if you really feel it's not for you say no
1. Cambridge isn't the be all and end all especially when it comes to PG degrees
2. it's not fair on the other applicants to take a place you don't intend to follow through-it might not be right for you, but it could be perfect for the person turned down because you changed your mind.

Incidentally, I was in a similar situation to yours, but in my case I was given the opportunity to do an MPhil. At the time I wondered whether the pg admissions had made a big mistake since I had performed so badly on my 1st degree. However, in the end, everything worked out absolutely fine.

Are you nervous because of where the position is? If this is the case, personally, I would take it if this is the only thing that makes you reluctant. If the worst really came to the worst, it happens sometimes that people's PhD's don't work out for one reason or another (from what I can gather), and they go elsewhere. I would guess also that you were offered the post because the 'post-offerers' believe that you are the person for the job.

help! I've been offered a really good phd, however my gut reaction is that it is not quite right for me somehow. however, i'm worried that if i don't accept i may not be offered anything else as good. What shall i do????

It's a really good position but i'm not sure its quite right somehow.it may just be nerves, but i can't put my finger on it at the moment. however, if i don't take it i may regret it in the future! So i was wondering if i accepted, but decided it wasn't right, how that would affect future applications.

Sorry..drop out of the PhD rather.

Why would you drop of the PhD?

I really wouldn't have thought that having a 2 year gap between your MSc your prospective PhD programme would be a problem. The point is that you are able to show that you have a good academic ability - which is something that the 2 years out won't make any difference to. If anything, the 2 years of having lived in the 'real' world without having been spoon-fed could be a positive.

i'm currently deciding whether or not to take a phd i've been offered which is at a research institute and registered with cambridge uni. If I did decide to take the offer but pull out at a later date, do you think i would be able to get another phd elsewhere registered at cambridge? Or would my name be stored somewhere so that they wouldn't touch me again! thanks

Is it poss to do a phd without doing a masters? how long does a phd take?

What is EPSRC DTA? Anyone can explain it?

Thanks John for your reply! Incidentally, are you funded by a research council? I'm asking because I'm wondering whether in your case, the professors were able and willing to overlook your lower 2nd because of what you have done since, or whether in all cases, academics are under the tight command of research councils (in which case I'm assuming that you would have been told to bog off every time).

Not sure why taking out my degree class worked so well. I wondered at the time if it was because they just assumed I was being modest or something (quite ironic really). Plus I think sometimes applications with a 2.2 on them never gets beyond the admin office and so never get a chance to be seen by academics. Who knows what goes on in the mind of postgrad admissions.

..Also, I have taken note of what John said about not making any mention of the first degree grade on the CV. Does this always work? I would have thought that it is obvious when someone omits their degree grade on their cv, that it is because they got below a 2:1. I hope I'm wrong though!

I did an MPhil since I thought it would be the best way to redeem my having gotten only a 3rd for my first degree (I had some health problems) as well as getting some proper research experience at the same time. I was wrong however - despite the research degree and the 2 years industrial experience, I am told that I would be ineligible for epsrc funding. I know that not even managing a lower 2nd looks really bad, but surely having an MPhil. makes me *more* qualified than those with the traditional eligibility requirement of 2:1 first degree!?!?