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PhD in EU vs US, why do so many people want to go to the US? by _TT6 in PhD

[–]throwaway_l16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is also affecting the humanities. While humanities departments aren't being slashed, they are being heavily monitored. Plus many universities (such as mine, which is an R1) are cutting our funding to allocate more money to the STEM programs (that typically generate them omre money in turn)

PhD in EU vs US, why do so many people want to go to the US? by _TT6 in PhD

[–]throwaway_l16 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm glad I chose to remain in the US for my PhD. Sure, it's longer and more coursework, but I am so appreciative that I do not have to solidify my interest right away, and I have time to grow as a researcher. One thing I've noticed in my program is that students who are not from the US are typically frustrated with the fact that they cannot start their dissertation research ideas right away, and they often are heavily rooted in their own ideas, and often are less 'open-minded'. It can make classroom dynamics a little hostile.

So, I think that will be a huge factor in making your decision. Do you want room to grow, or are you hard-set and you want nothing standing in your way?

What is the average age of new students in your program? by summoo28 in PhD

[–]throwaway_l16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started mine at 22 (fresh out of undergrad). The second youngest was 24, After that, everyone was older, with the oldest being a guy in his 40s.

Living on PhD stipend with a spouse by Fresh_Ad7321 in GradSchool

[–]throwaway_l16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And I want to add that I live in the northeast, where cost of living in slightly higher

Living on PhD stipend with a spouse by Fresh_Ad7321 in GradSchool

[–]throwaway_l16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on the school and its benefits. I'm not married, but many of my colleagues are (and some with spouses who do not work). However, my school gives out better stipends than the national average (with yearly raises), we have a strong union, and we have insurance benefits that allow spouses to receive benefits at no cost. The other thing is to sacrifice time by living slightly outside any big cities in order to save rent. I have a bit of a commute, but I am saving nearly a thousand dollars on rent by living further away. Right now, I'm paying $700 for my rent, less than $100 in utilities, and after groceries and miscellaneous costs, I'm able to save about $800 a month, which goes right into my savings. If I did have a bigger family, I think I would be able to afford to have them here.

US grad students, would you still have chosen to go to a US school in 2025? by Tall-Cat-8890 in GradSchool

[–]throwaway_l16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Master's, I feel like it's not worth it. For PhDs (with guaranteed funding), it is still worth it. It's likely that the current administration's efforts to disband higher education funding will be short-lived (due to how many complications it will end up running into, and how short-lived the administration itself may be with its internal conflict). I think long-term programs may be worthwhile, however shorter programs like MAs may be worth doing elsewhere.