Close Home Forum Sign up / Log in

PhD and marriage

Hi, I have been having some doubts about this subject and I could really use the opinion of someone else.
I have been admitted to a PhD program in the US and I am really excited about it.
The thing is, that when I applied I was single and did not have wedding plans, recently my status changed and I decided to get married.
I haven´t told my future employer since my program starts in a month and when I did the paper work, I wasn´t married yet.
My worries are, could this affect me being admitted?, could they reject me for being married and not telling them about it?. I haven´t done any official paper work for the PhD, that will be in a month, and I was considering to tell them by then. But I don´t if it is a good idea to wait until then.
Thank you.

Quote From PMRmicrobiologist:
Hi, I have been having some doubts about this subject and I could really use the opinion of someone else.
I have been admitted to a PhD program in the US and I am really excited about it.
The thing is, that when I applied I was single and did not have wedding plans, recently my status changed and I decided to get married.
I haven´t told my future employer since my program starts in a month and when I did the paper work, I wasn´t married yet.
My worries are, could this affect me being admitted?, could they reject me for being married and not telling them about it?. I haven´t done any official paper work for the PhD, that will be in a month, and I was considering to tell them by then. But I don´t if it is a good idea to wait until then.
Thank you.

D

I don't see why that should change anything. Your relationship status has no influence on the application. It's just personal information such as birth date or gender. You could have been married when applying and divorced again by the time you start or sign anything. That's life.

It is a bit unusual to go from single to married in a couple of months but it will not affect the admission.

A

It is a bit unusual to go from single to married in a couple of months but it will not affect the admission.


Took me about 15mins to go from single to married.

D

Quote From AOE26:
It is a bit unusual to go from single to married in a couple of months but it will not affect the admission.


Took me about 15mins to go from single to married.


You met someone and got married in the next 15 min? Or does "single" mean something different in UK?

A

Quote From Dunham:
Quote From AOE26:
It is a bit unusual to go from single to married in a couple of months but it will not affect the admission.


Took me about 15mins to go from single to married.


You met someone and got married in the next 15 min? Or does "single" mean something different in UK?


Yes it does :) in the UK in formal terms (marital status) you are single until married. Sometimes you will be asked "relationship status" and then you may have other options - but that is rare.

D

Ah ok. Didn't know that!

Quote From AOE26:
Quote From Dunham:
Quote From AOE26:
It is a bit unusual to go from single to married in a couple of months but it will not affect the admission.


Took me about 15mins to go from single to married.


You met someone and got married in the next 15 min? Or does "single" mean something different in UK?


Yes it does :) in the UK in formal terms (marital status) you are single until married. Sometimes you will be asked "relationship status" and then you may have other options - but that is rare.


Thank you!!, that actually makes me feel a little better.
I mean I had a 3 year relashionship but I officially was not married then, and when I got the acceptance letter my boyfriend proposed so we decided to get married before starting the PhD so we didn´t have to end our relashionship.

The reason for my concern, is that I have known some cases where people were forced to stop their PhD programs (not in the US) because of pregnancy (for women), or other personal issues.

T

Your relationship status isn't going to make difference to the PhD program. The only thing that might be affected is a visa application - for example, your husband might need to apply for a dependant's visa, or if you were funded by a government scholarship, there might be extra money for a dependant.

When you do the official paper work, add on there that you are married (if you are by then). If you aren't married by then put single (since that is official status for non-married people whether in relationship or not) or if there are other options you can put 'in relationship' or 'co-habiting' etc.

47522