Begging for money

[teaganc]

I would, if that is what it would take to get summer funding (I'm pretty sure the pay gained would be at least 2-3 more than what I could make at other places). Otherwise, because the program is structured in a set way (take class A first semester, class B second semester, so on and so forth), I wouldn't. Was just wondering if it would be considered a little audacious to ask if it were possible considering that I'm not formally enrolled yet (rec'd acceptance and news about funding from the graduate director, but not yet rec'd formal letter).

Schools generally cannot fund you before you've enrolled, which will be on the first day of Fall 2009 classes, especially if they are a public school and thus following federal aid guidelines. Even if you could, most schools don't increase funding for the summer just because you took classes; you can take classes, and sometimes you have to pay tuition (even if you have a waiver for fall-spring), and sometimes they'll increase your waiver to include the summer, but that doesn't obligate them to increase your funding. If you are desperate for money, you should get a full-time job during the summer. It will pay more per month than your stipend anyway, unless you are making minimum wage (and even then, it's close).

[Stories]

Schools generally cannot fund you before you've enrolled, which will be on the first day of Fall 2009 classes, especially if they are a public school and thus following federal aid guidelines. Even if you could, most schools don't increase funding for the summer just because you took classes; you can take classes, and sometimes you have to pay tuition (even if you have a waiver for fall-spring), and sometimes they'll increase your waiver to include the summer, but that doesn't obligate them to increase your funding. If you are desperate for money, you should get a full-time job during the summer. It will pay more per month than your stipend anyway, unless you are making minimum wage (and even then, it's close).

Well, the amount of stipend depends on the school and the source of your funding. If you're funded on a training grant fellowship (as I am), the stipend can pay as much as an average entry level job (~$30k).