Fielding Multiple Offers

[toomanycooks]

Hi all,

 

Looking for advice from folks who have been, or are currently in this situation. I have multiple offers from several really great programs, and fortunately they keep coming in. One of my contacts mentioned I should reach out to him if I need to talk about the "competitiveness of their offer." The thought had never occurred to me.

 

My question is this: If the programs who have accepted me seem extremely interested in getting me to join the incoming cohort, what is negotiable as far as terms of the contract? Is it appropriate to mention that other departments have offered a larger stipend? Does this look bad (i.e. wrong priorities) or could it be construed as offensive? If I am able to negotiate, what is the most tactful way of doing so and who exactly should I contact?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Alext182]

I had a similar situation in that I was accepted to several great programs. I wouldn't try to negotiate the base stipend (I don't think programs will change that for a single student plus to compare programs you would also have to take into account different costs of living, etc). Negotiating fellowships, however, is fair game in my experience.

 

Thus, you would not say - program x offered me a stipend of this, can you match it? But you could say - program x offered me a fellowship in which I would not have to TA or RA for the first two years. I am attracted to this package because it would allow me more time to develop my research. Does your program have any similar opportunities?"

 

Most programs have a graduate dean or director that you would contact. It is really important to handle it with tact - always try to bring it back to your research - not quality of life stuff (e.g. spending money). And reiterate how interested you are in the program. I'd probably run the email by a mentor if you can before sending it.

 

Last word of advice - only negotiate with a program that if they match what you are asking for, you will attend. Asking for a program to boost their offer, waiting to hear back from them, and then saying "no" if they offer it would look unprofessional IMO.

 

 

 

 

[alienatedlabor]

thank you for starting this thread! I'm in a similar position-- really did not expect to get into multiple programs-- and am surprisingly anxious about fielding multiple offers.

 

For me, the part that caught me off guard most is the recruiting calls/emails. One school I got into has hardly recruited me (two emails from current students, one email from a junior-level professor), but another school has been very aggressive (five emails from mid-level faculty and two phone calls). Both schools are actually of similar fit and rank. Should I be reading into this at all? My guess is that different programs just have different protocols for recruiting and some schools are more aggressive than others, but this has really given me the impression that I'm wanted so much more. I don't want to read too much into this, because I'm not sure if a lukewarm recruiting effort will actually affect my graduate school experience much.  Is anyone else experiencing something like this? How much does recruiting matter? 

[rising_star]

Different programs definitely have different protocols. My PhD program doesn't do much recruitment but people are more than willing to be helpful if you reach out to them. Our conversion rate (people accepted that enroll) is so high that we don't bother to do much recruitment (we also don't pay when people visit for the most part, which hasn't seemed to affect that conversion rate at all). If it's the norm for that department, I wouldn't worry about it too much. 

 

Also, be careful about negotiations. Make sure that what you're asking for is reasonable. For example, one school offered me a few thousand less than others but, their package included covering all student fees and health insurance, plus the school was in an area with a very low cost of living (you could get a 1 bedroom apartment for $400/month). $20K in Athens, Georgia goes a lot further than it does in NYC.

[toomanycooks]

I had a similar situation in that I was accepted to several great programs. I wouldn't try to negotiate the base stipend (I don't think programs will change that for a single student plus to compare programs you would also have to take into account different costs of living, etc). Negotiating fellowships, however, is fair game in my experience.

 

Thus, you would not say - program x offered me a stipend of this, can you match it? But you could say - program x offered me a fellowship in which I would not have to TA or RA for the first two years. I am attracted to this package because it would allow me more time to develop my research. Does your program have any similar opportunities?"

 

Most programs have a graduate dean or director that you would contact. It is really important to handle it with tact - always try to bring it back to your research - not quality of life stuff (e.g. spending money). And reiterate how interested you are in the program. I'd probably run the email by a mentor if you can before sending it.

 

Last word of advice - only negotiate with a program that if they match what you are asking for, you will attend. Asking for a program to boost their offer, waiting to hear back from them, and then saying "no" if they offer it would look unprofessional IMO.

 

This sounds like great advice. I am a bit worried because as of now it seems like the ideal program that is the best fit also has the lowest stipend, and is in the most expensive area. Of course my first concern is the fit and quality of the program, but I can't afford to take out more loans to supplement a small stipend. I was definitely planning on treading lightly if I brought this up at all. It is such a highly ranked/regarded program that I don't want to seem ungrateful for the offer. Thanks for the advice!

[Pennywise]

I have a friend who was able to add $10K to her stipend plus a sweet apartment in NYC by basically putting two top programs in a bidding war. She's a great person and a very good candidate for a bunch of reasons (including being Af-Am, totally acing the GREs, and having awards and a high profile in her previous profession). I think she will be extremely marketable when she goes up for jobs and would be surprised if she doesn't get 1) a top university press for her first book and 2) competing offers at top 10 programs. So, to get to a 40K stipend and sweet apartment in the East Village, that's the kind of candidate one might have to be.

Not sociology, but an interdisciplinary field, btw.

I have heard of other people who tried it and got nothing, but also didn't suffer any negative consequences.

Edited February 9, 2015 by grrlfriend

[alienatedlabor]

Different programs definitely have different protocols. My PhD program doesn't do much recruitment but people are more than willing to be helpful if you reach out to them. Our conversion rate (people accepted that enroll) is so high that we don't bother to do much recruitment (we also don't pay when people visit for the most part, which hasn't seemed to affect that conversion rate at all). If it's the norm for that department, I wouldn't worry about it too much. 

 

Also, be careful about negotiations. Make sure that what you're asking for is reasonable. For example, one school offered me a few thousand less than others but, their package included covering all student fees and health insurance, plus the school was in an area with a very low cost of living (you could get a 1 bedroom apartment for $400/month). $20K in Athens, Georgia goes a lot further than it does in NYC.

 Thanks! That is really helpful to know. 

[Pennywise]

Hey why the downvote? I'm not saying that's what everybody should do, but i thought it might be helpful to know that at least one person succeeded with the bidding war strategy.