hunter

I am an international, so no way of getting state-residency.... I dont mind paying upto 1 year, but I couldnt afford for more than that:(

@fuzzy... thats the thing which is worrying me. The economy's bad right now and if things dont get right, students near the end of their PhD will delay their graduation and this will affect us... Moreover, there have been budget cuts for the university. I have spoken to 3-4 students and all of them were of the opinion that all the admitted studetns have been to secure something in the first year itself in the past, but again cant predict this year. The placement record is very good and the specific ranking too. They have 3 profs working in my specific subfield. The school which I am in currently has only my prof and another one who is in a slightly different subfield. I feel I will have a lot more courses to choose from and the interaction, contacts I would get to build would help in my career.

I have just one unfunded admit from one of the top 10 state schools. The prof with whom I am interested in working says that at present he cannot commit to advising/funding as he is not yet heard abt some of his grants which he has applied. He expects that 1-2 students would graduate by year end to next year and plans to take on new students for that position if he gets funding going for it and hence cant commit to me right now. He says typically unfunded admitted students get some stable funding early in their first year. The students there say quite a few of them join PhD w/o assured funding and are always able to secure funding. I am doing my Masters at a low ranked state school(60-70) and I can continue here for my PhD. My advisor here is an assistant prof. I am not sure whether to take the risk of joining a top ranked program w/o funding. I share a good relationship with my current advisor, but the opportunities at the top school seem good. Particularly, if i seek an academic job at the end of my PhD, i think I will face a tough time if I continue here.