Gradgirl2020

I'm not sure if this will help, but I was an international student living on a very tight budget. For what it's worth, I hope this helps:
1) Like @fuzzylogician, I wanted to say you need to take into account you're an international student. When I came to Canada as an international student, I had several costs I didn't budget for. One example was needing to renew my passport so that I could get back into the country if I had an emergency at home. I also had to budget for students visas and permits (entry and work). I don't know what the US system is like, but in Canada, international students have a limit on how much they can work, especially during the school year. So any thought of working to supplement my income was not as "easy'" as I had hoped for.
2) @fuzzylogician raises a good point about climate. I don't know which country you are coming from (if you mentioned it, sorry that I missed it!), but I came from a country that had a drastically different climate than what I moved to. Many of the clothing items I had thought I could live without, but eventually, after weeks of suffering, I had to cave and buy them. By that time, of course, I had little choice and just had to buy what was there (which usually means they are also very expensive). If you are moving to a winter area, I suggest buying a multilayer winter coat in a solid colour, like black. It is more expensive, but having the option to remove the layers during the fall and piling them back on in winter will save you money in the long run. I would also invest in a good pair of boots with a solid sole. I would also invest in some form of sun-glasses as snow can be blinding. Clothing in a different climate is not just about "fashion." I had to learn to wear different pants and dresses during the different seasons or I would either freeze or melt. The same went for my blanket!
Both points 1 and 2 aren't meant to scare you. I just want you to be prepared that there are costs you might not foresee.
I agree with the other posters that spending 75% of your income on housing is too much. However, sometimes you don't have a choice, like the examples @Lycaon pictus suggested. If this is you (i.e., no choice), then you have to find ways to save in other areas.
My university has an internal version of The Grad Cafe that students can post to post items that affect them, like finding shared housing and places to eat for cheap. They also have a "swap" program that students can use to exchange services or items, or buy items for cheap (e.g., from students graduating). Nobody really tells you these exist, so you might have to poke around.
If you are comfortable, perhaps you can also try speaking to your supervisor, especially if they are of the same gender? I mention this because sometimes, supervisors have stuff they can lend to you (e.g., a winter coat...so same gender helps), or can put you in touch with other students they know who had similar issues so you can swap items. Mine let me use her old bike to get to the lab while I was saving to buy one. I also knew one supervisor (not mine) who generously bought a simple study desk and chair for her student when she found out her student couldn't afford one. Some labs also have emergency funds their students can access, to be repaid in an agreed on date.
IF you can get away with it, take public transit (in Canada, you can claim transit on your taxes), bike, or carpool. Parking is a b**** on many campuses, and you also have to factor in gas, car maintenance and repair, and insurance. Some universities also have shuttles and carpool programs, so ask. Somebody somewhere can usually tell you.
You will be tempted to eat very cheap and stuff yourself completely with "bad" carbs to stay full. Unfortunately, that usually also means not so healthy. That won't help you finish school with the right frame of mind. As much as possible, avoid doing that. You don't have to eat organic and from high-end stores, but make simple, healthy choices as much as possible. I start my day with a good bowl of oatmeal and eggs--cheap and gives me my fiber and protein. I also make energy bars every week at a fraction of the cost of buying bars outside (look up energy bar recipes; many use dates as the base and a food processor). Usually, I can make bars for about $5 that last me the entire week. I vary it up by what I mix in, like peanut butter, coconut flakes, etc. Usually this means whatever is on sale. I eat fruits that are in season as they are cheaper. I sign up for the community garden and grow my own vegetables. Stuff like that. To figure this out, give yourself a few months where you scout out places to buy or make food at a fraction of the cost and what nourishes you in a way that lets you do your best in school.
Apply for all and any money you qualify for. The worst they can say is no.
I understand this can be difficult. But know that you are not alone. Also, going in with eyes wide open helps because there is nothing more stressful than being hit with something you weren't expecting. And stress does not help a student.
Good luck, from one international student to another.
 

