Acceptance #2

I just received an offer of admission from the Director of Grad Admissions in the Philosophy Dept at University of Illinois -- Chicago. This was accompanied by an offer of full financial support, although at this time, they don't yet know what form that support will take. The dept has nominated me for a competitive University Fellowship, which carries a stipend of $18 000 + tuition and fees for the first and fourth years. A fellowship would free me from any teaching duties during those years that I hold it. The other years (2, 3, and 5) I would receive teaching assistantships, which have good stipends and included tuition and fees. If I don't receive the fellowship, I would be a teaching assistant for the full 5 years.

This is an attractive offer, but UIC is probably close to the bottom of the choice hierarchy at this point. Not that it's not a good dept; it is. It's just that I've applied to many other schools I'd rather go to. But UIC is certainly a good option to have.