FUNDING ADVANCED DEGREES

Katharine Brumbaugh Gamble & Courtney Shell

WE14 Conference, Los Angeles, CA

October 23, 2014

OVERVIEW

Terminology

Types of funding

Who gets funded

What funding can provide

How to find funding

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 katharine.brumbaugh.gamble@gmail.com

Courtney Shell courtney.e.shell@gmail.com

Heather Wiest wiesthk@gmail.com

Anne Rocheleau adr65@cornell.edu

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