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[alanapsci]

Why do schools accept you for a Ph.D. but then provide you with no funding?

I thought that if they accepted you they would provide funding? I do know this year it is particularly difficult to find funding because of the economy... but what gives?

Thanks!

[polisciphd]

Is there any possibility of funding after the first year?

[alanapsci]

Maybe.... but nothing is garanteed. I am guessing that the program needs money so they offer a few extra spots without money to lure in the cash? And I guess some people bite.

[Quarex]

You just never know. Though you should probably keep your hopes up, as it really does sound like a larger problem than usual. One of my acceptances told me (as consolation, of course) that they were able to fund 2/3 of their incoming doctoral students before this year, and fewer than 1/5 of them this year. People from my thesis committee are telling me that none of their other doctoral-bound students are getting funding either, despite in past years even the less-talented students getting something. This really is clearly not the best time to be doing this! But we will persevere!

Who knows? Maybe the total number of doctorates awarded will slacken in ~5 years as a result of these conditions, and we will be set!

Do not forget to look into other scholarship and fellowship opportunities at the school, however.

[alanapsci]

Thanks Quarex for your opinion and I hoping that funding will come in the next few years. I am still going to take the acceptance even without the money. And I have also heard from my department that many of their students are not getting funding or pathetic funding offers.

Have you made any headway in your decision?