Weird interaction with program director

[prospectivegrad2020]

Hoping to get some perspective.

I was admitted to a strong (but not extremely elite) humanities MA program in late January - but the letter made clear I received no funding. I then emailed the Program Director asking if funding was available/could be re-considered. She essentially let me know that I was "their number one priority" and that if I didn't get a school wide fellowship (that she thought I would secure), then she would advocate for a TA-ship (free tuition/stipend/insurance).

While a TA-ship comes with the added responsibility of teaching - I'd sort of prefer it (as it is 2 years confirmed, and I'd get teaching experience). I would prefer getting that offered up-front irregardless of the other school-wide fellowship.

Any thoughts? Just feeling strange to get this information through email - if they thought I deserved a TA-ship, why wouldn't they just award it to me?

[ERW]

Depending on your situation, I generally wouldn't advise attending an MA program without funding of you have an alternative. Plenty of excellent and reputable MA programs will fund you, so unless your really struggling for admittance or have your heart set on an unfunded program I would not recommend attending.

Regarding your experience and interaction: if the funding letter does not guarantee a certain level of funding, you shouldn't expect that they will come through with some. Of course, there are plenty of well meaning Program Directors who will try to get their students (extra) funding, but as it stands you cannot expect that any will be forthcoming. Many offers include guaranteed TAships as part of the funding package (e.g., guaranteed one per year, but can apply for additional ones), but you are only guaranteed what is in your funding package. If they can only offer you the hope of a TAship, it means they might not be able to secure one for you, which is odd, but might be a matter of enrolment or demand for courses in your area of expertise.