So, I'm still an undergrad and have never needed to take out any loans--but as a high school graduate, I managed to support myself while paying just over 70% of my income as rent (in a region that is quickly gaining notoriety for unaffordability), so here's my advice.  University-provided housing might not be the worst option for you--it'll suck for 75% of your stipend to go toward rent, but that amount should also include utilities, Internet access, etc.  If it's university-owned you may also be able to cut down significantly on the costs of transportation (eliminating the need for gas/car insurance/public transit fares).  Then, in terms of anything else you need on top of transportation and shelter:
Health insurance: Ask your department if there's any way they can cover your student health fees/student insurance--you might have more of a case with this than you think if your university mandates proof of insurance (most do).  As an undergrad, I emailed the college financial aid office and was literally handed a couple thousand dollars (the cost of the college health insurance plan) immediately, no questions asked.
Food: Buy dry foods (cheap), buy in bulk, from discount (e.g. Grocery Outlet) retailers, clip coupons (Safeway has a great smartphone app)--I know this sounds ridiculous (if not outright avocado toast-y), but I have been able to feed myself on $80/month by extreme thrift.  If your university has lots of student organizations, keep an eye out for flyers advertising free food at events (someone at my school once made an app consolidating event posts containing strings like "lunch will be served" and discovered it was definitely possible to subsist on only free leftovers).  If all else fails, look into food stamps.  Seriously.  Eligibility may vary by state, but in most cases certain noncitizens can receive benefits, depending on factors like how long you have been in the country etc.
Cell phone: avoid contract plans (this will save you $30-70/month), stay in wi-fi range (easy on a university campus), decide if you absolutely need a phone number for emergencies--if so, opt for prepaid by-the-minute rates.
Extras: peruse Craigslist for extra work beyond your 20 hours a week.  Especially in affluent areas, tutoring is always in demand.  If either your current university or your undergrad institution are brand names, consider freelancing as a private college counselor--I have two friends who have made $50+/hour as "admissions consultants" by letting high schoolers read their college application essays [essays that ~got them into x school~, OMG]; of course, you could also take a less fanatical approach and revise kids' application essays and such.  Same goes for SAT/ACT tutoring if you have high scores on those.  If you do this privately, you're likely to end up with cheques (à la teenage babysitter) that you can choose not to report as income.
Obviously YMMV, but hopefully at least some of this is helpful.

Grad school is a whole different ballgame than undergrad and the transition can be rough. Especially if you're changing programs! Going into synthetic organic with just sophomore level OChem background would be rough.
Keep up with the therapy, realize that imposter syndrome is very normal, and focus on where you are now. 
Grad school is all about he research- classes are just something you do at the start and have to get through. Don't let bad coursework early stop you from doing well where you are now! Several of my colleagues (who are now faculty) were on and off academic probation all through grad school. They didn't let it shake them, focused on the work, and did fine. 

I looked up the acceptance rates for my programs (which are obnoxiously low) and that made me feel a little better, honestly. Knowing how much of a crap shoot it is will lessen the blow if/when I get rejections. Until then, I'm going to try my hardest to be prepared to give great interviews and stay positive about the process - if I do everything I can do to reach the goal, then I know I'm an excellent candidate and if I get rejected, it's not because I didn't try hard enough.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/tracyclayton/stop-calling-women-females?utm_term=.dvW7DZ2vz#.wszZdPxe9

As others said, this is why PhD students (and postdocs, although to a lesser extent) have advisors and mentors. This is the type of thing that gets figured out with more experience.
In addition to not having to worry about all the details at the application stage, remember that your PhD project can be an evolving thing that changes over time with your interests and available resources. Beyond your advisor, you will likely have a tracking committee, thesis committee or whatever your institute will call them that meet with you regularly (often annually) and review your progress and make suggestions on altering your track if necessary. So it's not like you are writing your next 5 years in stone when you write a research proposal!

I don't think you really need to know the answer to this during the application phase. However, it should be noted that most PhDs (my background of social sciences may play a role in what I'm about to say) are very specialized. Long reports about a very very specific topic, basically. So, it's safe to assume that what you want to do right now is probably too ambitious. But, as was said before, this is something you work out with your advisors. 

Hi everyone, 
I didn't see an existing thread for this so...
Anyone else applying to Africana studies (or African-American or Diaspora studies) programs for Fall 2018? If so, which schools? What are your research interests? 
I am applying to doctoral programs:
Cornell, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Brown, and Harvard