Listing personal savings as financial support??

[monkeybrains]

Hey everyone, 

 

I am fortunate enough to have a good amount of money in my educational savings plan. It amounts to around $70k/year spread out over 5 years.

 

Several applications ask for sources of funding that would not be coming from the program, presumably things like NIH or NSF grants.  

 

Should I list my personal savings in my applications under "Financial Support"? Is there a negative connotation to this? Obviously, programs welcome applicants who would minimize financial risk and burden on the departments, but this is typically in the case of grants. I do not know how they would perceive personal savings, perhaps as a not-so-subtle way of "buying one's way" into a program?

 

Does anyone have advice on this situation?

[TakeruK]

If you are not an international student then I would not list it (international students need to provide evidence for financial support to get a student visa), unless you are applying for needs based financial support and thus are required to do so (doesn't sound like you would qualify though). 

[peachypie]

I would not put that in your application, nor is that what your applying to university is looking for in an external funding.  If you are worried about getting into a PhD program, have money to spare, then maybe consider applying to a masters program.  It will allow you to improve your application profile for a PhD if this round of application does not work out in your favor.  You should be focusing on how to improve yourself as an applicant as your number one priority right now.