Funding

[ralphhumacho]

Hello all,

I recently got accepted to all 4 PhD programs I applied to with tuition waivers, health insurance, and a TA offer (ranging from 15-17k) at each school.

My top choice sent me the financial aid package today, and it said that my TA and tuition waiver is renewable for up to 5 years. However, it said that this is dependent upon my progress in the program (duh), as well as the department's budget (?!?). They mentioned that they have NEVER cut off an assistantship due to budget reasons. However, with the way the economy is looking, I'm worried that I may get cut off 2-3 years into the program and end up have to pay like 80k for the last 3 years, which would suck. Is this a possibility, especially in today's economy? Or am I just worrying too much?

Any help would be appreciated. Good luck to all.

[engguy]

ralph--

anything's possible; it's possible we will all be out hunting rabbits with stones and dodging cannibalistic maniacs in a post-apocalyptic landscape in 2-3 years.

the language you cite in your offer is absolutely standard. they will not cut you off unless you prove to be the absolutely worst TA on the planet, and probably not even then.

the economy is headed into unprecedented territory, though, and even as i jest, i too worry. but things really would have to get pretty apocalyptic (IMO) in order for schools to start cutting TAs loose.

[ewurgler]

I know a few people who had their funding cut a year early. Basically, the department cut them off, but as long as they were able to get an RA or TA position with another department, they still had a tuition waiver and health insurance.

It can happen, but there are usually other departments that will be able to fund you.

[IvyHope]

However, with the way the economy is looking, I'm worried that I may get cut off 2-3 years into the program and end up have to pay like 80k for the last 3 years, which would suck. Is this a possibility, especially in today's economy? Or am I just worrying too much?

Any help would be appreciated. Good luck to all.

That's exactly what's happened to me. I was told that obtaining funding would be cake after my three years of guaranteed teaching assistantship. "Students always extend their funding by a year or two." Unless you get it on contract, I wouldn't expect more from any school. Especially these days.

So now I'm scrambling for funding at my current school, and I've also applied to some other schools (currently in a combined MA/PhD program, just finished the MA portion).

Never, ever, ever take their word without writing to back it up.

[belowthree]

This is another point where I think things get a bit field specific as some fields basically have money falling out of trees and so in some places finding funding isn't a terrible terrible challenge and usually TA is the funding of last resort and in some departments, is virtually always available. (In others, this isn't true at all, ask around and see how many masters students are getting funding on the spare TA positions... if there's a bunch of masters students with TA positions then they're likely to always have some left for PhD students who aren't funded through other means.)

Plus once you get an advisor as long as he keeps the grant money rolling in you can get funded as an RA...

But again, this all depends on the field. Well, not just the field actually, the department too, some are vastly better funded than others, I know at least the NSF releases numbers for institutions in terms of federal funding by broad subject area... look and see where yours is on the list. My current institution is well funded, I don't know about the ones you are applying to.

[rising_star]

I know my department is trying it's best to be able to renew assistantships in spite of the budget situation. One thing to consider is the budget situation of the state and the university. Things aren't good in the Sunbelt and some other places (NY, FL, AZ, and CA come to mind). Honestly though, there's really no way to know. I live in one of those bad budget states and everything is up on the air. But you know what? I'm at a fantastic program, surrounded by fabulous grad students and faculty, and we'll make it through.