Hi @Revolutionary,
I had the opportunity to read both your posts (of May 2017 and this one) and realized I have been in the same boat as yours for a very long time.
Got into CIPA with 40% funding last year (Fall 2017) but chose to defer to this year and have been awarded a full tuition fellowship for Fall 2018. Am planning to go and give it a try this time despite all the uncertainties we face.
Have a somewhat longer experience of 7 years from India
Hope to meet you if everything works out well!
Anshuman