1 school 2 departments

[stuckinthemiddle]

So I understand negotiating for a larger stipend or fellowship when you have 2 or more schools competing for you, but I'm in the interesting situation of having offers from different departments at the same school. One has a little bit better funding package than the other. Do the rules of negotiating change when you have 2 departments at the same school and you will presumably have to interact with members of each department regardless of the program you select? Does looking greedy hurt you here more than it would with two separate schools?

Thanks for your help

[adinutzyc]

I think negotiating even between different schools as long as they are equals isn't a great thing to do, as in it wouldn't actually solve anything. Only lower ranked schools are actually willing to match offers up, or schools that really, but really love you. That being said, I don't think trying would hurt you in any way... Maybe someone that actually have better experience can help you out... Good lock!

[qbtacoma]

So I understand negotiating for a larger stipend or fellowship when you have 2 or more schools competing for you, but I'm in the interesting situation of having offers from different departments at the same school. One has a little bit better funding package than the other. Do the rules of negotiating change when you have 2 departments at the same school and you will presumably have to interact with members of each department regardless of the program you select? Does looking greedy hurt you here more than it would with two separate schools?

Thanks for your help

Well, now's the time to consider which program you really want to be in. Presumably (since you don't mention it) taking the offer with less money wouldn't actually put you in a bad place with lots of loans, so the issue is ease of living. While many people have stated before on the forum that money IS an important factor, I will argue that you should pick the program you most want to be with. You could certainly ask about the financial difference, especially if your chosen program is the one with less money. Say something like, "Look, I really want to do X program, but I have this higher offer from another department and I want to make sure I can support myself." See what your profs say. They may surprise you and offer more, or tell you to take the better offer.

How closely will you be working across departments? Will you just pass people in the hall or will you actually be taking classes and such from them?