<p>Berkeley accepted me and offered $27000 stipend. That is not much for California. How do people make it?</p>
<p>What?? Why is Cal so cheap??</p>
<p>I know! I got from Emory.</p>
<p>It's very doable. The average fellowship from Stanford or Berkeley is less. Even Stanfords top graduate Fellowship isn't much more. Grad students don't live in splendor.</p>
<p>Opps, I meant. I got MORE from Emory</p>
<p>I really want to go to Berkeley, but I do not want to live like a hippie :)</p>
<p>What is your field? I understand humanities people get less than science/math, for example.</p>
<p>cell biology</p>
<p>Hm...I got something similar from Stanford. To me its alot to live on? Especially with on campus housing. On campus housing is slightly pricey at 720 a month which totals $8640 for a year. With 26k, I have alot left over for food and other random costs. Do you intend on living a luxurious lifestyle?...;-)</p>
<p>Do not forget that spipends are taxable by the Feds and state. Also Medicare and I think (not sure) social security. That is a big chunk. Also food in CA is 45% more expensive than in NC. Add books and transportation, and what is left?</p>
<p>It's very doable. The average fellowship from Stanford or Berkeley is less. Even Stanfords top graduate Fellowship isn't much more. Grad students don't live in splendor.</p>
<p>Do you mean the sgf fellowship at Stanford? Thats $31,200 this year according to the website...that compares pretty favorably with anywhere in the country without an NSF/NDSEG supplement.</p>
<p>Health insurance is 2k and can be bypassed if you have it yourself. I went shopping for groceries there, and relative to Maryland, it was the same. To me its alot, depends on the person I guess.</p>
<p>And yes, the SGF is a massive amount of money even after taxes.</p>
<p>quote: Health insurance is 2k and can be bypassed </p>
<p>What does that mean? Do you get to kep the insurance $?</p>
<p>I make 28k at Stanford and pay $750 a month for housing. I buy all organic food and go out regularly, yet I still have thousands left over. Your stipend should be plenty to live on. However, I don't have a car, so that saves me quite a lot of money.</p>
<p>Do you pay taxes? How much?</p>
<p>Student stipends are not subject to social security tax "if the student is enrolled at least part-time and works for the educational institution." So as long as you are registered for some type of credit and are either an RA or TA, you are exempt.</p>
<p>I make around the same down here at Caltech (health insurance is $50 a quarter) and pay a little bit less for my on-campus apartment. It's enough to live on, no problem, and I'm able to take my girlfriend and myself out now and then for a decent dinner. I've saved up enough money since the beginning of the year such that I'm planning on taking a week-long roadtrip through southern Utah to visit all of the national parks and possibly stay in Vegas for a day or two.</p>
<p>I think UCSB offered me around the same amount of money, though Cornell's was amazing with around $30k and health insurance was already paid for. I just wish there had been a professor there I had common interests with. :(</p>
<p>Since it matters which program you're in, I'm in Materials Science & Engineering.</p>
<p>Most stipends fall into the 15% tax bracket for federal income tax, which spans from 8k to 32.5k. State income tax also depends on wages, but in CA, you will be in the 6% tax bracket that spans from 25.5k to 35.5k. So you are looking at 21% total taxes to be paid.</p>
<p>Good Sir/Madam, </p>
<p>I strongly encourage you to speak to the University once more requesting an increase in your stipend. For gods sake, you won't even be able to purchase petrol for your Rolls-Royce on that salary much less be able to pay your drivers salary.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
John Jacob Ghettonomics Quincy III</p>
<p>^ lol, but good point. No use complaining about a stipend that most humanities majors would slit your throat for.</p>