How do outside fellowships work?

[DontHate]

I'm currently applying for a government grant through a PhD program that I'm interviewing at. The school invited me to apply to this program, though I have yet to be officially accepted by them. Does my success in securing extra funding help my chances of being accepted? Will the outside grant's decision timeline be made in accordance with the well-known timeline of PhD acceptances (as in, before April 15th)?

 

Anyone with info about this, I would greatly appreciate some answers. Thanks!

[asleepawake]

I have absolutely no idea, but congratulations on being invited to apply! That's certainly good news.

Edited February 6, 2013 by asleepawake

[foresight]

Hi DontHate. 

 

I would say that if the school guarantees five years of funding on their website (many top schools do), then your admission should not be dependent on your securing outside fellowship support. In any case, I can only read the fact that they want/are having you to apply "through" their program (how exactly does that even work before your being accepted?) as a good sign. Does the government grant happen to be FLAS? 

 

If the school does not guarantee funding for all of its admitted candidates, then it may be a good sign in the sense that they want you, but qualified by the fact that they may not have enough funding to admit you or simply want a good candidate at a lower cost. Should you secure external funding, the school may be able to decrease the amount of base stipend that they give you unless the fellowship specifies that their funding should be used as a "top-off" grant simply administered through the university you choose to attend. 

 

I've secure some outside funding and this is all I can really contribute. Knowing what kind of school is in question might help, but from what I've heard suggestions to apply for FLAS or any fellowship, for that matter, are only a good sign. Money in academia is symbolic, as someone elsewhere on GradCafe wrote, and having external funding (or being asked to apply for such funding) is a sign of recognition of your potential for scholarship. Good luck!

[ErnestPWorrell]

I've known people whose acceptance was contingent on receiving fellowship.

[JeremiahParadise]

I've known people whose acceptance was contingent on receiving fellowship.

In the humanities? Wild stuff. Are you able to share where those people were hoping to go?