Jump to content

agrizz

Members
  • Posts

    54
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Florida
  • Application Season
    2015 Fall
  • Program
    Neuroscience/Psychology

Recent Profile Visitors

1,188 profile views

agrizz's Achievements

Caffeinated

Caffeinated (3/10)

16

Reputation

  1. It's good that you are wary of your reputation, but if ever there's an appropriate time to be concerned about money, it's now. As far as my negotiation, I'd somewhat set the stage during my interview to delicately ask later, never really talking about it directly. In fact, the only time I did mention money was in response to a question my PI posed about how the interview process was going and where I thought I stood with other schools. To that I said, "I will tell you this, Prof. X, of all of the programs I've applied to, I am confident that I would definitely fit best in your laboratory. The other programs do offer certain things I'll need to consider, for instance in one case, the location is very close to my wife's extended family and in two cases the stipends are pretty high." This was the only time during the interview that I ever talked about money and intentionally so. I said nothing else about money until the offer for admission was made but did, in two emails before the offer came, reiterate how excited I was about the PI's work and how I felt I would fit tremendously well in his lab. When the offer was made, it included the notification for the faculty-nominated fellowship I'd mentioned above, which was 7k more than what I believed the base stipend to be. In my response to that email, I thanked the PI for the offer and shared that I was honored to have been nominated for the award but told him "while the fellowship was flattering, my decision would be made independently from that as 'fit' was the most important factor for me". I then discussed two completely unrelated topics before returning to the topic of money, though indirectly. At that point, I asked, "what date can I get started working in the lab?" I then mentioned that I would be very happy to come in the summer "if it is at all possible financially". I then went on to talk about how excited I was about research and beginning our work. I then concluded the email with something to the effect of, "one final question I had for you: I was never really clear what the stipend would be without the fellowship I've been nominated for. I've heard that in some programs, the stipend typically starts with a number determined by the department or university as a whole, but it then can grow due to teaching assistantship or independent teaching opportunities, other intra- or extramural fellowships, and even the PI's grant funding. As such, I assume it may not be easy to state outright what I should expect in terms of a stipend with or without the aforementioned nominated fellowship, but what might you project I could expect?" Sorry for all of the detail there, but I included it to hopefully show that throughout the "negotiation", I focused much more on "fit" and "research", so as to paint the picture that I was more interested in the things that he would want me to be (which I genuinely am, but perhaps not as much as I let on). If I do fit well and if I am motivated to work hard in his lab because of a shared interest in his research, I should be worth more to him. Any and all talk about money was intentionally downplayed so as to avoid, as you say, garnering a reputation as a money grubber. It worked out for me as he offered to pay me for getting started in the summer ($5,000 for two months of work) and then offered an additional 5k per year, as well as signing off on me teaching a summer course where I could make an additional 2k for just 1.5 months of work. While at my interview, I did ask his graduate students how much their stipends were and now know that he's offering me more than either of them make. In short, though - I'd say this. Ask about money in the context of things that matter more to the PI or program. I can't say that asking about money directly will or won't work, but I can say that showing your value in other ways probably goes a lot further than you'd think.
  2. Like the OP, I too have a masters and did what Doorkeeper suggested. For the last three years I've been working in research for a university. This time around, my experience played far more to my benefit than did my masters degree. All interviewers wanted to know about the research I've been doing over the last few years than my masters projects. And the bonus is that over the last three years I was on salary while also publishing papers. I also got much stronger letters from more prestigious names for this year's application cycle. Worked out for me.
  3. I was kind of in the same position. The typical stipend levels for my #1 choice were 7k less than a scholarship I was offered. I leveraged this offer (being that it too was only one year) alongside my "indecisiveness" between that program and other offers and was able to get an offer for an additional 5k/year. I remember feeling that asking was a bit risky, but I think I asked delicately enough that it worked out. Ironically, in my case, this still leaves the program in question lower in terms of stipend in my list of offers. Like you, though, I feel this is the best fit and had to ask myself, "how important is the money, really." Good luck to you - I know this is a tough spot to be in.
  4. I'm not in philosophy, but I would say program Y. In my experience, a thesis is a must - doctoral programs want evidence that you can handle the depth of study and critique that comes with an oral defense. Pubs and presentations are good, but you should strive to do these even with a thesis and you should try to put together a thesis worthy of publication in itself. Beyond that, any program that tells you "our students find it too hard" is a red flag for me. Why is it too hard? Can you not prepare your students for that level of study? Have you not designed your program appropriately? Furthermore, I wouldn't denigrate program Y on the basis of similar coursework... if there's one thing I learned from my previous stints in grad work, a reputable program is not going to reteach you a topic, they are going to delve much deeper than you realize you can go. Sure, there will be overlap, but I can tell you I had 3 courses that I thought would be strictly review... and they were... for the first week of the course only.
  5. You should absolutely email a prof... or as many as possible. Strike now before spots are taken and show how devoted you are - you'll likely get what you're after more easily that way.
  6. This is actually very useful. I may have to try this. Of course, I know I'll then rebuke myself for leaving it up to chance...
  7. Except that when you apply, you have not yet visited, met the PI, other grad students, other faculty, seen the facilities, and generally learned more about the university you're interested in. My "safety" school is now resting as my top choice... hence the difficulty. My "vague" ranking that was formed during the application process has been shot to hell. And not to mention - If I even had a firm "top ranking", this wouldn't even be an issue...
  8. The funding Gods smiled on me, at least potentially... My aforementioned "wink and nudge" was made official tonight alongside notification that I was nominated for an added financial award on top of the full funding. Another bonus to this fellowship is a removed teaching requirement for the first year. And so I ask, WHY IS THIS STILL DIFFICULT?!
  9. I've begun to notice the showering of recruitment attention too and have actually leaned on this as something that might help me make my decision more easily. Alas, like you, it's just getting tougher.
  10. I've tried to make both quantitative and qualitative comparisons of all factors for all programs thinking that this would simplify things... the opposite occurred. FAIL!
  11. I'm just curious if anyone else is having a really hard time deciding between programs. I've officially gotten two offers but have had a wink and a nudge with another and interviewed really well elsewhere that has not begun extending offers... My problem, I was just hoping to get one admit - now I can't seem to decide which one is the best choice. I'm not asking for advice, as I think only I can make that determination... I just want to know if anyone else out there is as stressed about deciding as I am. Misery loves company.
  12. agrizz

