Dr_M

Thanks 3dender! I recently spoke with a Sanford student and it was really helpful. We're flying out to Michigan Wednesday, then on to Durham for Open House, so I'm hoping to get a good feel for both places.

Hi all, Very interesting reading this thread, thanks to everyone for sharing. I've also been curious about the seemingly conservative strain at Duke (just based on the paltry evidence I've gathered off the website). I'm quite lefty-left; I usually describe myself as a socialist, and wrote a dissertation on Marxist theory! I've been wondering if I'm going to have to hide my light under a bushel ? But it sounds like there's a good contingency of left-leaners there. I'm currently living in a rather conservative area of Southern California and am ready to be surrounded by more lefties. I've been accepted to Ford with 25% fellowship and Sanford with 60% fellowship, however, at U Mich, I can potentially work as a TA and my tuition gets paid, plus health insurance, plus a stipend. I don't think Duke offers anything like that for TAs. Since this is a second career for me and I have a family, I'm quite worried about finances/taking on debt. I had read on another forum that Sanford does not renegotiate offers anymore. Can anyone comment? I was also wondering whether anyone could chime in on Sanford's data analysis chops. Ford offers courses in R and STATA, but I didn't see anything like that when I was searching through Sanford's course offerings. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place? Thanks!

Hi all, I applied to and was admitted to Harris, Ford, and Duke on the strength of my academics (and probably letters)--I have no policy experience. Probably because of this, funding has been disappointing. Harris has offered 10%, Ford 25% and Duke 70%. I am really loathe to go into debt for this degree as I still have debt from undergrad. I am hoping that someone with Ford experience can speak to the likelihood of getting more money from Ford, either in the form of additional fellowship, or the likelihood of getting a GSI position. I have extensive experience teaching at the university level, but that's no guarantee, since my application for GSI positions will be in competition with Michigan's grad students, who have their own funding packages. Ford sent me a funding reconsideration form in my acceptance letter, but when I spoke with the point person on funding, he said that these decisions aren't made until people start turning Ford down and more money becomes available. I am particularly curious about whether GSI positions are likely, since these come with tuition remission, health care, and a stipend. I worry about giving up a sure Duke offer of 70% for a "maybe" U Mich offer. I'd have to work at least two semesters as a GSI for U Mich to be a better deal than Duke. Any insight appreciated!