F UNDING A DVANCED D EGREES Katharine Brumbaugh Gamble & Courtney Shell WE14 Conference, Los...
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Transcript of F UNDING A DVANCED D EGREES Katharine Brumbaugh Gamble & Courtney Shell WE14 Conference, Los...
FUNDING ADVANCED DEGREES
Katharine Brumbaugh Gamble & Courtney Shell
WE14 Conference, Los Angeles, CA
October 23, 2014
GRADUATE SCHOOL TERMS
Graduate Staff Appointments (employment) Research Assistantships Teaching Assistantships Graduate Assistantship -
Administrative/Professional * Fellowships (graduate scholarships)
RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP
Student employed by professor on a research project Terms/conditions set by professor within University
regulations Contract for 9 months (academic year) or 12 months Annually renewed based on academic standing and
progress made toward degree Usually aligned with your research project Usually covers tuition, pays a salary, some fees, may
include medical insurance May be combined with TA or fellowship
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP
Student employed by the school/department Terms/conditions set by department within University
regulations Contract by the semester for 4½ months or 9 months Renewal of contract based on course need and
performance TA obligation will be in addition to research project Contract may be renewed as often as each session Usually covers tuition, pays a salary, some fees, may
include medical insurance May be combined with RA or fellowship
FELLOWSHIPS Stipend: Term for a fellowship award Come in all shapes and sizes - award amounts vary greatly Terms/conditions are set by the provider of the funds
Some may be combined with RA or TA Some may require you to TA May or may not include employment requirement (for the
company) Most do not cover all expenses Funded by school, college, university, or independent
source Usually cannot hold two full fellowships simultaneously Many can be deferred when other funding is available Application process:
Some accept student applications; others rely on nominations Most require an application and/or essay and letters of
recommendation
Some are portable – can be used at the institution of choice
Length of support varies
WHO GETS FUNDED?
Fellowships GPA above average of other applicants High entrance exam scores Leadership experience a plus Contribution to organizations a plus Demonstration of research/outreach that
correlates well with funding agency’s mission
Research Assistantship Solid GPA Research or experience working with a professor
helpful
Teaching Assistantship Have taken the assigned class resulting in a
good grade Grader experience helpful
HOW TO FIND FUNDING
Talk to professors about RA positions (only after reading articles they have written and know details of their research!!)
Talk to the Graduate Chair about information on TA positions
Check out professional/honor organizations in your major area
(Tau Beta Pi, ASEE, SHPE, ASME, ASABE, NSBE, etc.)
Check out organizations which support your speciality area (American Heart Association, Link Foundation, etc.)
Review the Fellowship Database on the Graduate School Web site or the engineering list
Apply for every fellowship for which you qualify – no matter the amount
SWE scholarships!
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIESName Website Deadline
SMART http://smart.asee.org/ Dec. 14, 2014
NDSEG https://ndseg.asee.org/ Dec. 12, 2014
NSF GRFP http://www.nsfgrfp.org/ Varying Oct 29-Nov 4
NSF GK-12 http://www.gk12.org/ University/Dept. specific
NSTRF http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/strg/archives_nstrf.html#.VA-o_vmwKAI
Hertz http://www.hertzfoundation.org/ Oct. 31, 2014
Amelia Earhart http://www.zonta.org/WhatWeDo/InternationalPrograms/AmeliaEarhartFellowship.aspx
Nov. 15, 2014
NASA Aeronautics http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/NASA_Aeronautics_Scholarship_Program.html#.VA-pkfmwKAJ
Fulbright http://www.cies.org/program/fulbright-nexus-regional-scholar-program
Was April 1, 2014
GEM (racial minorities in engineering)
https://www.gemfellowship.org/gem-fellowship
November 15, 2014
OFFER LETTER Letter offering you financial
support for enrolling at an institution – different from admission letter
Pay attention to the details Type of support (RA, TA, Fellowship) Length of support (dates) Terms and Conditions (What do you
have to do?) Coverage (tuition, fees, insurance,
amount of support) Cost of Living in that area compared
to the support Acceptance is a binding contract
Tip: “If you’re paying for graduate school, you’re doing it wrong.”
Tip: Be aware that TAing for multiple semesters may prolong graduation
OFFER LETTER (CONT)
With a fellowship offer, ask about: Date of the first payment– be prepared to pay bills the
first month of the semester Is the fellowship paid in one lump sum or periodically? Is the fellowship paid to your or the institution? Are taxes deducted or do you need to pay estimated
taxes? If health insurance is provided, when is it deducted? No caps for cost of living
Other things to consider in any offer: Are parking permits available for graduate students? What is the Cost of Living in that area? Is public transportation available? Can you afford to live close to campus?
SUMMARY
Graduate School terminology is specific.
Several types of support are available. Obtaining fellowships gives you
freedom and looks impressive on a résumé.
Various resources are available to you. Consider more than funding in making
a decision on which offer to accept. Ask questions and get details before
accepting. Good planning prevents additional
expenses.
QUESTIONS?
Katharine Brumbaugh Gamble [email protected]
Courtney Shell [email protected]
Heather Wiest [email protected]
Anne Rocheleau [email protected]
Grad Student Related Sessions at WE14Thursday Sessions• Graduate School Networking, 11am, LACC
Concourse• How an Advance Degree Can Help You Reach
Your Career Goals , 1:30 pm, LACC502A• Fostering an Inclusive Environment for
Graduate Students in a Growing Department – Lightening Talk 1:30 pm, LACC 502A
• Funding Your Graduate Education – Lightening Talk, 1:30 pm LACC, 502A
• Science, Technology, & Public Policy – How policy intersects with engineering and how to get involved – Lightening Talk, 1:30 pm LACC, 502A
• Career Planning with MyIDP – Lightening Talk, 1:30 pm LACC, 502A
• Tips on Finding and Being a Mentor in Graduate School, 4pm, LACC 511A
• Networking in Academic Settings, 4pm LACC 505
• Fellowship Opportunities for Academic and Research Projects in Engineering outside in the US, 1:30pm, LACC 505
Friday Sessions• Fellowship Opportunities for Academic and Research
Projects in Engineering outside in the US, 1:30pm, LACC 505
• Graduate Rapid Fire Session 1, 2:45pm, LACC 505 • Engineers in Informal STEM Education: From Casual
Contributions to Careers 4pm, LACC 501C• Preparing Powerful Application Essays, 4pm, LACC 504 • Graduate Networking Reception – hosted by Owens
Corning, 5pm, LACC 405
Saturday Sessions• Effective Writing for Graduate Funding, 10am, LACC
514• Strategies for Obtaining Your First Academic Position,
10am, LACC504• Graduate Rapid Fire Session 2, 10am, LACC 502• Tips for Teaching in STEM, 1:30pm, LACC 505• Building Support Networks in Graduate School and
Beyond, 1:30pm, LACC 503• Industry and Academia – You Can Do Both, 1:30pm,
LACC 405• Women in Academia & Grad Student Reception –
2:45pm-4pm, LACC 503
Get Involved & Stay Connected!Facebook: search “SWE Graduate Members”Blog: swegrad.wordpress.com