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PhD interview invitations and acceptances are in full swing. A few thoughts from me, as someone who was once in this place, who spent years as a professor making these decisions, and who is now responsible for thousands of acceptances and rejections as dean of @ucirvinegd. 1/
Disclaimer: this advice MAY be useful to those outside the US, but the money stuff in particular is very US-Centric. 2/
You applied to grad school. In a pandemic! In a year of serious societal unrest, racial trauma, and xenophobia! In a year of economic disaster! Whatever else happens, be proud you even submitted. 3/
US universities have made a deal with each other. We cannot force anyone to accept our offers until April 15. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Take your time. This is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. 4/
Interviews have lots of different uses. Some places require them for central fellowships. Some are to narrow down an excellent but crowded field. Some are to find the right research match after they already decided to admit you. 5/
Being interviewed is an accomplishment. Try not to stress about it. Be the true you, because you are about to spend a lot of years with these folks. You don’t want to be somewhere that the true you doesn’t want to be. 6/
Packages are often negotiable, but not always. Ask gently, especially if you have counteroffers. But always ask. If you don’t ask, you know that the answer is. Departments HATE to lose people over money, and sometimes they can do things about it. 7/
Don’t be too pushy though. If they really can’t afford it and give you a clear no, you need to make the decision on what was offered. 8/
Check your package for fees! My grad school had to charge grad students fees, whereas @UCirvine we cover almost all of them. This makes a difference in total costs and benefits. 9/
Check your package for summer support, and if its not there, talk to current students about what they do in the summer. Are you in a field with highly paid internships? Great! If you aren’t, what are you going to do? Summer support is key and may be something to negotiate. 10/
Check your package for healthcare! This can be particularly confusing for our international students who come from countries with socialized healthcare. 11/
You will need insurance as a grad student in the US, and if you have pre-existing conditions, think you might want to have a child in grad school, etc, you really need to understand your coverage and whether you pay it or the university does. This varies WILDLY by school. 12/
If you did not get in this year, it does not mean you are not smart enough, good enough, or anything else. Some programs are cutting their numbers this year to support their existing students staying longer. 13/
Every year, thousands of students who are great just don’t get in. Try again next year, and talk to professors in the meantime. We get spammed by a ton of such requests right before app deadlines. Hardly anyone ever reaches out in May or June. Fill that gap. 14/
Whatever you are offered (none, one, or many programs), whatever you decide (attend, delay, forgo it), you are capable of great things. Don’t let any one event in your life define you. 15/end
