funding at Wisconsin?

[lexi87]

I've heard that Wisconsin offers very little funding to those accepted into the history department...can anyone verify this? Are there any multi-year fellowships available, or is funding a year-to-year thing? I'm most likely applying, but I definitely can't attend without funding, so I'm wondering if it's worth the application. Thank you!

[oryantin]

i've heard something different, they offer no funding except some external oppurtunuties. the best way to learn is to contact gradute studies director.

[StrangeLight]

<p>i&#39;ve heard that some students get multiyear fellowships and others are admitted without guaranteed funding. they are usually able to secure funding each year, or each year after their first, but they never actually know if they&#39;re funded until the end of the previous school year. it&#39;s a stressful and precarious position to be in and one i would recommend avoiding (i.e. if that&#39;s what wisconsin offers you and you get in ANYWHERE else, don&#39;t go to wisconsin). i spoke briefly with a wisconsin student about it and he told me it was stressful but that &quot;most&quot; people &quot;usually&quot; got funded. he did feel, however, that professors treated the students with multi-year guaranteed funding differently than the ones who were scrambling year in and out for funding.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>talk to the DGS and current grad students there. it was 2 years ago that i had this conversation with a wisconsin student, so it may be different now. better, or worse. you should ask around.</p>

<div id="myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>

[TMP]

Worst that can happen is just apply and see what happens, if Wisconsin is where you really want to get in. Nobody likes the hierarchical system but it's going to be what you make of the program.

[modern]

They don't offer funding to every admitted student, but they do if they really want you and if the professors that want you are powerful enough within the department.

This is probably a bad year for applying there though. Their history program is brilliant, but, as you may know, the university has been in deep trouble lately. They are cutting funds for the humanities, there have been protests, the republicans were even stalking William Cronon... they are cutting health ensurance in summers and things like that. And all those things probably have an effect on the general ambiance of the deparment, as people have to compete for funds, etc.

That said, as TMP and Strangelight suggest, do apply if it is your first choice and contact the department to ask all sort of questions regarding funding and all that. It really has wonderful professors (arguably among the very best for some subfields) and a tradition of great scholarship. I've heard that Madison is a lovely city too.

Edited November 5, 2011 by modern

[CageFree]

I spoke to someone there and was told they are going to accept very few people just so they can offer funding to everyone.

[natsteel]

IIRC, I remember someone saying that this was the case last year also as they have had a habit in the past of making more offers than other schools for the same number of spots and that two years ago they had a totally unanticipated and large number of acceptances, even for spots where the funding wasn't guaranteed. A search would probably turn up the original post...

[sequi001]

<p>Well, I guess this may be the right place for me to ask a question about funding at University of Wisconsin. I got accepted yesterday and I am more than happy about this as their program is definitely in my top 3 schools. I am just worried now about funding, as I know that they used to accept more students than they can fund. Does anybody know what it is going to be like this year? DId the people who participated earlier to this thread get their information from UW?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot and good luck to you all!</p>

<div id="myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>