grad school funding 101: where to look, what to do, who can help originally developed by gretchen...
TRANSCRIPT
Grad School Funding 101: Where to Look, What to Do,
Who Can Help
Originally developed by Gretchen Busl
Revised and Presented by Mike Westrate
Associate Program Director, Office of Grants & Fellowships
The Graduate School
Research
• Associate Program Director, Office of Grants and Fellowships
– 1-on-1 consultations are always welcome—email me!
(Google Calendar)– Building a team of readers—does anyone have
interest or recommendations?• Ongoing Programming
– How to Give Your Research Spiel– NSF Application Workshop Series– Fulbright Information Week– Writing “Boot Camps” (next week)
Why should I apply?
Financial Benefit
Recognition & Validation
Experience & Feedback
NetworkingRefine Your Work
Branding (for life)
Where should I look?
The Graduate School Website (Research) LINK
PIVOT LINK
American Sociological Association LINK
Social Science Research Council LINK
Research Consultation (Me) [email protected]
Creating a Research Action Plan
Student: Program: SOCResearch area: Developmental (Childhood Aggression)Career goal: Sociology Professor
Research Fellowship/ Grant ApplicationsYear 1 Coursework, First-year project Fall NSF GRFP Spring First-year project presentation ASA Student Travel AwardSummer Year 2 Coursework Fall NSF GRFP, Javits Fellowship, ASA Minority FellowshipSpring Master's thesis proposal SSRC Mellon Mays Grant (I), internal ND grantsSummer Year 3 Coursework, Master's research Fall Association for Women in Science Predoctoral AwardSpring Master's thesis defense SSRC Mellon Mays Grant (II), internal ND grantsSummer Year 4 Prelim exam, Dissertation Research Fall Prelimary exam SSRC Mellon Mays Grant (III)Spring AAUW Dissertation Completion Fellowship, internal ND grantsSummer Year 5 Dissertation Completion All Dissertation Fellowships (internal and external)Fall Spring Disseration Defense Summer
Major Opportunities I
• 2 years of support for New AmericansSoros Fellowship
• 3 years of support, focus on diversityFord Predoctoral Fellowship
• 3 years of support for committed ChristiansHarvey Fellowship
• 2 years of support for non-US womenAAUW International Fellowship
• 3 years of support for women from developing countriesFaculty for the Future Fellowship
• 1 year of support for dissertation completionJosephine de Karman Fellowship
Major Opportunities II
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)3 yrs, $32K/yr! Must have < 12 Mos. of Graduate Study
Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program 4 yr, $30K/yr! Must have < 12 Mos. of Graduate Study
NSF Digging into Data (DID) Challenge$25K-$125K, research into managing and assessing “Big Data”
ASA Minority Fellowship Program (1 yr, $18K)
American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowships (1 yr, $20K)
SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF)For dissertation research stage. International students welcome to apply!
Other Opportunities
Association for Women in Science Predoctoral Awards ($1K)
Clara Mayo Grants ($1K)
SSRC Mellon Mays Predoctoral Research Grants (several, up to $5K—must have been an undergrad fellow)
ASA Student Forum Travel Awards ($225)
What are the typical components of an application (I)?
Recommendation letters
CVTranscripts
GRE/TOEFL scores
Project Proposal
Personal Statement
What are the typical components of an application (II)?
What do I write about?
What now?
Why now?
Why there?
The Argument:
Claims Proofs
Audience!!
Adapting Your Proposal
Consider your audience
• Interdisciplinary panel• Discipline specific but not specialized to your topic• Field experts
Provide sufficient background so that non-specialist and specialist alike will consider it integral to your argument
• Create a general proposal argument• Modify according to each announcement, incorporating language
from the agencies themselves
Speak to the institution’s funding aims as well as its overall mission and goals
Why You? Why Now?
My project is worthwhile.
I am uniquely prepared to undertake it.
I can complete it within the fellowship terms.
This fellowship is crucial to my professional success.
Writing a Proposed Research Project Statement
Demonstrate your potential to plan and conduct research
• Draw on your past experience
Exhibit your ability to interpret and communicate research
• Exhibit understanding of where your research fits• Into your own career aims• Into the scholarly field• Into a broader public context
You, in the Proposal
Presenting past experience in terms of their impact on your future trajectory:
• What did you learn that has influenced your goals for graduate study?• What methods or issues would you like to continue exploring, what new directions would you like to
move into?• What specific experiences (seminar papers, laboratory work, research project, etc.) can you describe
that have helped you formulate what areas of interest you’d like to pursue in your graduate work?
Writing a Personal Statement
Demonstrate desirable qualities
• Enthusiasm, dedication, initiative, adaptability, leadership• Traits valued by granting institution
Explain preparatory experience and special skills
• Courses, exams, projects, certifications, etc.
Explain your trajectory from student to career
Getting Good References
Ask well in advance of the application deadline, and provide all of the necessary information in good time.
• The student’s academic and professional merits• The significance of the project within the student’s field and beyond• The student’s preparedness to undertake the project • The feasibility of the project
Provide your referees with a copy of your materials and the agency guidelines.
The best letters will discuss:
What should I remember?
Read and follow all instructions.
Don’t be afraid to contact institutions.
Revise, rinse, repeat (and again).
You are not alone.
Resources:
Office of Grants and Fellowships
• Mike Westrate ([email protected])
University Writing Program
• writingcenter.nd.edu
English for Academic Purposes Program
• cslc.nd.edu/eap
