- #1
member 666466
I have submitted all my grad school applications (physics PhD) and I learned recently that I won an external fellowship that will cover my tuition (up to ~$20K) + stipend (~$40K, so more than any of the other fellowships I've also applied) + retirement/insurance/other benefits for as long as I'm in school, with the only caveat being that I have to work there my summers and a year for every year of fellowship (but hey, that's a guaranteed employment!). Some of the schools I'm applying, the applications aren't even due yet (although my applications are all submitted and can't be edited). I was told that bringing in external funding generally helps in admission process, but also that schools don't actually start looking through apps until January at earliest. I also haven't decided if I will accept this offer since I'm still on the fence about tying up so many years after graduation (I can technically leave the workplace earlier but I have to reimburse accordingly).
1. Should I let the schools know that I have this offer even though I'm not sure I will accept? I think I have an okay shot at other fellowships, but obviously won't know the results until much later. If I don't get the other fellowships but accepted by the universities, am I required to accept this scholarship since they probably considered it in their funding?
2. Do external funding actually help my application, even for top 20 schools?
3. If the answer to (1) is yes, when should I let the schools know (i.e. now vs. Jan when they probably start looking at apps vs. Feb/March when they start sending out results)?
BTW I'm not even sure if this is considered a fellowship because the description calls it a "scholarship" but also calls the stipend as "annual salary".
1. Should I let the schools know that I have this offer even though I'm not sure I will accept? I think I have an okay shot at other fellowships, but obviously won't know the results until much later. If I don't get the other fellowships but accepted by the universities, am I required to accept this scholarship since they probably considered it in their funding?
2. Do external funding actually help my application, even for top 20 schools?
3. If the answer to (1) is yes, when should I let the schools know (i.e. now vs. Jan when they probably start looking at apps vs. Feb/March when they start sending out results)?
BTW I'm not even sure if this is considered a fellowship because the description calls it a "scholarship" but also calls the stipend as "annual salary".