Gave my second interview at UT, Austin on Friday night ( and saw a Jethro Tull concert right after!!!
). This was a "proper interview" (the earlier ones were more like chats). But it went off well - main questions on why PhD, lot of focus on my research project which am right now doing, and some things on getting that published - since I have given thought to it, I knew what further work it needs for publishing and could answer that as well as previous research done in this field rather well (I thought). Tricky questions on whether PennState or UT.... hmm. The Prof said my application will now go through the process and I should get my letter by 1st week of March. Fingers crossed!
Hope the above description helps...
As for Aid, thats not the feeling I got at all, phdfin. The earlier Prof said that the Dean is really pushing funds into PhD programs right now. She emailed me this specific information later on:
Quote:
I’ve learned that our typical PhD student receives funding of $26,000 income each year from 2 sources ($15,000 TA and $11,000 supplemental funds). That funding typically extends for 4 years of the program.
She also said that there is far more focus on research and not TA the first couple of years. Also that in summer term, there is a research project done by PhD Students. All-in-all, it sounded quite fine to me. Austin is also not an expensive place to live in, and no state tax in Texas.