Read on Twitter
I've seen a few tweets about it, so let's do a thread on Grad School & funding.
If you're interested in grad school (esp. bio), funding will be one of your major hurdles.
*Tip: You should NOT EVER never ever *pay* to do a PhD or Masters
You should be *paid* to do it.
#PhDChat https://twitter.com/kassthefish/status/1245038194862817282
If you're interested in grad school (esp. bio), funding will be one of your major hurdles.
*Tip: You should NOT EVER never ever *pay* to do a PhD or Masters
You should be *paid* to do it.
#PhDChat https://twitter.com/kassthefish/status/1245038194862817282
There are a few ways to get funding.
1. Institutions have fellowships that are competitive but usually pay well
2. Institutions have assistantships that require work for pay, but they *try* to meet the cost of living. These are usually less pay
3. You bring your own funding
1. Institutions have fellowships that are competitive but usually pay well
2. Institutions have assistantships that require work for pay, but they *try* to meet the cost of living. These are usually less pay
3. You bring your own funding
Here's where #3 comes in. If you apply for a grant like the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, you apply for and (hopefully) get funding to do YOUR project WHEREVER you want to go. This means you're not limited to only institutions that offer you funding.
If you have some advisors in mind, reach out!
Ask if:
1. They're accepting grad students
2. They have institutional funding you'd be competitive for
3. They'd help you write a grant proposal to *potentially* come work with them.
*this is not an exhaustive list of questions
Ask if:
1. They're accepting grad students
2. They have institutional funding you'd be competitive for
3. They'd help you write a grant proposal to *potentially* come work with them.
*this is not an exhaustive list of questions
The NSF GRFP is a well-funded grant that allows students a stipend (read: paycheck) to do their research with few obligations from the funding source.
You will apply for the GRFP (in the end) BY YOURSELF. If you get it, that money is YOURS. You can use it at any institution.
You will apply for the GRFP (in the end) BY YOURSELF. If you get it, that money is YOURS. You can use it at any institution.
So what that last tweet means is, you're *not* obligated to go to a certain advisor's lab just because they helped you apply. Is that normally what's done? Maybe. But you're NOT required to do so. You can have options.
You are applying to fund YOUR PROJECT AND YOU, nothing else.
You are applying to fund YOUR PROJECT AND YOU, nothing else.
The GRFP is competitive. There's no denying it. But if you don't apply, you sure as heck aren't going to get the money! So shoot your shot. GO FOR IT.
If you have other questions about grad school, bio, applications, the process, feel free to ask or DM me!
#AcademicTwitter
If you have other questions about grad school, bio, applications, the process, feel free to ask or DM me!
#AcademicTwitter
OOOOOO one last thought. The NSF GRFP is due in October. You'll find out results in March.
*THIS MEANS* you should be starting to contact potential advisors SOON!!! Especially if they are posting about looking for students.
Better early than too late. You can always follow-up!
*THIS MEANS* you should be starting to contact potential advisors SOON!!! Especially if they are posting about looking for students.
Better early than too late. You can always follow-up!
IMPORTANT to note that this information applies mostly to STEM fields for graduate school, and mainly the US. The GRFP has restrictions in terms of being a US citizen and going to a US institution.
Apologies for any confusion!
Apologies for any confusion!
