Financial Package

[barryeire]

Just over a month ago I was admitted to Georgetown's PhD in History Program, I was delighted with this outcome and i presumed i would automatically qualify for funding, but when i enquired about my funding situation i was told that I would receive no financial aid. I'm an international student and without financial support i would never have the means to enter never mind finish a PhD program in the US. So i gave up on Georgetown and the US, it was the only school i applied to. My next best option was Cambridge (UK) and i decided i would enter its PhD History program. However, just a few days ago Georgetown offered me a financial package, unknown to me I was on a waiting list for funding. The financial package includes a stipend ($18040-9 months), tuition, and health insurance in exchange for the 15-20 hours work per week. Does this sound reasonable? How does the stipend compare with other programs? Someone has obviously given up the chance to go to Georgetown along with this financial package, so it makes me think it might not be a good deal after all. They did say there would be more opportunities for funding if i performed well in my first year or two but nothing is guaranteed. Is it normal to work 15-20 hours per week as a TA/RA? Should i go for it or just go to Cambridge (where, although the funding is not as generous as Georgetown, i could finish my PhD in 3-4 years, because there is no requirement to be a TA/RA)? This is a big decision for me so i'd appreciate any suggestions you might have.

[canuck]

Cambridge >> Georgetown. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

[barryeire]

Cambridge >> Georgetown. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

Canuck, can you elaborate more on the above, it doesn't clarify my question about the financial package on offer

[luvalicious]

What are you studying in History? I'd assume that in some subfields, one school may be better than the other. If you plan on teaching history, though, you're going to want that teaching component.

In terms of the package, I'd say it's fairly normal in terms of stipend- there are higher ones, but there are lower ones as well - but I've yet to see a History package with TA/RA work in the first year (usually that year is just coursework). Let me get this clear -they only offered you one year of that package, with the possibility of funding down the road? Or is this a five year plan?

[UndraftedFreeAgent]

I can't speak as to the comparative strengths of the programs, but I'm sure both must be quite good.

$18,000 seems to be a bit above average overall, but fairly typical for a school in a large, expensive city. One thing you should be asking is whether finishing your PhD in 3-4 years is a real possibility at Cambridge. That seems quite short to me and I imagine it would be difficult to build the strong portfolio of publications/conferences/presentations/teaching that would be necessary for a job in academia.

15-20 hours per week of TA/RA work is also fairly standard. You should talk to professors or current grad students to see what the REAL burden is. Some schools state 15-20 hours, but actually require much less during the first year. Moreover, TA/RAships are a great way to build relationships with professors and strengthen your resume for when you go out on the job market.

Finally, are you sure there is no work obligation at Cambridge? It is relatively rare for more than a single year to be work free.

[canuck]

I'm saying that Cambridge is one of the the most highly regarded universities in the world whereas Georgetown is highly regarded in the DC area. Unless you plan on studying modern US history I would think Cambridge would be a much wiser career move. I can only speak really about engineering but every faculty at a good school seems to have Cambridge PhD professors.

[rising_star]

To answer your questions, yes 15-20 hours of work as a TA/RA is reasonable. That's the norm at most schools. Not all offers include insurance so that is a plus. In my mind, it's a fair package. If you really want to know how it compares, go take a look at the offers posted under the "History" forum and also under the thread "How big is your discipline's package?"

Would you really be able to finish a PhD that fast at Cambridge? My understanding is that history PhDs take a LONG time. Also, I think you should consider where you want to teach. It will be harder to get a good US teaching job with a Cambridge PhD than with a Georgetown one. It will be harder to get ANY teaching job without any experience in the classroom, which would be your situation if you went to Cambridge. Personally I think of being a TA as training for a career as an academic.

[canuck]

I disagree. Especially at big schools. Your research and your pedigree are overwhelmingly more important than your TA experience. If you produce significant work, you can literally be a disaster in the classroom and get great positions (you see this often and its too bad really); conversely if you can inspire 1st year undergrads with great lectures but your work is insignificant, then forget being a professor at a big school.

