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Hi, I got into one of the top schools of my choice (materials science and engineering), but the department offered me $25,000 per year stipend. (The tuition will be covered by my research adviser once I get a hold of one.) I'm an international applicant, but I heard from someone that domestic students get more than internationals because they somehow bargain with the department. This may sound greedy, but I don't think $25,000 can cover my expenses living around the school that I got accepted to. Is there a way to ask for more stipend form the department? Is there someone out there that succeeded in asking for more? Plz share your experience. (you can PM me) Thank you.

Hi, I'm an international materials science PhD applicant, and I just finished applying to all my programs. This may be jumping the guns, but I'd like to start earning and saving up money for my grad studies. So assuming that I'm accepted into a program in a mid-sized city such as Ann Arbor with full funding, how much money should I save up? Let's just assume that my funding provides monthly stipend and covers my tuition. I don't have any dependents coming with me. Here's a list of things I think I'll need to save up for: 1. First month's rent (including utility fees) 2. Deposit on the apartment/flat/living quarters 3. School health insurance 4. School enrollment fee 5. Cell phone 6. Used car and car insurance (I don't think I can afford this...I plan on just staying near the school and not go anywhere) I would appreciate it if people on The Gradcafe could estimate how much each of these items(?) costs and what I'm missing on the list. I am currently planning to bring about 6,000 USD with me when I finally go to the US. I'm trying to find out if this amount is insufficient.

I am also a Mat Sci applicant, although I'm applying directly to PhD programs. Can we exchange SOPs?

I read a post on this forum a few days ago. It had a link to https://sites.google.com/site/gradappadvice/ and suggested a book with sample SOPs. I can't seem to find the particular post I'm talking about, but I want to know what that book is.. Can anyone recommend a book to help me write my SOP?

nope. I just started my undergrad research this month. I don't think i can get a paper out before application deadlines....

I'm also interested in other people's answers to this question because your stats are almost exactly like mine, except that I'm an international student. School: top school in Korea GPA: about 3.64 when converted to a 4.0 scale GRE: Q: 169, V: 157, AW: 4.0 Just started research this month. No internships or papers or projects.

Hello all, I'm an international student who's going to apply to material science and engineering PhD programs this December, and I was wondering how I should contact professors at the schools that I want to apply to. I'm thinking about formatting my e-mails like the following: Dear Prof. _____ Hello, my name is _______. I'm studying material science in (insert school name), and I'm going to apply to your department this December. I've been reading some of your published papers and I want to pursue my PhD in your field. The reason I'm interested in this field is because (blah blah blah) Upon reading about your research I'm thinking about investigating the matter this way (my ideas about future research projects). I've attached my CV to this e-mail. Thank you for reading, (my name) 1. Is there anything I should include in the e-mail? 2. Would it be okay if my ideas about future research is not ingenious? (I'm still an undergrad, and there's a limit to how much I can understand just by reading papers.) 3. Please offer opinions/suggestions on contacting the faculty. Has anyone had any success?

yea, it's V/Q/AW score. I was kind of worried about my verbal score because it isn't above 160. and getting a 169 kind of bothers me. I'll retake it once more and try to bring my verbal and aw up. But thanks for the advice everyone: I guess it's not a "totally bad" score

Im going to apply for top 10 schools, so what percentile should i aim for?

Hi, im applying to a material science and engineering phd program. I got a 157/169/4.0 (73%/ 97%/ 54%) on my GRE. Should I retake it? PS. Im an international applicant