Funding and unhappy vs. Dream school and waiting

[shemeno]

Okay so i know there are a lot of these, but here is my situation:

I applied to 4 schools, got accepted to 2, my top choice and my safety school. My safety school offered me funding as a TA for the first year, and i know the professors well and could get funding as an RA soon after. However it doesn't have anyone who does research in what i want to study, i really only applied because it was where i am currently going to school as an undergrad. My top choice is ranked 2nd in my field, and has one of the most fantastic programs and research set ups for what i want to study. However they have yet to offer funding. Since its now getting closer to april 15th, im starting to freak out. At my top choice, ive started looking into residence life positions to see if i can find a way to off set the costs.

Is it the right thing to do to turn down my safety school with funding because i know i will be unhappy if i stay where i am now, and go to the school of my dreams and possibly have to pay for it?

Edited March 30, 2011 by shemeno

[neuropsychosocial]

However they have yet to offer funding. Since its now getting closer to april 15th, im starting to freak out.

Just to clarify: have they notified you that they won't be offering you funding, or have they not yet notified you about funding at all? If it's the latter, I think it's perfectly acceptable to email or call your POI or the graduate secretary and ask - they will understand that you have multiple offers and need all possible information before making a decision. If they have informed you that you won't receive any funding at all, that's a difficult situation. Personally, I think it's a mistake to do a Ph.D. without full funding, and I also think it's a mistake to do a Ph.D. at a place that won't offer you the training or opportunities that you want. The point of a Ph.D. is the job that comes after the degree, not the degree itself, and the degree is useless if it can't take you where you want to go.

[shemeno]

Just to clarify: have they notified you that they won't be offering you funding, or have they not yet notified you about funding at all? If it's the latter, I think it's perfectly acceptable to email or call your POI or the graduate secretary and ask - they will understand that you have multiple offers and need all possible information before making a decision. If they have informed you that you won't receive any funding at all, that's a difficult situation. Personally, I think it's a mistake to do a Ph.D. without full funding, and I also think it's a mistake to do a Ph.D. at a place that won't offer you the training or opportunities that you want. The point of a Ph.D. is the job that comes after the degree, not the degree itself, and the degree is useless if it can't take you where you want to go.

They have not told me one way or another. I have been told by one professor, not my POI who i haven't been able to reach in months, that i might be a good candidate for second wave RA positions. However i haven't heard for a little while now. I have been in contact with other professors and staff at least once a week right now, because im freaking out. I know that going PHD without finding isn't a good option, but if i stay where i am now, i will never get to where i want to go. I have a very specific field of research that i want to pursue, which my current school doesn't offer. So its just confusing.

[shemeno]

Well i guess at this point im leaning towards going to the school without funding. The school with funding doesn't have the sterilization, or anything, in my area of interest...so it would more be a degree for the sake of the degree rather than what i actually care about. I know that accepting without funding isn't a great plan, but neither is going for what i dont want to do.