<p>“Actually, engineering PhD programs should be funded, although the grad student will be working as a research assistant or teaching assistant in most cases.”</p>
<p>True, but the overwhelming majority of engineering grad students aren’t in Ph.D. programs. </p>
<p>“turning down an Ivy that happens to be my dream school isn’t making it any less so!”</p>
<p>Again, they didn’t do you any favors - Cornell essentially turned you down.</p>