<p>it's the school I want to go the most.... (why does this always happen to everyone? you have obstacle going to the school you like the most, but have random offers from other schools)</p>
<p>the department told me they are working out the financial aid details, but depending on the limited funding, they will **not **able to fund all the admitted students</p>
<p>it's getting close to the evil 415, the question I want to ask is: besides waiting, is there anything else I could/should be doing?</p>
<p>I did contact that college to seek for teaching related assistantship, but they forwarded my request to my department, and the department told me the cruel "we do not offer any teaching related fundings". I emailed the department heads about some publication update of my current work.</p>
<p>If I do not get funded.... is it a common situation? do students pay for their first year of PhD themselves? I understand after the 1st year, you will likely to find an advisor and have him/her fund you, true?</p>
<p>Seems like lots of people are struggling with something similar. Not every school gives an April 15th date deadline to accept though. Some give May 15th. Often April 15th is just a date for accepting financial aid. Maybe other schools have given you this date for financial aid. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve read a single experience from a PhD student who DID NOT get a financial aid offer or know of somebody who got an offer after April 15th. After the candidates reject/accept the April 15th offers, the school then hands the offers to the next people in line. I even read of peole getting funded in May, June, or even days before classes begin.</p>
<p>Often if you speak(not e-mail) to either the professors or financial liasons they can give you a verbal idea of whether or not you get aid.</p>
<p>Yes, students do pay for the first semester or year of PhD studies. It is not the norm though. It is also in the self-interest of Universities to cough up a few thousand dollars so the PhD students are funded. It makes the Universities look bad to have the PhD students unfunded, and it also not always productive to have a PhD student speak to 20 profs thier first semester looking for money.</p>
<p>jack63, your reply is very helpful, thanks for it!</p>
<p>but something seems to be contradicted, you said you didn’t hear anyone got offer after 415, but then later you said you’ve seen people got offer in May/June even later, what are those examples?</p>
<p>looks like I have to hear something at least very close or past the 415 line.</p>
<p>Sorry…I wasn’t clear. I meant to say that every person I’ve read about here got some sort of offer after April 15th. Read the thread below for an example “no mention of funding”(click on the link):</p>
<p>One specific university I’d like to attend states that they give both acceptances and financial aid offers before or after the April 15 date even though they use this date as a deadline for their first choice students for financial aid. Let me know what you find out and how things work out.</p>