Funding or program??

[kaleisi]

I'm really looking for advice Basically, I have been accepted to two Master's programs in the field I want. Option A offers full funding through a 20 hour per week assistantship, and option B offers partial funding - the first semester is a sort of 'training' assistantship for all new studens that pays for most of the tuition (+ stipend), and for the following semesters, it's based on merit and money available. Option B also said that in the past years, all students have been funded for their entire time, but there's no guarantee. They also added that they give out only 10 hour per week assistantships.

 

My dilemma is this. I would without a doubt pick option A because full funding sounds great, but I prefer option B, in terms of faculty and strength of research. I guess I just got a better impression from option B. They also have excellent employment rate for their graduates, which isn't the case for option A.

 

Thoughts? Advice?

[Bethdv]

Can you afford to live on partial funding, or can you get by without funding at all for a semester or two?

If not, would you be able or willing to work during the program?

If not, make an estimate of how much money you would need, worst case. Would you be able to pay off your debts in the couple of years after you graduate from option B? 

 

I wouldn't want to start on a PhD program while in debt, but that's less of a problem when you're just looking to get a job. So what you plan on doing after should also be taken into consideration. 

[hikaru1221]

Do you have any professor at B to back you up? Department politics can become useful.

[deleonj]

I'm really looking for advice Basically, I have been accepted to two Master's programs in the field I want. Option A offers full funding through a 20 hour per week assistantship, and option B offers partial funding - the first semester is a sort of 'training' assistantship for all new studens that pays for most of the tuition (+ stipend), and for the following semesters, it's based on merit and money available. Option B also said that in the past years, all students have been funded for their entire time, but there's no guarantee. They also added that they give out only 10 hour per week assistantships.

 

My dilemma is this. I would without a doubt pick option A because full funding sounds great, but I prefer option B, in terms of faculty and strength of research. I guess I just got a better impression from option B. They also have excellent employment rate for their graduates, which isn't the case for option A.

 

Thoughts? Advice?

My $0.02, but the "20 hour per week assistantship" at Option A seems like a great way to gain a lot of experience while also paying your degree. I wish I had had that secure funding/experience built into my Masters degree.

Edited March 9, 2014 by deleonj

[kaleisi]

My $0.02, but the "20 hour per week assistantship" at Option A seems like a great way to gain a lot of experience while also paying your degree. I wish I had had that secure funding/experience built into my Masters degree.

 

It does sound great, however like I said, the program isn't unique in terms of faculty or research :\

 

Do you have any professor at B to back you up? Department politics can become useful.

 

Do you mean backing up in terms of assistantships? Not really.. I'm an international student, so I couldn't even visit the school for the interview. I considered telling option B of the full assistantship I got as a way to negotiate, but I have a feeling they aren't going to change standard procedure for me.

 

Can you afford to live on partial funding, or can you get by without funding at all for a semester or two?

If not, would you be able or willing to work during the program?

If not, make an estimate of how much money you would need, worst case. Would you be able to pay off your debts in the couple of years after you graduate from option B? 

 

I wouldn't want to start on a PhD program while in debt, but that's less of a problem when you're just looking to get a job. So what you plan on doing after should also be taken into consideration. 

 

I can afford to live on partial and even no funding for a semester or two, it's more that I could just bypass that entire issue by going for the program with full funding. I would very much like to work and I think I can within the university, but as an international student, I doubt I'll be able to work outside the university.