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    @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
    4 hours ago













up vote
5
down vote

favorite









up vote
5
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







share|improve this question









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John Doe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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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




phd






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edited 2 hours ago









Oddthinking

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asked 7 hours ago









John Doe

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  • 15




    When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
    – Thomas
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    @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
    4 hours ago














  • 15




    When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
    – Thomas
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    @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
    4 hours ago








15




15




When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
7 hours ago




When in doubt, someone probably meant what they said and no more.
– Thomas
7 hours ago




3




3




@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
4 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
4 hours ago










2 Answers
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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.






share|improve this answer




























    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.






    share|improve this answer








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      up vote
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      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.






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        21
        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.






        share|improve this answer























          up vote
          21
          down vote










          up vote
          21
          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.






          share|improve this answer












          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.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 7 hours ago









          Nate Eldredge

          103k32294395




          103k32294395






















              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.






              share|improve this answer








              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.






















                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.






                share|improve this answer








                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.




















                  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.






                  share|improve this answer








                  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.







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






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                  answered 6 hours ago









                  KM-

                  462




                  462




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                  KM- is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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