Just Found Out, Accepted into Two graduate programs

[pjpoes]

Both are offering fellowships, I have not been told if they are teaching or research yet. I believe the California one is research, but since its only 25%, I only have to work quarter hours. I don't believe I get paid, as I understand it, they put those hours towards my tuition basicly.

As for Purdue, they have recomended me for a fellowship which will include full tuition, most fees, and a stipend. It's a very attractive deal, even if I don't like Indiana, to not have to go into dept over it, or take any more money from my parents towards my education would be nice. Of course, having some form of income generation is good too.

I was told by one of my colleagues, who actually chose not to take his free ride for a PhD, and isntead go where he would have to pay. He told me that he was able to get an assistantship position once he was on campus just by asking around and looking at the flyers. He said that he covered his tuition and then some, and worked out well for him. His feeling was that, even if Claremont isn't offering a free ride, I probably could still get a position that would take care of most if not all of my expenses, as long as I'm willing to work.

Another concern I have about claremont vs Purdue is that, Purdue is a large school with a lot of resources. Claremont is a very small school without a lot of resources. No doupt the reason they aren't offering more money is a lack of resources. Purdue is offering to pay back everything I spend to go and visit them, will give me transportation, and a place to stay. I haven't even accepted the offer yet and they are willing to do all that. Claremont will not, not even a place to stay. This concerns me that possible once I am a student and I'm working on some research projects, they may not ahve the resources to pay for parts of my work. I have heard of some students at smaller schools having to pay their own way into confrences, or the fees for publication in journals, etc. Bigger schools go above and beyond, paying for all of those fees and often even paying you money for food and time. I think Purdue is more likely to have those resources, where as Claremont will not.

[SY]

Well, that's a big thing to be considered. FWIW, I took the full ride with both teaching and research fellowships at different times. A year teaching is a very useful thing, forcing you to really get the basics down as reflex. And generally, you're doing coursework your first year or two, so teaching doesn't get in the way too much. After that, a research assistantship or fellowship is a MUCH better deal, since you want to be spending as much time as possible getting that doctoral project done and the dissertation written.

I'd suspect that RA money might be easier to get at Purdue, but I'd ask some third or fourth year grad students in your specialty at each place.