LetsHike

I have acquired a small amount of debt in undergrad but under $10k and I am not overly concerned about it (but maybe I should be?). This is an MS degree and yes it is somewhere I want to be with a project I do want to work on.

So I am about a week away from a big decision and I keep having second thoughts. Here is my situation again: I have an offer that includes a TAship with about a $15k/year stipend. However, the school does not do tuition waivers so I'd have to pay about $15k/year in tuition. I am lucky enough to have very generous and loving parents who are willing to pay $20k/year for me. However, it is not so easy for me to accept because of the guilt factor and the mentality that I should be able to get full funding somewhere that includes a tuition waiver. However, this is my best offer on the table and I'm not sure that will change. Any thoughts?

What about TA funding (~15k/yr) but no tuition waiver (~15k for tuition/yr)? Or what about very low funding (~5k/year) and a three quarters tuition waiver (~10k/yr)? These are the two options I am currently faced with and am not super excited about either since they are not fully funded in every sense. I'm hoping a better offer pops up but I cannot count on that happening. This is frustrating as I am not sure these offers are practical financially.

Got accepted to San Diego State with TA package today but they do not waive tuition and want a decision by 4-24. I am still waiting on funding details from San Jose (details should come before end of April said grad advisor there) and a decision from UW. I am also on the waitlist at 2 schools. Do I contact San Jose? UW? 2 waitlisted schools? Not sure how to go about this.

Got accepted to San Jose State last week. Probable TA funding, will hear more soon. Stoked to have first official acceptance.

Thanks for the info re: UW. Re: Oregon State, I emailed them in late February and was told I was waitlisted and just had to wait until they hear back from their first round of acceptances. I am guessing if you have not heard back you are in the same boat, but contacting them wouldn't be the worst idea since it is already late March.

Has anyone heard from University of Washington ESS?

Rejected from Boulder today as I expect. Was my reach school, no doubt and my first rejection. Just waiting on acceptances.....

Has anyone else not gotten rejected or accepted anywhere yet? This is getting ridiculous....

What I was talking about is something SDSU does called an out-of-state tuition waiver. Basically they agree to let you pay in-state tuition without actually being a resident.

MS. I agree and I am definitely looking for a tuition waiver. However, there may be a possibility of receiving an out-of-state tuition waiver and paying resident tuition. Tuition at SDSU is not terribly expensive either and the POI I would work with does some really interesting research so that's why I am even considering it in the first place. That and the fact I am waiting on decisions from my other schools so it's possible it would be my only option besides waiting and applying again the next cycle or finding a job. But I would much prefer graduate school to finding a job. This is half-true. As I just mentioned tuition at SDSU (even out-of-state) is not terribly expensive and there may be a possibility of bringing my tuition down to resident tuition. Again I'm only considering it because of the relatively low tuition, may be my only option and the research my POI does is very interesting and definitely research I'd like to be involved in. Tough decision...hopefully I get an offer elsewhere with a tuition waiver *fingers crossed* Thanks for your guys' input.

One of the schools I applied to offers TA positions but with no tuition waiver. I talked with POI today and he seemed very interested in bringing me on but also warned me about the no tuition waiver and out of state fees. I did not know this when I applied and am not sure it is worth attending in that case since I am out of state. However, it may be the only school I get accepted into as I have been waitlisted at two and not heard back from other two. He does some groundbreaking research that I think would be a good fit but the no tuition waiver caught me off guard. Does anyone have any advice for this situation?

I actually applied just a few days ago as the POI I contacted encouraged me to apply even though it was last minute so I know less than you do.

When did you get interviewed at SDSU?

A little late to the game but nonetheless: Undergrad Institution: Big State School with stellar geology program Major(s): Geology Minor(s):Environmental Studies GPA in Major: ~3.6 Overall GPA: 3.28 Position in Class: Not ranked Type of Student: GRE Scores (revised): Q: 165 V: 157 W: 4.0 Research Experience: At my school: A senior thesis in geology. Should be producing a paper of publishable quality soon. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Funding from NSF to fund my senior thesis research Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Student Leadership position at a campus job, president of geo club at school Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Special Bonus Points: Strong LORs with connections Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Field Camp and other field work Applying to Where: CU-Boulder - Tectonics/Thermochron Oregon State - tectonics Washington (Seattle) - Geomorphology Lehigh - tectonics I emailed POI at Oregon State who told me I had a strong enough application to be admitted but first round of offers already went out so I was effectively wait listed there. Have not heard from the other three but I am nervous I did not apply to enough schools or too prestigious of schools for my stats/experience. Any advice?