<p>From a thread i made in the past, people said that i have a shot at some of the prestigious grad schools for the MS program in mechanical engineering , but not for the phD program, unless i get my MS first. but they said that for those MS programs, i have to expect to pay alot of money. So do MS students only have to pay lots of money if they go to a top MS school, or does it not matter what school you go to?
Also, I thought that for phD programs (at least for Physics), YOU get paid to be there (as part of a fellowship, I think?)</p>
<p>MS programs that are not integrated paths to a PhD work pretty much likely undergrad. You pay a tuition (probably 5,000-35,000) and it’s typically higher at top schools. For PhD programs you can get outside fellowships to fund you (like from the NSF or even corporations), or you can be a research assistant/teaching assistant (i.e. part time work for the university). External fellowships typically pay more, give you more free time, and give you more freedom in choosing an advisor.</p>
<p>I’d talk to MSU grad school-engineering dept to discover how they handle admissions and student funding. Be nice to the Secretary because they know more and probably be the one who helps you the most. </p>
<p>Your information from your previous posts may not be entirely correct about MS -> phd. You could be admitted to phd program directly and receive MS as part of the program or that you qualify for MS and not continue on towards phd. </p>
<p>Funding is another matter. You may or may not be funded. If you not funded then you probably will be in a MS program. If you are funded you may be in a MS or phd program. </p>
<p>You may have to pay for graduate school, typically in 5 year programs BS -> MS.
You may receive a tuition and fee waiver.
You may be offered teaching assistency (TA) or research assistency (RA) as part of awards.</p>
<p>What awards that you receive has dependency upon the PI, the school, private industry. the government.
You are not paid per se but receive a “stipend” or fellowships (grants).</p>
<p>Again talk to your school’s grad department.</p>