Melissa Jo

I got a letter in the mail (snail mail) on friday about the work study and what loans I am eligible for. I emailed them when I was first accepted about funding and got no reply, but randomly got an email from Dr. Ayman yesterday informing me that I am one of the recipients of the half tuition scholarship. The letter did stress that they are not a funded program and are unable to fully cover the costs of attending. After being accepted I searched through all the old I/O threads on this site. A few said that IIT uses the first year as a weed out year. They accept more students than they plan to have continue on to year two. No clue how much truth there is to that but it does seem rather disheartening. I know all PhD programs are going to be competitive in some aspects, but I feel like I thrive in environments that are more collaborative in nature. When everyone is bouncing ideas off one another it tends to give me the fresh perspective I need to make a good idea better. Their website also lists that TAships also come with tuition remission and a stipend but it doesn't say how much you can expect either of those to be.

I am leaning more and more away from IIT, it just doesn't seem financially feasible for me. Then the choice is Auburn (more funding options, more recognized name) and FIT (expensive with limited funding but it has an International concentration). Getting accepted into the masters program may sway my decision depending on if they offer any funding and how they answer some of the questions I am planning to ask. I plan to ultimately get a PhD but going to a masters program first could help boost my application and get me into a fully funded program for my PhD. There is always a gamble with things like that though because you can never guarantee anything. As for you situation, where do you feel like the "fit" is better? An unfunded masters could be worth it if you feel like the fit is better there. It would also allow you to test the waters, so to speak, and see if you would like to continue on after it and get a PhD. I would imagine going to an unfunded program in New York would cost a pretty penny though. If worst comes to worst, I say flip a coin. It doesn't matter what side it lands on because when its in the air youll know what you are hoping it will be and thats the choice you should make because thats where you will be happy

That is exactly my concern. IIT offers TAships starting the second year but that only comes with partial tuition remission and a stipend(but they don't say how much), and when you factor in that its in Chicago it could get quite pricey after 5 years. My POI at Auburn isn't officially taking anyone because he doesn't have funding to offer but he offered me unfunded admission and found some GAships in other departments I can apply for, but if I don't get those out of state tuition will kill me. FIT is only offering me partial tuition remission, and I still have an interview with a masters program next week (UTA). This is my second year applying (only got 3 waitlists last year), so I am glad I am getting accepted this year. I am envious of all those who have been offered full funding but I am glad I at least have some options at the same time. This waiting in stressful now that its coming down to the deadline.

Just got an email for IIT. They are offering me a half tuition scholarship for my first year and $2k for a work study program. Still waiting to hear about funding from Auburn.

I have had the opportunity to visit Louisiana techs campus because their interview was in person, but I have not gotten the opportunity to visit auburn yet. I am thinking of trying to set up a visit with my poi at the end of March since I have until April 15th to make my final decision. Latech only offers to waive out of state tuition, which leaves me to pay about 2k a quarter for tuition and they offer a 15k assistantship. The program only takes 3 years to complete classes because it's on the quarter system and then most students stay an extra year to work on their dissertation. Living in Ruston is dirt cheap so I should be able to graduate with minimal loans taken out. Auburn originally was not offering me funding when I was first accepted but my POI as been asking around and found an assistantship with the library that I can apply for to try and get funding for my first year, and I would likely get funding through the psych department for subsequent years (but he couldn't guarantee it because we would have to talk to the board who decides these things next year). I figure if I go and be the student I know I can be then finding funding shouldn't be an issue. I guess I'm kind of worried about how it looks to future employers to get a degree from a less known program(latech) with tons of applied experience and opposed to getting a degree from a more established traditional 5 year program with more publications but less applied experience. I am hoping to go applied once I graduate. I am trying not to stress too much until I have an offer from latech in hand but it's hard not to when it's my future I'm deciding.

Hey guys, not sure how many people are left in this forum this late in the season. So I have a hypothetical question. I have been offered admission to auburn and have applied for a 16k assistantship. Latech should be making their decision this week, if I get in they waive out of state tuition and offer 15k assistantship. I want to go applied so latechs in house consulting firm is desirable, but auburn is a more established (and well known) program. Auburn has good football, latech only takes 3-4 years instead of 5. What should I do??!!!

thanks! I'm going to the latech interview day on the 15th, so I'm waiting until after that to decide. Have you heard back from everyone/decided where you will be going?

Got an email about acceptance on Feb 25th. I've sent out a few emails asking if there will be any funding available, but no one has gotten back to me so I'm assuming no.

Dr. Fan as well, he called and even offered to help me decide between my other offers if Auburn wasn't an option for me because of the lack of funding. I thought it was sweet but kind of odd.

Who is your POI?

So far... Accepted: auburn, FIT, IIT ~no funding for 1st at any of these Interview: Latech (on the 15th) Rejected: Ucf, a&m Assumed rejection: old dominion, UH, Georgia tech

I'm going!

Just got off the phone with Dr. Fan at Auburn. He will not be taking any students this year because of funding restraints but Dr. Michel and Dr. Svyantek will each be taking one new student.

Anyone heard from Auburn or Texas A&M yet? I see there is a rejection from A&M, anyone get any positive news yet??

I was invited to the interview day last year and decided to take a job opportunity to strengthen my application, I emailed her letting her know I applied again and was still interested in working with her so she called me to chat and invited me to the interview day though they aren't sure when it will be exactly yet. Probably March 15th. Dr. Sheets should be sending out official emails about it soon.