Negotiate Funding

[nutella]

I was accepted into a MA program with a 7k scholarship the first year and a TAship with tuition remission and a 18k stipend the second year. While the second year sounds great, the first year would be quite a struggle with the small scholarship to cover the year's non-resident tuition. I also cannot afford to take on student debt or pay the rest of the tuition, even if I had a PT job. I have applied to several programs and will attend whatever university gives me tuition remission.  I'm still waiting to hear back from a few more programs but from the programs I have been accepted to, only one university has offered a TAship with tuition remission and a small stipend but I would much rather attend this university, so long as I can receive more funding.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on how to negotiate for a larger scholarship, or better yet, a TAship the first year or tuition waiver?

[rising_star]

I'm confused about what you've been awarded. If you're getting tuition remission, a scholarship, and a TA position, then you wouldn't need to worry about the non-resident tuition, would you? Does the TAship have you working for free or is there a stipend with that which is separate from your scholarship? Or is the TAship and tuition remission for the second year only? Right now, this is unclear.

At any rate, you can try saying that you're interested in School A but received a more competitive offer from School B. People around here seem to do it all the time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[nutella]

@rising_star the TAship with tuition remission and stipend is only for the 2nd year. Sorry if I was unclear. Thanks for your suggestion.

[rising_star]

For more on negotiating/leveraging funding, see these previous threads: