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PhD applicants: applying to more programs can increase your chances of getting more funding. Why? Because having other offers gives you leverage. And a LOT of people don’t know that funding packages are negotiable. I’ll tell you how in this @AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
1) If you get accepted to more than one PhD program, you’ll feel like you are a NBA star. Don’t get used to this attention—it decreases as soon as you start the program. Programs want you to accept for many internal reasons. Use this to your advantage. Don’t accept right away.
2) As soon as you get accepted, make a list of all the benefits each school offers you. This includes your stipend, subsidized housing, health insurance, conference funds, moving funds, provost scholarships, etc. (If you can think of something else, feel free to add to the list).
3) Once you have the numbers on the table, think about what they ask from you: how many classes will you need to teach? When? Will you have to RA? For whom? Gathering all of this information matters, because time is a resource, and ultimately, you will be negotiating time.
4) Next, once you have all the information, sit down and plan a negotiation strategy. Do not feel bad doing this. They give us so little, we need every resource we can get. Start planning this with this in mind: I deserve the best. Once you get in the right mind set...
