Need Advice: graduate school acceptance?

Question

I got accepted to a PhD program from Stony Brook University, but they didn't offer me any financial assistance. I really like the program, but it will cost TOO much to pay for my education for another 5 years. Many ppl say that if you apply for a phd program, you shouldn't pay for your school b/c they are supposed to give you TA or RA-ships. What should I do? Should I accept their offer and pay for my own tuitions?

Answer 1

The people that you talked to were right, if you are going to get your PhD in a needed field (ie the sciences) and go to a school that wants you (ie one that you are overly qualified for), then they will pay for you. It is possible to become a TA or RA or RD (resident director) if you have the skills needed to apply for the job. Check with Stony Brook to see if there is a separate application or talk to them about what assistance is available. If there is none, you have a few options:
- Take out lots of loans and live very frugally after college
- Defer your admission for a year and work to earn money, then go to Stony Brook
- Go to a school which offers you a better package
- Find a job that can help you pay for school.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

If you really want a PhD, and if you think the program at Stony Brook will get you a job that you want, post-grad, then it may be worth it. There may be things you can do to help yourself out.

First, call the school and ask about TA and RA positions. See what, if anything, you can do to get one now.

Also ask them about becoming an Assistant Residence Director. That's a grad student who lives in the dorms and acts as an assistant to the RD. Most schools will give you free room for doing that, and some will also discount part of your tuition.

What other PhD programs did you apply to? You should wait for those letters, and see which program offers you the most money. Then you can evaluation reputation versus funding - and probably follow the money.

Answer 3

Always view your education as an investment. Consider your personal potential. If you feel that the opportunities at Stony Brook U. will expose you to a career you would like to pursue, then definately go. Also, ask yourself how you will benefit from this PhD program. Best of luck!

Answer 4

Perhaps you should apply somewhere else, somewhere with more money to give you. Don't give up, just take a year out and apply to more places.

If your dream is PhD related (i.e. becoming a professor), then it may be worth it. But it's not uncommon to fail a PhD, and not having financial assistance is risky.

I have a friend, very bright, got a first (straight A's) in his undergrad, but failed his PhD after years and years of research. He wasn't funded, and he's in a huge debt.

I know another Honors student (from the US) who thinks she may not get her PhD in the end. She was funded though, and she took her third choice university because the other two wouldn't fund her enough. It's still frustrating, the prospect of failure, but at least she won't be in debt because of it.

So, if you're sure you won't get funded elsewhere, and if you're sure you need a PhD, then do it. But don't give up getting funding elsewhere.

Answer 5

I would keep looking into other programs. All of the PhD programs that I have looked into give you the opportunity to work in teaching or doing research for a stipend and tutition.

Answer 6

If you can't afford it, no. Did you check with people at the university to see if there were any financial assistance programs available for you? Perhaps if they know you won't come without it they will help you--a lot depends on how desperate they are for students.

Answer 7

This is true. You should be offered a TA or RA job. sometimes they offer it to you before you arrive, but usually they offer it to you after your first term there. the teacher usually asks you. find out from the school about how this is done.
good luck