How Am I $upposed to Pay for Graduate School???

“Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.” - Ken Hakuta

Overview

• Facts

• Fellowships

• Assistantships

• Undergraduate Funds

• When to Start?

• Where to Look?

• Helpful Resources

Facts about the Cost of Graduate School

• Parents income is no longer a factor.

• Less expensive that your undergraduate degree (exception – professional schools)

• They pay “you” to go to graduate school!

• Generally receive a Research Assistantship (RA) or Teaching Assistantship (TA) and tuition waiver.

Types of Aid Available

• Scholarships and Fellowships

• Loans

• Work – Study

• Faculty Funds

• Assistantship– Teaching– Research – Administrative

Who Wins?

Someone who is:

• Interesting/Passionate

• High Achieving/Ambitious

• Is prepared, gets help/support

• Starts Early

• Writes and rewrites!

What is a Competitive Profile?

• Academic Excellence

• Research, Internships

• Evidence of “L”eadership and social responsibility

• Faculty mentors and letters of recommendation.

Undergraduate Opportunities• Goldwater – Sophmore/Junior, science, math,

engineering

• Udall – Junior – Environmental or Native American Health or Policy

• Truman – Junior – Policy and Leadership

• Pickering – Junior – international affairs, politcial and economic analysis, administration, mgt., science policy

• Boren Fellowship – study abroad

• Gillman Study Abroad – Pell Eligible

Scholarships & Fellowships

• Fellowships provide a stipend for living and educational expenses which, in general, allow graduate students to pursue graduate study full-time.

• Scholarships provide funds to graduate students and are usually awarded based on academic merit or scholarly potential.

Fellowships & Scholarships• You do not have to pay them back

• Are “portable” and can be held at any university, possibly for multiple years.

• Application is made directly to the funding agency, not through a university. (NSF,NIH)

University Fellowships

• Most universities will award fellowships on the basis of merit and department recommendation.

• Inquire at grad schools

• Usually learn if you’ve been awarded a fellowship when you receive your letter of acceptance.

About the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

• Supports highly qualified undergraduate students seeking a research career in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.

Goldwater Features and Benefits

• Funding support for undergraduates up to $7,500 annually

• Covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

• Preparation for graduate school & career

About the Morris K. Udall Scholarship

• Committed to careers related to the Environment;

• Native American Tribal Policy; or Native Health Care.

Features & Benefits

• Funding support for undergraduates up to $5,000 annually

• Covers tuition, fees, books and room and board

• Scholars Orientation Week (Arizona)

• Preparation for graduate school & career

About the Harry S. Truman Scholarship

• Official Federal Memorial to President Harry S. Truman

• Supports students who wish to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service..including Law School

• Truman Scholars are “Change Agents”

Features & Benefits

• Up to $30,000 annually toward a public service focused degree

• Covers tuition, fees, book, room & board

• Receive leadership training,

• Required to work in public service for 3-7 years.

Thomas R. Pickering Program Scholarship

• Undergraduate & Graduate interested:

International Affairs

Political and economic analysis admin.

Science Policy

• Goal is to encourage foreign service careers in the U.S. Department of State

Boren Scholarships

• Funding opportunities for undergrad and graduate students to add an international and language component to their education.

• Must be in regions essential to U.S. National Security (Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Central & Eastern Europe and Latin America)

Commitment to Government Service

• In return for their awards, Boren Scholars and Fellows are asked to serve in of four priority of the federal government.

Gilman International Scholarship

• Sponsored by U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

• Supports undergraduates who have high financial need and awards scholarships of up to $5,000 for study abroad for up to one academic year. (Pell eligible)

Loans: Need-Based Financial Aid

• Federal College Work/Study Program• Federal Perkins Loan Program (National Direct Student

Loan)• Federal Stafford Student Loans

To apply for these you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA)

Graduate Opportunities

• Rhodes, Marshall & Mitchell• National Science Graduate Research Fellowship• Department of Energy, Defence, Homeland

Security • National Institutes of Health• Fulbright• Boren• NASA• Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship

UK – Rhodes Scholars, Marshall & Mitchell

• Extremely competitive - 3.9 GPA, Leadership, community service, athletics…

• Justification for UK and school and program

National Science Foundation

Graduate Research Fellowship Program:

• $30,0000 plus $10,500 for tuition

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT)

• $30,000 plus $10,500 for tuition

Bridge to the Doctorate – LSAMP graduates

• $30,000 plus $10,500 for tuition

NSF Criteria

Intellectual Merit /Broader Impact

• GPA/GRE/Proposal/Letters

• How will you change the world/

• How will you share your science?

• Diversification of STEM

Diversity Fellowships

• Ford Pre –Doctoral Fellowships

• NIH – Ruth Kirschstein Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

• GEM – Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science

• AAUW –American Association for University Women

• NASA Harriet G. Jenkins Fellowship

When to Start?

• Begin your search approximately one year before you need funding.

• Application deadlines often occur early in the fall for fellowships or late spring for assistantships.

Where to Look?

• The University Graduate Schools.

• Federal Agencies (NSF, NIH).

• Foundations/Corporations.

• Professional organizations.

• Network, Network, Network…….

Do your homework!

• University Fellowship Offices• Search online: a good place to start is:

Grantsnet.org • Biggest names in the business:

– NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program– NASA Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Program– NDSEG -National Defense Science and Engineering – EPA -Science to Achieve Results– NIH – NRC ……….

Finding Funding…..

Community of Science (COS)

http://fundingopps.cos.com

University Fellowship Finders:

• University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School

• Cornell

• University of Maryland

• Michigan State

Helpful Resources

• http://www.rochester.edu/College/McNair-Program/fellowships.html University of Rochester

• http://www.nafadvisors.org/scholarships.htm National Association of Fellowships Advisors.

• http://www.cgsnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=163 Council of Graduate Schools

http://www.nafadvisors.org/scholarships.htm

Additional Resources

• http://www.nsf.gov/funding/aboutfunding.jsp National Science Foundation

• http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm National Institute of Health