TTAPinCCJ

@jinxstar I'm sorry to hear that it's been frustrating. I assure you that you're better off waiting another year, beefing up your research experience & contacting faculty in departments, and applying again next year. Unfunded with hope of future funding isn't a good strategy, as you know, and may well results in no funding. Happy to answer any questions you (or others) have. I got a lot out of this site myself, so in the spirit of paying it forward, I'll check back periodically during application season.

Hi Applicants - Congrats on acceptances and try to keep calm to those still waiting! I know it's nerve wracking. I've debated posting, but ultimately decided to dole out some internet advice that I'm really glad someone gave me on this site when I was applying to PhD programs years ago. So, from a TT AP (at a school w/o a PhD program, so no skin in the game), my main advice to those deciding on/between PhD programs is absolutely do not go to a program unless they fully fund you. There are many reasons for this, but chief among them: the debt you will incur w/o funding is enormous and you'll struggle to ever pay it off; w/o funding you won't gain research & TA experience and develop close working relationships with faculty - this will harm you in many ways as a student; if the program does not fund you then they are either on shaky financial ground and/or don't value you enough (this says *nothing* about your actual ability or worth); if some students are funding & others aren't (which may change year to year) it breeds a competitive environment that will be difficult to exist in for years I know this may not be welcome advice, but I assure you that you'll be much better off in the long run if you wait a year, beef up your CV, and apply again if your only option is an unfunded/under-funded package.