Accepted but no funding

[Marge_Simpson]

I need a new perspective, or more info, or...something. Feeling puzzled & disappointed.

I was accepted to the anthropology program at Suny Buffalo, and was really excited. My letter said nothing of funding, so I inquired to the graduate department coordinator, who wrote back that the department has limited funding for new students, cannot offer any at this time, but will let me know if things change. 

I think that I will write back to the coordinator and ask her how often funding does become available in this situation, but can anyone relate to this? And how did it work out for you?

 

 

[Neist]

6 minutes ago, Tracyb said:

I think that I will write back to the coordinator and ask her how often funding does become available in this situation, but can anyone relate to this? And how did it work out for you? 

I've done, and people have been generally receptive to the asking. As much as we're trying to sell ourselves to get into these programs, there's a practical nuts-and-bolts layer of considerations that must be confronted when making decisions. Financial considerations are a pretty important, and I doubt most would react badly to a friendly, politely worded query.

But that's just my two cents.

[mini monkey]

For my M.A., I was accepted but with no funding. However, a few weeks later they had a TA/RAship open up and I was offered a tuition waiver with a stipend. It is possible that funding can change; I would ask about any other potential funding avenues, perhaps through other departments or fellowships as well. 

[Marge_Simpson]

2 hours ago, mini monkey said:

For my M.A., I was accepted but with no funding. However, a few weeks later they had a TA/RAship open up and I was offered a tuition waiver with a stipend. It is possible that funding can change; I would ask about any other potential funding avenues, perhaps through other departments or fellowships as well. 

Did your TA/RA-ship open before you started the program, or after?

[mini monkey]

16 hours ago, Tracyb said:

Did your TA/RA-ship open before you started the program, or after?

Before. 

[CuddlyWingman]

Similar to Mini Monkey, I came into the program without funding, but then was able to land a TAship after the fact. 

Especially with MA programs, a lot of schools want to get to know you before they give you the opportunity to work/be funded. Ask around with both the department and with current grad students, they'll be more than willing to help you out.

[farflung]

I agree with Neist -- it is completely appropriate to keep pushing the funding issue with your prospective grad programs. Talk to faculty, talk to grad students, keep asking for funding, don't be shy. You need funding. Is this a PhD or MA program that you're looking at? I know MA programs often have spottier RA/TAships available, but proceed with extreme caution if a PhD program isn't sure it has the money for you. As a late-stage doctoral student, my only real advice is to not take on a single dollar of debt to go get a PhD in anthropology. It will not pay off in the end. See Karen Kelsky's timeless, helpful writings on the circumstances under which getting a PhD is an OK idea (you'll notice many of these circumstances are related to money, which is important. It may not be important to your 22 year old self, but it will be to your 30 year old newly-doctorate self). Hope this helps!