Forget acceptance, what about funding?

xraymancs
Tue, 21 Feb 2017 03:54:14 +0000

You should not attend unless you get full funding for your Ph.D. If you are admitted to a Ph.D. program without funding, that means that they really don’t want you to attend, particularly in a STEM discipline. NSF Graduate Research Traineeships are not offered by the schools themselves but you have to apply yourself to the NSF for them.

Whether you get into a specific program depends on a lot of things. Your GPA and GRE scores are part of the equation but your letters of reference are extremely important as is your research experience. For the most selective programs, your GPA is probably a bit on the low side competitively speaking as they often make a first cut based on GPA and test scores before thoroughly reading all the remaining applications. They will have many, many applicants who have outstanding GPAs and GRE scores and tons of research experience. Less selective programs might be more likely to admit you with funding. Just make sure you apply to a range or programs any of which you would be willing to attend.