unfunded admissions

[sheaisawesome]

I found out I got into UVa's PhD program, but the letter said "no funding available". I dont understand how they expect someone to pay their own way thru a PhD and why they think that is even economically feasible. Is there anything I can do?

[Nofia]

nope. UVA is seriously strapped for cash and they can only fund a small portion of the incoming class. those who dont get funded pay for their first year then hope that they get a TAship to get a stipend, the tuition remission, health insurance, etc. in their second year onward. it really sucks.

[belowthree]

You can e-mail some faculty and see if anyone is interested in working with you enough to fund you.

[waitingformyletters]

I had another experience: one school offered me TAship but not tuition waiver. I have never seen that done - at my current U. every TA receives tuition waiver and health insurance.

[MDLee]

You've got a few options:

(1) Hold tight for another acceptance with funding. This is stressful, but its possible if you sent out other apps that another offer will come through. If not, fall back to--

(2) Accept this one and do as others have said--schools are more likely to fund second year students than intro students. I know that at UNLV the priority is given to Second Year PhD students, then to incoming PhD, then to second year MA, then to first year MA. It is possible that the funding will come.

(3) Reject it all together and start the whole process over next year.

To be totally unfunded for the entirety is not a wise move, but to go one year (or one semester...you never know) may be all the option some of us have until the economy picks back up and schools start handing money to us would-be intellectuals again.