Do they actually notify the recruits if they dont get funding?

[Chukwu Chucks]

OK, I've read some topics here, and there are some which implied that some recruits WON'T BE notified in case there's no money aids for them. YES, those unfortunate people were just left hanging without any clue. Honestly, I'm still waiting for some refreshing news from my grad. school about my funding. (My program starts on September 2012.)

The horror is on me, am I stil WAITING or already HANGING? or perhaps it's still too soon for me to worry? or is it only grad school "kindness" to prevent me from committing suicide in case they have bad news? (which I prefer to be told about the bad news ASAP, anxious can drive ppl mad sometimes!)

Any thought? comment?

Thank you

[Quantum Buckyball]

They will only notify you if you have applied for it. Some schools requires you to submit a secondary application for assistantship. Is it normal for your major to receive assistantship? One of my friends didn't receive any until his second year in graduate school and he's a MBA major.

[Chukwu Chucks]

Yes, I'm sure I have applied for it, the only "other TA application" I found was with my grad school application. It was one of the application question:

"Do you want to be considered for TEaching assisstantship"? which I replied as "YES"

I couldnt find that "other" application....as far as I know there are plenty of graduate student who live off assisstantship

[Quantum Buckyball]

Some of the schools I applied to required me to submit a secondary application for assisstantship. Have you talked to any of the current students in your program about this?

It's normal for graduate students in the STEM field to get assisstantship right away, but I'm not sure about your program though. I would submit an application to FAFSA as a backup plan as soon as possible.

[Chukwu Chucks]

Oh yea, they said they got like a notice email, but they didnt tell me when, and I shouldve ask them that.

what is a STEM program anyway? and do u think most grad department will leave their recruits hanging with no info in case they dont get the money?

[Pauli]

what is a STEM program anyway?

I've seen STEM often used to mean "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math", and usually referred to teaching programs.

[ktel]

If you're doing a research based degree in engineering, you should expect funding. I wouldn't attend without funding. The exception might be some Master's programs in the States, where PhD programs are funded more often than Master's programs. My funding was explicitly stated in my admission letter.

[Chukwu Chucks]

@ktel

Im doing thesis-based, what do u think about it? anyway, are u currently attending Canadian uni?

[TakeruK]

I would second ktel's post about expecting funding if you are doing a research-based (i.e. thesis-based instead of course-based) degree in STEM in North America, unless you are doing only a masters in the US. (which unfortunately does not normally provide funding).

I would consider an offer without funding to say that "we aren't sure about your ability to succeed in our program, but we need/want your tuition money so come to our school anyways". Funding is good in itself because we don't want to go into debt, but I also consider it as a statement of their faith in my ability to do well in their program, because they are willing to invest that money in me. In addition, I would feel more like a valued member of the department instead of a paying "customer".

[Chukwu Chucks]

I would consider an offer without funding to say that "we aren't sure about your ability to succeed in our program, but we need/want your tuition money so come to our school anyways".

Ouch.....

[ktel]

@ktel

Im doing thesis-based, what do u think about it? anyway, are u currently attending Canadian uni?

If you are doing a thesis-based degree, you should expect funding. Unless you are an international student (are you?). I have a feeling the norms and expectations would be different. Yes I am attending a university in Canada

[Chukwu Chucks]

If you are doing a thesis-based degree, you should expect funding. Unless you are an international student (are you?). I have a feeling the norms and expectations would be different. Yes I am attending a university in Canada

I am international student....going to attend American University, are you also international student in Canada? I also remember u told me that u got the notification 2 weeks before school starts, I bet it's pretty hard waiting game for you eh....(but finally u got the funding....congrats!)

Did you get notification via email or letter? sorry if I'm asking too much...Im just having my own waiting game for now

[ktel]

No, I am Canadian. I am already in my Master's program, and was notified in March of both my acceptance and funding via e-mail. At my university you are guaranteed funding with acceptance though. I also received external funding from a variety of sources for this current year and next year. Notification for that also occurred in the March to May time frame. I would not have waited until 2 weeks before school starts, I would have probably not gone to grad school at all if that had been the case.

[Eigen]

If you're doing a MS in engineering in the US, I'd say there's a decent chance that funding is not a base assumption. Most places I've seen, all PhDs in STEM fields are funded, but that doesn't usually extend to a masters.

As for funding- I think the norm is that they tell you if you've received funding, not if you haven't. And since I'm assuming your acceptence letter didn't specifically state funding, then it isn't an "everyone gets funding" type of situation.

[Chukwu Chucks]

@ktel and others....thanks for sharing your experiences!

But still, I'm still not sure if they will inform the recruits about the inavailability or not....I just dont like to be left hanging without any information....it's hard to determine my next move.

[TakeruK]

Ouch.....

Sorry, I should rephrase my original statement to say that my second paragraph (i.e. funding is a sign of confidence that the student will succeed) should only apply to programs where full funding is the norm, such as STEM programs, but MS level programs aren't usually funded in the US. I guess I didn't really make the appropriate connecting phrases between my first and second paragraphs!

[Chukwu Chucks]

...still not sure whether they will tell me or not if I dont get any money though....

[ktel]

...still not sure whether they will tell me or not if I dont get any money though....

Why don't you ask? While I would assume them not telling you means you don't get any money, it doesn't hurt to ask. I clarified all my funding with my school before attending.

[Chukwu Chucks]

Why don't you ask? While I would assume them not telling you means you don't get any money, it doesn't hurt to ask. I clarified all my funding with my school before attending.

I sent them multiple emails already...no answer whatsoever....I literally asked them to tell me straight forward if there's no funding available for me....but no answer....

[Chukwu Chucks]

Sorry, I should rephrase my original statement to say that my second paragraph (i.e. funding is a sign of confidence that the student will succeed) should only apply to programs where full funding is the norm, such as STEM programs, but MS level programs aren't usually funded in the US. I guess I didn't really make the appropriate connecting phrases between my first and second paragraphs!

lol....no hard feelings

[Chukwu Chucks]

...so what u guys think?

[Eigen]

I'm not sure what you're looking for. The overwhelming consensus has been that they probably won't inform you if you don't get funding, only if you do.

Past that, no one but your program can answer.

[Chukwu Chucks]

Past that, no one but your program can answer.

Too bad, not because the dept. CAN'T answer....but because they WON'T answer....I'm feeling that im being ignored.....I bet they try to play hard to get, just like all the ladies cross ma' street hood....

[Eigen]

I've gotta ask, what is it with you up-rating all of your own posts?

As to funding, have you called the department? Who in the department have you called? I have a hard time believing yo can't get through to any of the department administrators, and haven't been able to for weeks....

[Chukwu Chucks]

I've gotta ask, what is it with you up-rating all of your own posts?

As to funding, have you called the department? Who in the department have you called? I have a hard time believing yo can't get through to any of the department administrators, and haven't been able to for weeks....

I did call them, I tried to call the profs but NEVER able to reach them...the only one I can reached was the school administrator (something like that)...and she said "Talk to the profs!"

As for the self-liking....does it give you any harm?