Graduate School Question

[FunkMastaFlex]

Gang,

I have been offered admission to Columbia's Ed.D program in Educational Technology and the University at Virginia's Ph.D program in the same.

However, neither of the schools has offered me anything but loans in terms of financial aid. I was under the impression that getting funding, at least an assistantship, was almost certain when one was a Ph.D student, and I'm feeling rather disheartened.

Is something up here? Are these schools just trying to make a buck off of me? Would it be worth upwards of 80K in loans to get a degree from either school?

thanks,

-D

 

[Heisenberg]

Depends on the program/area of study and the school. For my area, we get tuition waved and a TA/RA.

 

[SpongeBob]

I'd also like to know. I'm off for a M.S. this fall and have been unable to get any funding yet.

 

[vi edit]

However, neither of the schools has offered me anything but loans in terms of financial aid. I was under the impression that getting funding, at least an assistantship, was almost certain when one was a Ph.D student, and I'm feeling rather disheartened.

Grad school = Ph. D???

 

[Armitage]

If you've been offered admission ... go talk to the faculty. It's my impression that assistanships & such are worked out more on that level. At at the master's level, and I'm sure at the PhD level even more so (though I haven't been there ... yet) your choice of advisor and research group is very important both in terms of funding and the kind of work you expect to pursue.

Of course, my experience is in regard to Engineering. Education may be different.

 

[Armitage]

As Heisenberg mentioned, it's also not unusual to wave part of tuition ... in my case they gave me in-state even though I was not a resident. I think that was part of the RA deal.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

However, neither of the schools has offered me anything but loans in terms of financial aid. I was under the impression that getting funding, at least an assistantship, was almost certain when one was a Ph.D student, and I'm feeling rather disheartened.

Grad school = Ph. D???

Uhm, yea
Grad School != Undergrad
So masters and PhD programs are both considered grad school.