[UndraftedFreeAgent]

I disagree. Especially at big schools. Your research and your pedigree are overwhelmingly more important than your TA experience. If you produce significant work, you can literally be a disaster in the classroom and get great positions (you see this often and its too bad really); conversely if you can inspire 1st year undergrads with great lectures but your work is insignificant, then forget being a professor at a big school.

I notice you're in engineering. This is one of those cases where humanities/social sciences differ significantly from the pure sciences. It's very hard to get a good, let alone top, position out of grad school and be, as you put it, a disaster in the classroom. Yes, your research and the quality of your school are most important to your long term success, but you do need to be able to teach in these areas of study.

[barryeire]

What are you studying in History? I'd assume that in some subfields, one school may be better than the other. If you plan on teaching history, though, you're going to want that teaching component.

In terms of the package, I'd say it's fairly normal in terms of stipend- there are higher ones, but there are lower ones as well - but I've yet to see a History package with TA/RA work in the first year (usually that year is just coursework). Let me get this clear -they only offered you one year of that package, with the possibility of funding down the road? Or is this a five year plan?

I will specialise in American diplomatic history, specifically Sino-American realtions. I'm also keen on modern Chinese history and if i were to go to Cambridge that's what i would be specialising in, but this is also an option at Georgetown.

Yes i can finish my PhD at Cambridge in 3-4 years, i already have a masters and there is no need for me to take classes and teaching is optional (btw i have many friends who have finished in this time span). Doing a PhD in the UK, it's all about your research, at the end of the day that will stand to you more (according to the UK system) than the classes/seminars or essays students produce while doing their PhD in the US. We do all this, write essays and take seminars etc, as undergraduates.

Reg. the funding opportunity, i asked Georgetown what exactly i would be doing and they said i would not be working for the faculty (for the first two years anyway) but rather for the American Studies Association, "For instance, you (I) might be asked to coordinate the ASA newsletter, help organize the annual meeting, or maintain the website". This is guaranteed for my first two years and if i perform well there i could retain the position. It's a little vague about what i'd actually be doing, one of the Professors said it would be mainly admin. work and "the precise nature of your (my) responsibilities at the American Studies Association would depend on the organization's staffing needs..."

Also, if i perform well over the first two years of the program, i would have the opportunity of receiving a University fellowship or a teaching assistanship. I think i would have to teach at some stage anyway, it's part of the PhD curriculum. I'm looking at a career in Academia but if i play the "China card", there would be so many options for me back home other than academia. What do you guys think now? Thanks again

[luvalicious]

Well.

If studying modern Chinese history is your dream, and finishing quickly and having more options at home (wherever that is) is important, then Cambridge. I can't speak to the strengths of the program, being unfamiliar with it, but I presume you picked it because you thought it was a good one. If you want to teach in the U.S., it may be more difficult coming from Cambridge, especially without teaching experience; however, you might be able to pick up that experience outside of the program.

On the other hand, if you really want to do Sino-American diplomacy, with some concentration in modern Chinese history, then I would choose Georgetown. I can see how the first couple of years might seem redundant, particularly if you already have an MA, but depending on what your MA is in you might benefit from it. It also seems that you'd have more flexibility and range at Georgetown. You have guaranteed work for two years, which might end up being a breeze, but you may have to compete for the rest of your funding later. Are you comfortable with that possibility? If not, then it sounds like Cambridge (with it's (presumably) more concrete funding) might be better. There's nothing wrong or particularly abnormal about the Georgetown offer, though.

How did you initially rank the schools? I initially thought Georgetown was the top-runner until you believed there would be no funding, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[jaw17]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there also a credibility issue? If you're really interested in the American diplomatic relations component, I would think that Georgetown is pretty unbeatable and will give you more first-hand knowledge from the US perspective (including Prof. Tucker, who looks at exactly these issues and has a background in the government intelligence community, and has a great reputation to boot). Especially with the unrivaled resources of the Library of Congress right down the street...

My husband is finishing up his master's there, and while he hasn't studied under Tucker, he's loved the classes he took from both Benedict and Millward, who are also China specialists. I definitely vote Georgetown.

[barryeire]

luvalicious and Jaw 17, thanks for all that, most helpful.