    Tampa, FL

    Moffitt's a pretty good place to be from what I hear. I currently work in the Psychiatry and Neurosciences department, so I can't speak to Moffitt first-hand, but I hear good things. The city isn't too bad, but I don't actually live in Tampa, so I can't speak too first-hand on that either. I do know that there are some areas that are fairly rough on the edges, but there are some pretty safe areas as well, so not unlike most college towns/areas. Tampa isn't a college town though, and as such there are plenty of nice places to live if you don't mind the commute, which is what most people do anyway. I live in St. Petersburg on the Gulf... which I love. It's beautiful and worth the 45 minute drive if you want to live on the water. Of course, you can live near water all over the place, what with the bay and all of the retention ponds around. All in all, its a pretty cool place to be.
  13. I've applied to two programs there and have been accepted by one myself... maybe that's why I didn't get it. On the other hand, maybe it's program specific... Cheshire, what field/program did you apply to?
  14. As a fellow UGA applicant... I see this post and go... "wait a minute... why didn't I get an inane email too?!"
  15. I'm a bit ready to leave my job of 3 years as well. Visiting campuses is making me super excited to return to the university life style and, although I'm still doing research now, I'm so ready to work on research that I reeeally want to do and have some say in. To remove myself from the undervalued position I'm stuck in now is merely icing on the cake. Come on summer!!!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use