emandar

I don't know if there's a way to see who your roommate is, but I'm in room 19A!

After all of this waiting, I've had a lot of time to think about my application. I don't feel very confident since I'm not in graduate school yet. What do you guys think of my chances? I went to a state university and did well (3.9GPA in physics/math dual degree finished in 4 years). I did 3.5 years of research while an undergrad (3 summers of REU at my university) and published 3 co-authored papers. I got the goldwater in 2009. Looking back at the past winners, they seem to come from top schools and are in their 1st or second year as a grad student. I feel like I'll be able to compete when I know what my graduate research will be and have part of a semester under my belt as a grad student. ugh, this process is annoying.

I'm trying in vain to concentrate on this STM head design. I keep finding ways to search for things on the internet and invariably ending up refreshing this forum page...

I didn't receive an email. On my application page, under status it says submitted. The waiting game continues.

Not funny, man.

Ugh... I'm so nervous about something that is now completely out of my control.

In addition to what Usmivka said, I found this site helpful for learning about the tax benefits for graduate students: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=213044,00.html

I have never been more eager to wait on a rejection notice as I am with the NDSEG.

24k - 12k(rent) - 3.6k(food) - 1k (books/school expenses/parking) - 1k(new clothes) - 1k(new laptop) = 5.4k to do other things like travel home/explore a city/save. You need more?

I am applying straight from undergrad, anyone else? Is this scholarship more for those who have already started research with their advisor, rather than those of us matriculating to a grad program in F2011? I can't find whether the awarding process for this scholarship, like the NSF GRFP, is loosely based on demographics. Anyone have info on that?

I researched the topic and found a lot of evidence to support you statements, sikyon. Thanks everyone for the help.

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I have thought deeply about everything that hasseye said for the past few weeks. I think the best course of action would be to accept Princeton's offer of admission, but very near to April 15th. I was informed by Stanford that there is no deadline to accept/reject their offer, so it is possible they could offer me funding when one of their aided prospectives declines in favor of some other school. Also, I applied for the NDSEG and no one really knows if the results will be in before April 15th... I think that if Stanford offers me some aid (tuition, at least) or if I am awarded the NDSEG, I will go to Stanford. I just wonder now if I have to inform Stanford about my decision to go to Princeton? I'd still like to be considered for aid and have the option of accepting their offer.

Thanks for the reply was1984. I think you're correct for EE at stanford, but looking on the materials science website I found the following: "Students are expected to find a research group to join by the start of Winter Quarter. During the summer after the first academic year, students typically work intensely on research under the guidance of a professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department or a professor from another materials-related department. In the second year, students continue to do research and typically take one or two courses per quarter." From what I understand, the department (or faculty) funds the students who are conducting research with RA's (ranging anywhere from 10-50%, with tuition remittance being 100% for the quarter at 50% RA). Since this is very important in my decision, I think I'll just call the department and ask about my specific situation.

Dr. Chou. If anyone knows about when unfunded PhD students at Stanford are able to get funding, I'd really appreciate knowing that information. If it's certainly within the first 2 quarters, that would go a long way in determining which school I go to.

I've been admitted to several programs for PhD studies, but Stanford and Princeton are in my top 2. I've been waitlisted for funding at Stanford, and I plan to wait until April 14-15 to make a decision in case I hear that they will indeed fund me. My question is: should I go to Stanford unfunded over Princeton fully funded? There are some important considerations which must be included in my analysis. Stanford requires that its materials science PhD students find an advisor by the end of Winter Quarter, so I would only go unfunded for 2 quarters (seemingly, am I wrong?). I have the funds available to fund myself for two quarters (~20k) plus living expenses (~15k) for the first year, notwithstanding the tuition remittance and stipend afforded by the RA in the last two quarters of the first year while working for a research advisor. For those who know, is this analysis correct concerning the likelihood of finding RA for a PhD student in the third quarter? I will eventually have to do research, so the tuition remittance from the RA will definitely come into play at some point. The reason I am considering Stanford so heavily is that I like the location, intellectual atmosphere -- Princeton has this too, and subject. The courses I would take at Stanford are very interesting to me and there are several advisors I would really like to work for. I just got back from Princeton and was very pleased with the visit. The campus is very beautiful and the graduate students seemed very happy. My potential advisor there is a scientific rockstar and I would be happy to work for him. He is a mentor to his graduate students (coaching on presentations, weekly individual and group meetings, great at placing students into top industry positions). Basically, I don't feel I can go wrong academically or with an advisor by going to Princeton, but it lacks the location and core course education with respect to Stanford for materials science. Also, for those who are interested in commenting about relative prestige for academia or industry, consider these schools/advisors to be equal in all respects.

I would really like to matriculate to Stanford in the fall, however.... I was admitted to the PhD program in materials science, but there was no information on how I can actually ACCEPT their offer. I've sent some emails to the person in charge, but she hasn't yet responded. Perhaps I will call her personally tomorrow.

How did you find out that the NDSEG will not notify students until late April? If this is true, then it seems very irresponsible for them to wait 5 months from the time of application submission to give out decisions.

I was admitted to UIUC with full funding + fellowship/stipend. I went to the visit day last month; there were about 30 people there.

I got admitted. I can't believe it after sending in the wrong statement of purpose.

Speaking of Princeton EE... I sent them my Harvard personal statement by accident! Haha, it's needless to say I don't expect to hear of an acceptance from them.

Actually man you should read his post more carefully. He says he goes to a second (or third)-tier school IN Michigan. It isn't necessary that he's talking about Michigan State or Michigan Ann-Arbor. Your insult is unjustified.

I also applied to Stanford MSE (I was admitted there to PhD program). It seems odd that berkeley wouldn't even send a rejection notice; I thought I was a good candidate.

Has anyone heard anything from Berkeley MSE? There aren't many (I think 1) results about it this year on the results page, so maybe they haven't told people about acceptances yet. It's getting late in the game and I'd like to have my options on the table before I start more seriously considering where I want to go.

Hey man, glad to hear you got accepted. I was also accepted today without mention of funding. It's a small department, so I don't think they're going to let us go unfunded.

I didn't specify the department because the RA/TA funding is general to the type school. I applied to the engineering school. Sorry if this was unclear.