Accepted! ..But lack of funding?

[eveline]

Hi all!

I was recently accepted into a Clinical Psychology PhD program. I enjoyed everything about the interview days (even meeting the other applicants) and had that really great gut feeling about the program afterwards. Research-wise, it's what I want to do and the POI seems great. I've heard all good things from students. Other faculty research is also interesting and there's potential for collaboration. 

Now, however, I have received the verbal offer and reality is sinking in. There may be some GA/TA opportunities down the line, but nothing guaranteed. My POI is seeking grants but again nothing official. I would have to pay tuition; pretty minimal but typically this is waived for PhD programs.. and then there's cost of living. Which won't be too bad because it's a small town, but obviously the fees will eventually pile up as I have to pay tuition + have no stipend + probably won't be able to make outside money if I want to keep sane. 

I'm wait-listed from other schools with better funding. If this is my only choice.. do I accept? Thoughts? What would others do? Has anyone been in this boat before and how has it worked out? 

[juhidee119]

6 minutes ago, elle01 said:

Hi all!

I was recently accepted into a Clinical Psychology PhD program. I enjoyed everything about the interview days (even meeting the other applicants) and had that really great gut feeling about the program afterwards. Research-wise, it's what I want to do and the POI seems great. I've heard all good things from students. Other faculty research is also interesting and there's potential for collaboration. 

Now, however, I have received the verbal offer and reality is sinking in. There may be some GA/TA opportunities down the line, but nothing guaranteed. My POI is seeking grants but again nothing official. I would have to pay tuition; pretty minimal but typically this is waived for PhD programs.. and then there's cost of living. Which won't be too bad because it's a small town, but obviously the fees will eventually pile up as I have to pay tuition + have no stipend + probably won't be able to make outside money if I want to keep sane. 

I'm wait-listed from other schools with better funding. If this is my only choice.. do I accept? Thoughts? What would others do? Has anyone been in this boat before and how has it worked out? 

Personally, I would wait for a program with better funding. All the other factors you mention are very important but speaking as someone with crushing student debt, funding is equally important. 

[COGSCI]

Congrats on your acceptance! I would talk to your POI and department about getting one year deferral for you to search for funding. You can work with your POI and apply for grants for a year so that secure some funding before you start the program. Usually schools only grant deferrals for health concerns and other complications but it would be great if they can grant you a year. 

If you are wait-listed for other programs that come with funding, I am sure you will hear back from at least one of them! List DOES move  I was on it for my current program (not clinical psyc though)! 

[8BitJourney]

if your program has a grant specialist then you can ask if you can work with them In your 1st year to try and secure funding for the rest of your time there. But I agree with juhidee, waiting for a better funded program is probably best as external funding is extremely competitive.

[refreshingmyemail]

5 hours ago, elle01 said:

Hi all!

I was recently accepted into a Clinical Psychology PhD program. I enjoyed everything about the interview days (even meeting the other applicants) and had that really great gut feeling about the program afterwards. Research-wise, it's what I want to do and the POI seems great. I've heard all good things from students. Other faculty research is also interesting and there's potential for collaboration. 

Now, however, I have received the verbal offer and reality is sinking in. There may be some GA/TA opportunities down the line, but nothing guaranteed. My POI is seeking grants but again nothing official. I would have to pay tuition; pretty minimal but typically this is waived for PhD programs.. and then there's cost of living. Which won't be too bad because it's a small town, but obviously the fees will eventually pile up as I have to pay tuition + have no stipend + probably won't be able to make outside money if I want to keep sane. 

I'm wait-listed from other schools with better funding. If this is my only choice.. do I accept? Thoughts? What would others do? Has anyone been in this boat before and how has it worked out? 

I am having the same issue!! But I am trying to reach out to as may current/graduated students to ask about their experiences with funding and what they did to make it work.  However, during the interview day students did seem stressed about the funding (atleast in my case) but were happy with everything else, so it was a bit confusing.  :/

[summavanlaude]

I am not sure if this is relevant here, but I got into a masters program with no funding whatsoever (and no waiver of the full tuition fee).  The Professor had promised about potential TA/RAships that I might be eligible for down the line. But unfortunately they never materialized. The highly enthusiastic kid I was back at 21, I rushed into the program and finished it at 23 with crushing student debts which took 6 years to finish. Now I am looking for PhD programs (and have a couple of funded ones within reach), and apart from research fit, the most important thing am looking for is the funding. This comes as important to me as 6 years of the prime of my life was spent on working in the industry on something I hated from the bottom of my heart cos it paid bucket loads of money, out of which I managed to save nothing as every last penny went into repaying the student loans. I am starting out a fresh leaf now with a near empty bank account and a clear head. So IF you are planning on taking up an unfunded opportunity for 5-7 years, think THRICE before doing it. 

[eveline]

Thank you everyone for the thoughts!!!

15 hours ago, COGSCI said:

You can work with your POI and apply for grants for a year so that secure some funding before you start the program. Usually schools only grant deferrals for health concerns and other complications but it would be great if they can grant you a year. 

If you are wait-listed for other programs that come with funding, I am sure you will hear back from at least one of them! List DOES move  I was on it for my current program (not clinical psyc though)! 

@COGSCI, what do you mean by "work with your POI" - do you mean try to be her RA in the meantime? Or do you mean just try and discuss the matter with her, and help her submit grants? I do know she was scored on a recent submission, not funded, but will try again.. I don't know how likely resubmits are to be funded. And thanks for the kind words about the moving list.. I sure hope you're right 

10 hours ago, refreshingmyemail said:

I am having the same issue!! But I am trying to reach out to as may current/graduated students to ask about their experiences with funding and what they did to make it work.  However, during the interview day students did seem stressed about the funding (atleast in my case) but were happy with everything else, so it was a bit confusing.  :/

@refreshingmyemail Yep, I got the exact same feeling from the current students! Are you leaning towards taking it? 

@juhidee119 @summavanlaude It's great to hear your perspective with this. I haven't had this experience yet so it's hard to really know if pursuing this is worth it financially. 

[COGSCI]

20 minutes ago, elle01 said:

Thank you everyone for the thoughts!!!

@COGSCI, what do you mean by "work with your POI" - do you mean try to be her RA in the meantime? Or do you mean just try and discuss the matter with her, and help her submit grants? I do know she was scored on a recent submission, not funded, but will try again.. I don't know how likely resubmits are to be funded. And thanks for the kind words about the moving list.. I sure hope you're right 

@refreshingmyemail Yep, I got the exact same feeling from the current students! Are you leaning towards taking it? 

@juhidee119 @summavanlaude It's great to hear your perspective with this. I haven't had this experience yet so it's hard to really know if pursuing this is worth it financially. 

"work with your POI" as in prepare predoctoral fellowship application. For some fellowships you need to have a supervisor identified, so you can "work with your POI" and submit applications for various fellowships. Your POI can also allocate stipend for students in her grant applications so you need to seek out relevant ones that she can apply as a PI.