Funding Possibilities..

[GradInFall]

Hey guys, I want some feedback on this situation.

I was accepted to one of my top choices, and I was taken to campus for the recruitment weekend with all expenses paid for. Last night at like 10pm I got a phone call from the college of engineering (not my department) saying that I had been nominated for 2 fellowships but that in oder to process them I she needed to know what other schools I had applied to and if they had contacted me. (the other schools have not contacted me at all).

I was told that the department only has x number of assistantships. So I guess my question would be the following: If I so not get the fellowships at the university level ( they are very competitive), is it possible for the department to give me other financial offer? I guess Im just nervous that they will give out all the other forms of financial aid to other students while they wait on a decision from the graduate school regarding my nomination.

I really appreciate any comments you guys may have regarding this issue

[Bukharan]

Is it even legal for them to ask you where else you applied?

Anyway, I don't think you should worry. If you are nominated for two university-wide fellowships, you are one of the top candidates in the department. They probably wait for the results of the university competition, then distribute department financial aid. I know nothing about your field but I would think that top candidates are never left out worse off than other students.

[Purled]

Is it even legal for them to ask you where else you applied?

Yes, and frequently applications include a space for the names of other programs to which one has applied. Additionally, the programs that I've been admitted to have asked me to keep them informed about other offers I receive, in order to gauge their own competitiveness and possibly improve their funding offers.

Some schools have different levels of awards and funding - funding allocated by your department and funding awarded by the graduate school. You should feel comfortable asking your contact in your department if you are currently being evaluated for department funding, and, if so, if the department's funding decision will be contingent upon funding at the college level.

If you've only just learned that you've been accepted, then you should still contact your department and ask them when they believe they'll have a financial package put together, and let them know that you've been nominated for a college-wide award. As far as spilling the beans on the other schools you've applied to, I generally just give the names of those of an equal or greater tier - additional financial pressure doesn't hurt.