The graduate school programs at Iowa State University (ISU) are pulling offers from some prospective students. This decision comes as departments face uncertainty about funding for research positions.
A student, who shared their experience online, received a letter from ISU stating that their earlier acceptance into the chemistry department was being rescinded. The reason given was concern over federal research funding which typically supports graduate students at research-driven universities.
The letter explained that even if the student wanted to accept the offer, there was no guarantee of a graduate assistantship. It emphasized that this decision did not reflect on the student’s qualifications.
ISU spokesperson Angie Hunt confirmed the news but didn’t specify how many offers were withdrawn or which programs were affected. She also didn’t clarify if recent legal developments regarding funding for National Institutes of Health grants would change this situation.
As of fall 2024, ISU has approximately 4,170 graduate students enrolled. Hunt noted, “Academic units are reviewing admissions offers. Due to unexpectedly high acceptance rates and funding uncertainties, some departments are making the tough choice to withdraw offers.”
The university is updating information about federally funded programs on their website, guiding researchers on how to adapt to federal funding changes.
Natalie Andreasen, a student in the genetics and genomics Ph.D. program who accepted her offer before hearing about the withdrawals, expressed her sympathy for those affected. She said, “You invest so much in your application and to have it pulled at the last moment is heartbreaking.”
While she’s excited about starting her studies, Andreasen is worried that funding issues might affect the research opportunities available to her. She aims to focus on how genetics influence certain diseases, a field that relies heavily on funding from NIH. If funding becomes limited, it could restrict faculty’s ability to hire students for research roles.
“If there’s no funding, we won’t be able to work on important projects together,” she noted. “It’s a scary thought because Ph.D. students often rely on these positions to support themselves.”
This situation has raised concerns among many prospective students about the future of their academic plans and opportunities in research.
This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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