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HOW DO I PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL?

This session is part of the series:

Removing barriers to scholarships & fellowships

See sessions on the event calendar at grad.uw.edu/funding

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GRADUATE SCHOOL �OFFICE OF FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS

One-on-one advising on fellowship applications, including essays
Funding workshops
Publicize fellowship deadlines

gradappt@uw.edu

grad.uw.edu/funding ____

Administer some fellowship monies and tuition waivers for graduate students
Manage the application process and administration of some campus-wide awards

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Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS)

One-on-one advising

Funding presentations

Funding search guide

Funding blog

Oscar McNary, gfis@uw.edu

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Funding can feel like a taboo subject, and there is often not enough information and guidance available

Self-doubt can exacerbate anxiety about funding and further prevent you from getting information

Does everybody else already know all of this?
Did I miss something crucial in preparing for graduate school?

FEELING STRESSED ABOUT FUNDING?

YOU’RE NOT ALONE!

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How do people ‘normally’ fund graduate study?

Assistantships, other on-campus employment
Loans/financial aid
Fellowships, scholarships, grants

Where do I find funding?

Department
UW
Outside sources

How do I find funding?

AGENDA

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WHAT IS “NORMAL” FUNDING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL?

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ASSISTANTSHIPS (TA/RA/SAs)

Jobs for students in research, teaching or staff duties

Teaching Assistant (TA)
Research Assistant (RA)
Staff Assistant (SA)

Often (but not always!) half-time positions that include a salary, tuition and insurance benefits
Many departments hire their own students

NOTE: You are eligible to work in any department or center on campus!

More Information: grad.uw.edu/assistantships

WHAT ARE ASSISTANTSHIPS?

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LOANS/FINANCIAL AID

UW Office of Student Financial Aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Mostly loans; few grants

How much is normal to borrow?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommendation: borrow less than you expect to earn as a starting annual salary after you graduate

Tip: Use the ‘Financial Awareness Counseling’ tool at studentaid.gov to estimate your loan debt burden

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FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRANTS

Funds awarded to individual students to support their education

Not employment

Fellowships ↔️ Scholarships ↔️ Grants

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WHERE DO I FIND FUNDING?

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FUNDING: FROM UW & FROM OUTSIDE UW

UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT

OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS

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FUNDING: FROM UW

DEPARTMENT

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1. SEARCH YOUR DEPARTMENT

Department websites and listservs
Ask faculty whose research interests align with yours

Department websites and listservs
Ask the graduate advisor and faculty about

Awards from the department
Awards from other sources that students in the department receive
Awards they would recommend that you apply for
Being connected with students who have received awards

FOR ASSISTANTSHIPS

FOR FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:

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FUNDING: FROM UW

UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT

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2. SEARCH UW (1 of 2)

FOR ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING ASSISTANTSHIPS:

UW Jobs hr.uw.edu/jobs

search using the “Academic Student Employee” category

UW Handshake uw.joinhandshake.com
UW Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) Blog

FOR FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:

UW website using key terms
Other departments and units, including the Graduate School
Research centers
UW Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS)

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2. SEARCH UW (2 OF 2)

grad.uw.edu/funding

washington.edu/research/research-centers

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FUNDING: FROM UW & FROM OUTSIDE UW

UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT

OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS

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3. SEARCH OUTSIDE OPPORTUNITIES (1 of 3)

Research guide

Blog
External databases

Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS)

guides.lib.uw.edu/research/gfis

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3. SEARCH OUTSIDE OPPORTUNITIES (2 of 3)

GFIS Blog

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3. SEARCH OUTSIDE OPPORTUNITIES (3 of 3)

GFIS Database List

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Using Funding Search Tools

Award/Activity Type

Fellowship, scholarship, research, tuition

Degree/Academic Level

Master’s, MA, doctoral, Ph.D., graduate

Discipline(s)/Research Interests

Public policy, chemistry, health care, immigration

Identities

Women, LGBTQIA, race/ethnicity, international

Use multiple search terms:

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HOW DO I FIND FUNDING?

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WHEN DO I START LOOKING?

AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! Most applications are due 6-12 months before funds are disbursed.

September - February

March-May

May-August

Near start of each quarter

Major fellowship deadlines for the NEXT year

Assistantships for the NEXT year, smaller-scale fellowships, summer funding

Search for funding, plan application timeline, prepare essays, CV, teaching statement (TA), etc.

Assistantships, other UW jobs

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WHAT TO DO NOW: OCTOBER

Search for last-minute assistantship and other positions on Handshake uw.joinhandshake.com, UW Hires, and GFIS blog

TIP: Assess your skills—where else might you be eligible to work on campus?

APPLY for fellowships for 2022-23

Near start of each quarter

September - February

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ADDITIONAL SEARCH STRATEGIES

Ask faculty, staff and your peers!

“What fellowships do you know about?”
“What about RA or TA positions?”

Search multiple sources—no single source includes all opportunities!

Limit your search time to 30-40 minutes per day

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HOW DO I CHOOSE WHAT TO APPLY FOR?

Eligibility

Am I eligible?

Criteria

Do I fit the criteria well? Am I a competitive candidate?

Amount

How much is it?

Competitiveness

What is the applicant : awardee ratio?
Who receives it?
Has anybody in my department received it? If not, why?

Time Commitment

How much time will it take to apply?
Will it overlap with my other applications?
What is my alternative funding if I don’t apply?

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PLAN YOUR APPLICATION TIMELINE

Track promising awards, due dates, URLs, etc.

FELLOWSHIPS	DUE DATE	AMOUNT	FOR?	CRITERIA	APP COMPONENTS	NOTES/ Questions	TIMELINE
							August	September	October	November	December
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) � https://www.nsfgrfp.org	21-Oct-19	$34,000 stipend + tuition for 3 years	Coursework	potential for significant research achievement, benefit society	transcripts (unofficial, electronic), 3 letters of rec, personal statement (3 pages) research statement (2 pages)	can only apply once and with no more than one year of graduate school completed	1. Research criteria for essays, tips on essays. 2. Read app solicitation when published 3. Write rough draft essays.	1. By SEP 09: ask recommenders for letters, include rough draft of essays. 2. Meet advisers for advice on app and for proofreading essays	Early October: start application, follow up with recommenders
ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/usa/en/home/representations/embassy-washington/	15-Jan-20	$1,600 monthly stipend (can combine with other funding sources)	1-3 month research internship in Switzerland	Foster exchange between Swiss and U.S. research institutions (find a faculty host that is a strong fit for my research)	research project outline, CV, transcripts (unofficial), letter of affiliation from host professor (student must locate), one letter of rec	Sociology faculty at U Geneva, U Fribourg, U Neuchatel and U Basel				Find faculty host	early Dec: ask for letter of rec. write project outline

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Graduate Funding Information Service, UW Libraries

gfis@uw.edu / guides.lib.uw.edu/research/gfis/

Office of Fellowships & Awards, The Graduate School

gradappt@uw.edu / 206.543.7152 / grad.uw.edu/funding

Upcoming sessions in the series:

10/13/21, 5-6 PM | Graduate Fellowships Promoting Equity & Inclusion

10/19/21, 5:30-6:30 PM | Ford Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Fellowships

10/27/21, 5-6 PM| How to Apply for Fellowships: A Graduate Student Panel

11/02/21, 4:30-5:30 PM| Meet the Selection Committee: A Faculty Panel

11/17/21, 5-6 PM| Opening the Door to Letters of Recommendation: Student Panel

Register through the event calendar at grad.uw.edu/funding