Accepted but being given the run around regarding a TA

[c3honey84]

I was accepted to George Mason University MS program in Environmental Science and Policy back in March. However, their acceptance letter was just a simple letter stating that I was accepted with my advisor's name. No deadline was given, and no offer of funding. I spoke to my advisor who put me in touch with the contact person for TAs. He tentatively scheduled me for an interview with the professor of Human Anatomy and Physiology. Then he emailed me again and told me that the professor did not want me to TA that course since I have never taken it (which I completely understand). My contact then told me that there were "potentially lots of openings" for TAs in other courses. I did not hear anything for a week, so I sent over another email, and his response was "I will keep your application on file for any openings that come up." So, I went from having an interview to having nothing. This is such an emotional roller coaster. Luckily, there is no deadline to accept or reject admission, but the Graduate Office told me they want to know ASAP. I told them the TA situation, and the office told me to just wait for my TA application to be reviewed and that it's the end of the semester so the professors are very busy. I understand that too, but I am going crazy knowing that I have absolutely no clue what my plans are going to be in September (If I get a TA I will be attending, and hence have to quit my full time job, make plans to move, etc). What are the odds that I would actually be offered a TA once the semester I over? How long am I supposed to wait? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[serenade]

For me, I didn't find out until after July 1 because that was the start of the fiscal year and my university didn't have concrete information on the coming year's budget until then. I know it must be torture to wait until then when you have major life decisions hanging, but maybe part of why you haven't gotten a definite answer could be because your TA contact person might be waiting until the budget is finalized before he makes you any promises. I wasn't at George Mason though, so it might be a different story there. Regardless, I hope you don't have to wait that long! 

Edited April 21, 2015 by serenade

[Mechanician2015]

I've read about TA offerings as late as 2 weeks before classes start. That being said, I do understand how complicated this is for you (I'm in a similar situation, but since I'm an international student, I pretty much have until next thursday to decide due to visa processes).

 

It can happen, but I would have a plan B in place.  

[c3honey84]

Thank you for your responses. It is now June 8th and I still have not heard anything definite. First I was told by the GTA coordinator that there are potentially lots of GTA opportunities. I contacted him when I did not hear anything for 2 months and he was on vacation for a month. While he was away, I contacted his office and a woman told me that they still review GTA applications in June and July. Now, the graduate coordinator emailed me yesterday and told me that there were currently no opportunities. In addition to all of that, I cannot even get my potential advisor to respond to emails! I am starting to get the feeling that things are a bit disorganized over there.  

[shadowclaw]

I feel your pain! I'm waiting on TA funding myself at OSU. I was told that I was on the waitlist for a position, but positions wouldn't be finalized until the summer after the end of the spring quarter (which I think ended last week) when they have more concrete enrollment numbers. So I'm hoping I'll hear about our soon! However, one of my committee members from my masters program said that every year in her PhD program she didn't find out until about 2 weeks before classes start (including her first year... she had 2 weeks to pack up in Vermont, head to Florida, and find someplace to live). She even lost her TA position her last year due to some weird rules about having to be part of a department in order to TA in it (and she was in a multidisciplinary program with no actual home department). Luckily, someone found a job for her.

[ssynny]

I'm in this boat right now too! I'm still waiting to hear back on funding and I'm terrified that they're gonna tell me early August and potentially expect me to pick up and move my whole life in a week's time. Hope we all hear back soon!

[c3honey84]

Just wanted to update on here as well. Those who said I could be offered a TA in August were right! First week in August I was offered a full TA including giving me the out-of-state tuition as well as a $14,500 stipend. Now I'm in the midst of running around trying to plan things, and of course I had to leave my full-time job which was hard. I'm very excited but also very nervous. Thanks for everyone's help!