Eisenmann

There is no doubt that both of these schools are great, but does either one have an advantage over another? MS for both. Columbia awesome name awesome city expensive (rent and tuition) UPenn name not as impressive better in chemical engineering much cheaper (rent and tuition)

I also did not receive any interviews and was accepted to 2 schools. 1 funded, 1 not.

Yes, I'm waiting for people with funding to decline. I don't know how many people were accepted, how many typically attend, and how many were offered funding. My best guess is that somewhere between 15-20 people were accepted, 13 would attend (1 student per professor) and I am one of the "lowest ranked" students.

you guys are absolutely right. I have already expressed my great interest in the school to the professor in charge of funding and he responded neutrally. He said my file is well liked; however, it would take a while before any new info (soonest after the open house in 2 weeks I'm guessing). I don't really know what else to do other than showing continued interest, but at the same time I don't want to be pushy or annoying. We haven't had contact for about 3 weeks, but I am thinking about bringing up the issue again after the RSVP deadline next week.

I didn't really think about the funded program rescinding their offer, but that is definitely possible. I didn't really think saying no to the unfunded program after saying yes would be that bad since they have nothing to lose (money wise). I have already contacted the unfunded program a month ago about my financial status and they said it might be a while since they are waiting for people to decline. If it matters, this is for engineering.

I am in the exact same situation. Let us know how it goes. I am thinking about just saying yes to everyone...

I've been accepted to one 1phd program full funding and 1 program no funding. I want to say yes to both and if the no funding school decides to give me funding, I'll say no to the other one. If they don't give me funding, then I'll just say no to them later. However, I am concerned that accepting a no funding offer will give the school no incentive to give me funding.

I just got rejected from an okay ranked school. I was totally shocked because I was accepted to another school that is ranked about the same and another school that is much higher ranked. Getting accepted wouldn't have made a difference since I am pretty much going to the better school but it came as a total shock. Acceptances seem quite random..

same situation, except this is for a science and engineering PhD. I'm will be going as a PhD student and they are not even funding me. They have got to be out of their mind if they think I would readily go.

you don't use pro 2, malvern stuff, lab view?

This is interesting. I just got off the phone with one of my schools to ask about my status since I have not heard a single word from them. The secretary asked me if they were my top choice and I said yes (they really are), but even if they were not I think I still would have said yes. This reminds me of one scene from "Bring Him to the Greek" where the exec told the agent to do and say whatever it takes to make the client happy, even if you are stretching the truth. Business opinions are opinions, meaning that they can change at any time depending on the situation.

I have an Asus W7j and I would say that it is good quality, but it was very expensive for what it is. I got it before they became mainstream with the eee though so I don't know if the quality is still good because they seem to be much more competitively priced now compared to 5-7 years ago. edit: if you decide to go apple, try to wait until June because they will have a free ipod offer with purchase of a computer.

Yeah, that would be the only way for it to work, but then I would be running windows on a mac a majority of the time and that kind of defeats the purpose of getting a mac (I actually like osx, unlike most people who buy it just for looks).

I bought a new battery for my laptop after around the 3 year mark, but will probably get a new laptop soon. I am considering a Mac for the quality and stability (supposedly), but am hesitant because I run a lot of PC simulation programs that are not available for Mac.

I see. I believe we are talking about the same school too. Columbia?

someone gave a thumbs down on the last guy? good idea, I'll call them next week and see what they can do. Will a big name school actually let a student go unfunded? Seems like an extra student or 2 is nothing for them considering the huge endowment and research money they have.

yeah, sorry. $70k is tuition + stipend that students who got funding are receiving (amount I would get if I get out of the wait list). This is in engineering. According to the financial letter they gave me, it seems like you either get tuition+stipend or nothing at all.

It's been more than 2 weeks since my acceptance and still no word about funding. I really want to go, but without funding, there is no way I can afford it. At least I still get to visit on their expense.

I sent the professor an email saying that attending would be difficult, if not impossible, without funding. Then I followed up 2 weeks after the email was sent.. For the record, no progress has been made, but at least he knows I am interested and concerned.

I have been admitted into a PhD program, but with no funding. I am supposedly on a "financial aid wait list" though. I have already emailed one of the committee professors about my financial aid concerns and difficulty in attending if I do not receive aid and he has responded neutrally. Should I contact professors expressing my interest and asking if they have money to support me (would be about $70k/year)?

I did not post it on facebook (although I thought about it) because I did not want to attract attention that way and I am afraid that I will receive less than 50 comments/likes, which will be seen as a failed attempt at attn-whoring. When I told some people at school, some were happy for me, but most were jealous and said that the school sucked (only at my UG does Columbia University suck!!) and that they would rather go to UCLA. Granted UCLA is higher ranked than Columbia in some areas, but it's not like LA is top 5 or anything in the ones that it is better in. I ♥ haters. edit: posting acceptances/gloating/bragging is what grad cafe and college confidential is for.

much better! keep up the good work.

No, by all means, look professional. I'm going to dress fairly well to my visitation days too, but what you are doing is over the top. There is a difference between classy professional and gaudy professional. As someone who keeps saying he dresses professionally, you seem to be the latter.

Penn State- did you make sure that you jacket lapels are the same width as your tie? I wouldn't want a sartorial mistake like that to ruin the effect that your lapel pins might have.

Can't I be ethnically German?