CoffeeStainedMemos

Does anyone know whether a stipend can only be used for study/research related expenses, or can it also be used for basic expenses that are not directly related to study/research?

Does anyone know how it usually works with regard to funding? Is it for example a function of GPA? Like: 3.7+ -> 100% funding 3.6-3.7 -> 50% funding 3.4-3.6-> 33% funding 3.4- -> No funding Or does it work differently? And how does funding/no-funding relate to the waitlist? E.g. person X is offered funding but declines (accepts an offer at a different uni), does that mean that his funding package goes to person Y who was admitted but without (or with partial) funding? Or is his funding package going to person Z who is on the waitlist?

"What if nobody accepts me?!"

All recommenders sent me a copy of their letter.

Seems like it

Hm, don't remember that I did, but I guess you're right. Thanks

Today I received an email from Columbia U. about a particular one year Masters program, however when I checked the details of the "send" information, I found out that there was a specific recruitment agency via which Columbia U. had contacted me. Strange... Last month I did send an application to Columbia U, but that was for a different (though slightly related) program, and also for a PhD degree instead of a Masters... Has anyone else received such an email? What does it mean?

I am an international applicant, and after reading this and this post, I became slightly worried (to say the least). In the above posts it is said that: "state-funded institution operate with a restricted budget and a peculiar fee-structure. International students are much more expensive to support than students with US citizenship, because they can never establish "state residency" (thus qualifying for radically reduced fees)." Does anyone know whether it is indeed disadvantageous for an international applicant to submit an application to a public US university, as compared to a private US university (funding-wise)?

@fanon_fanatic Media and development

This is very recognizable! @fanon_fanatic Have you read Darker than Blue by Paul Gilroy? (On GoodReads is a nice excerpt) BTW, I have applied to NYU, Penn and UIC.

Any recommendations for an insightful PhD Application Handbook? (US universities)

Any recommendations for an insightful Phd Application Handbook? (US universities)