Negotiating for financial aid

[tmaddict]

I'm in a situation where I've been accepted to the same school as my fiancee (who was offered funding and is in another department) but I don't have any funding. What are the recommended steps in negotiating for funding? I have thought of asking for:

1. In-state tuition
2. Campus job
3. Tuition waiver

Also, should I ask her department so that they can bargain with the economics department?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[walt526]

It's not within the department's power to reclassify you as a state resident. Residency requirements are usually determined by state law. The only thing that they could do along those lines would be to offer a fellowship that covers the out-of-state tuition portion of tuition. You can certainly ask for that, but my guess would be if they can offer you any assistance short of a full tuition waiver, then it would be for the in-state portion.

It depends on university politics, but I'd by surprised if her department has any sway over the Economics department.

[Team3]

Definitely sounds like you need to have a conversation with the department...maybe they can help you problem-solve or suggest options you haven't thought about.

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

I have a similar question about this.

I have received a generous funding offer from one department. Another department I am highly interested in has offered me admission but with no funding.

Would it be inappropriate to email the school without funding to ask for funding since I received funding from the other? Otherwise there is no way I could attend the unfunded school.

[walt526]

Would it be inappropriate to email the school without funding to ask for funding since I received funding from the other? Otherwise there is no way I could attend the unfunded school.

A tactfully worded email would be perfectly appropriate. It's likely not going to make a difference (they are aware that you likely have funded offers from slightly inferior schools), but it might. The worst that they can do is say no.

[LeibnizRule]

I have a similar question about this.

I have received a generous funding offer from one department. Another department I am highly interested in has offered me admission but with no funding.

Would it be inappropriate to email the school without funding to ask for funding since I received funding from the other? Otherwise there is no way I could attend the unfunded school.

It is a rule of the game..

You could say the shool which didnt offer you a funding that it is impossible for you to attend the program without funding and you have to her offers with funding ,Namely XYZ uni. I am sure that they will answer you if it is possible or not.

[MorgieLilly]

If you are able to go to the fly-out, I've found that makes a huge difference. I am most likely getting more funding at one department and have been moved near the top of the waiting list for funding at the other after going to fly-outs.

It shows interest, puts a face to your application and gives you the opportunity to impress professors.

[asquare]

Check out the threads under question #11 of the FAQs (FAQs about Graduate School in Economics and Links to Useful Threads), especially this thread (Current phds: how much can we bargain?).