anonaccount

I'm confused. My adviser strongly recommended that I very subtly mention that I am considering the financial offers of other schools when communicating with my top choice. I have one base level offer and 2-3 significantly "enhanced" offers from other comparable schools. I have applied to chemistry PhD programs and he is a tenure track chem prof.

I have the same question. My adviser strongly encouraged me to say something like "hey I like your school, but I have other offers that I will have to consider the financial aspects of before making a decision," but I'm still confused about what to say exactly...

Help! My adviser strongly recommends that I use offers from other schools to influence the offer I have received from my top choice. Has anyone ever done this successfully? Any advice? Wording of the dreaded email to a prospective PI or grad school recruiter? All of the schools have at least 2 and sometimes as many as 6 research groups I would consider joining. He said to very subtly mention somehow that I have other offers and am trying to make a decision soon. My family is all very poor, so these kind of offers are hard to turn down especially when I have "enhanced" offers from 2/4 of the schools with a 3rd pending a decision. Btw these are for chemistry PhD programs with waived tuition and either partial or full health insurance subsidies. Background: A University: Cost of living 91, Stipend $20,000 visited, favorite, love love love B University: Cost of living 87, Stipend $21,900 (candidate for more $) have not visited yet but this will very likely be my second choice C University: Cost of living 81, Stipend $24,000 visited, good school but I would not enjoy living in this environment much D University: Cost of living 96, Stipend $30,000 visited, not so great school, doable but I'd rather not

Good luck to you, too! So I talked to my adviser, and he actually said that I can write an email to someone I talked to a lot during the visit or to the grad recruiter saying something like "I would love to work with Dr. [whoever], and I really liked your school, but I have several offers on the table, and may have to go elsewhere because of financial considerations. I will try to give you guys a decision as soon as possible; I am visiting one more school in two weeks and should be able to make a decision very soon after." etc. My adviser actually brought this up and encouraged it. So maybe you can do the same thing!

Cost of living for all of the locations are very, very similar (with the exception of Baylor being much lower, so $25,000 is like getting almost $30,000).

Thanks guys! I didn't know I could "bargain." How would you phrase a letter addressing this? My top choice is the $20,000 but I have three other schools that I'm not as excited about offering $25,000 (Baylor), $30,000 & no teaching (UNO), Bama $22,000 (nominated for more funding up to $30,000, no decision yet). All of the schools have multiple research groups I could join. I'll also be talking with my undergrad adviser about this soon. I come from a very poor family, so that much money is hard to say no to.

Ok, so I have several acceptances with full funding (the norm for chemistry). Several are offering me enhanced packages up to $30,000. However, my favorite school is only offering $20,000. I do not think $20,000 would be miserable to live on (cost of living in that area is ranked 97 where 100 is the national average), but... $30,000 is a lot of money (those areas also hover around the national average) with no teaching responsibilities. Am I crazy if I forgo $10,000 a year for a better fit?

Awesome! Thank you. I'm less frazzled now.

I got housing emails from UF before hearing about my accept/reject status. I emailed to ask what was up, and they told me the housing emails were a mistake. I am on the wait list. I think grad admissions offices are chaotic.

So gradcafe lists decisions from all of my schools (some rejections, some acceptances, etc.) but I have not heard a peep since I got the "we have you application" email... Does this mean I'm wait listed? Or do some schools just make offers a few people at a time... I'm confused.