itsamiracle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I have been accepted to two schools in Chicago. One is offering me a stipend of 23K, the other is 18K. I prefer the program and school that is giving me 18K. However, I am concerned that it may not be enough to support a year in a large city like Chicago. Can anyone give me insight to the cost of living in the area and if 18K is enough? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liszt85 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 If you are need to support just yourself on that stipend, 18K should be fine from whatever research I'd done. I am planning to support my wife too on a similar stipend.. it'll get very tight. For a single person however, 18K should be enough to lead a simple life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsamiracle Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 Good to know. I was panicking a little bit after learning that the sales tax in chicago is something around 10%. I've been working for the past three years and not saving as much as I would've liked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adaptations Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 The short answer, yes you can definitely live on it. I am at Chicago and my opinion is that 18K is workable. You are on the extreme graduate student budget, but everyone here seems to get by. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankdux Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 you can always get an apartment in the suburbs off of the metra line. a bit cheaper, safer, and cleaner. i dont know what schools you are exactly referring to, but the University of Chicago is in a less than stellar neighborhood. and UIC is a few blocks away from a horrible neighborhood as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsamiracle Posted March 6, 2009 Author Share Posted March 6, 2009 Yes!! Things just got better. My preferred program upped the stipend offer to 20K. That, with your feedback, makes me a lot more comfortable with my future life (or lack of) in Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liszt85 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Yes!! Things just got better. My preferred program upped the stipend offer to 20K. That, with your feedback, makes me a lot more comfortable with my future life (or lack of) in Chicago. Hey, how did you get them to do that? I'm in a fix as I have to support my wife too on just this stipend (around $1500pm after taxes). That is going to be a real tight budget that we're going to live on unless I get some additional cash.. and this amount seems like their standard offer and I don't know if I should/can ask them if it can be raised (I'm awaiting a funding decision from OSU and a possible offer from McMaster) if one of the other places offer better funding (wrt living expenses in the respective city).. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsamiracle Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I think I just got lucky. They had suggested the chance for funding to increase, but I honestly didn't take it to heart (afraid of being let down). When I made travel arrangements to visit, they informed me of the increase. I wish it was always this easy for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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