hi guys. i've got several offers for a phd but all of them have not confirmed funding yet. there is this uni that acknowledges that they do not have adequate supervision in my precise phd area. they've been emailing me endlessly on ideas on how i can develop the project in a different direction. i used to be interested in the direction they are suggesting, but i have since moved on. should i keep my cool & play along, who knows i might wind up with good funding or should i just tell them am not really interested.

continue i plan to go into this area 10 years after my phd, as it does not pay well but is fulfilling. my current project is of great appeal to companies and getting a job would be easy. this other one is what i would do in an ideal world. i would prefer to turn the university down as i don't want to have to draft a new proposal which is what they want after saying that my suggestions were too short. am too busy right now for this kind of thing. any suggestions?

I think the most important issue is funding. If you cant pay yourself, then you have to secure another source. Go with your gut instinct, if you have to do a bit more work now it may pay off in the long term. Personally, i would go for the one from the better uni/ better job prospects. Good luck

You know, I am in a similar situation. Some universities don't confirm funding, others don't have supervisors in my area. But I think writing a new really good proposal will take too much of my time, especially if I need to go into a quite different direction. As for you, I think you are doing everything right - you have to think where you will end up after getting a PhD, and if your current research idea help you with that, then stick to it.

thanks guys. i'll definitely follow my instinct.