Transcript Document
Graduate Extramural Funding
Georgia Ehlers, Director Fellowships & Community Engagement Graduate College Admin. 322 The University of Arizona
& Stay Out of Excessive Debt!
Average Grad & First Professional Student Debt at Graduation 09-10 AZ Resident - $54,693 Non-resident - $36,105 All Students - $49,297 Source: Arizona Board of Regents, 2011 Financial Aid Report Cumulative US student debt is up 25% from 2008 to 2011 in sharp contrast to declining debt in other consumer sectors. Source: NY Federal Reserve in the NY Times
How much debt is too much?
Money Magazine recommends that you not take on more debt than half your expected starting salary in your field It is recommended that your educational loan payments represent no more than 10% to 15% of your income. Finaid.com
Focus
Overview of graduate student financing Fellowships to know Tips on obtaining extramural funding
Overview of UA Funding FY 2010 State Appropriations Tuition & Fees – Grants & Contracts – 21.5% of total funds 21.5% of total funds 35% of total funds $601 million in total external awards (FY2010) $547 million on research projects $ 15 million for student salary & wages UA ranks 16 24 st th in R&D expenditures among all publics for R&D expenditures among all private & public Source: 2010 Annual Financial Report; NSF Survey of R&D Expenditures
UA Funders 1997-2006
Government ($2.310 B) Industry ($438 M) Foundations ($200 M) Individual Philanthropy ($629 M)
Top Research Funders to UA 1997- 2006 $3.576 billion Health & Human Services NASA National Science Foundation Dept. of Defense Dept. of Education Industry Foundations Other Federal Other Non-Federal $ 876 M 477 331 156 119 437 200 349 628
World of Grad Funding
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Federal Financial Aid - loans, grants, work study, remissions Internal Support - Assistantships, research $, donors, college, depts.
Employer assisted educational benefits (UA Qualified Tuition Reduction) Extramural Funding scholarships, fellowships, travel awards, research awards – external
Types of Extramural Awards 1-3 Year Fellowships for Study & Training Research support - fieldwork , thesis or dissertation Travel Awards – archives, conferences Internship, externship, coop, practicum Special Projects & Service/Outreach Post-doctoral Research/Young faculty awards
Why Apply for Extramural Grants?
Opportunity for reflection/planning tool Independence - financial & academic Enhance the quality of your research Stepping stone to other grants Valuable professional skill
Why Travel?
Conferences Internships/Coop Research Study Create or Present Service
Searchable Databases
Scholarship Universe – UA Financial Aid FinAid – comprehensive site Fast Web – 1.5 million scholarships Illinois Researcher Info. System (IRIS) Community of Science (COS) GRAPES – Grad Scholarships @ UCLA Grants.gov
Sign up for Alert Service on IRIS & COS!
Resources on Campus
Department/College listservs & websites CALS Alert Gift Center Alert Advisors, staff, & peers 3-D memos, UA News, Wildcat Grad.arizona.edu/finsup Honors College Scholarship Pages
Who can apply?
Student applies directly University/advisor on behalf of student University applies & selects awardees 3 rd party -non-profit
Student Applies Directly DOD Graduate Fellowship DOE Climate Change Education Jacob K. Javits EPA STAR Homeland Security HS Fellowship Inter-American Foundation NIH R-31 Dissertation NSF Grad Research Fellowship Presidential Management Fellowship
UA Applies or Nominates Student
Fulbright IIE NSEP David Boren ED Fulbright-Hays DDRA NSF Dissertation Improvement
UA Applies & Selects Students
DoEd FLAS, GAANN NASA Grad. Student Research Program & Space Grant Fellowships NSF IGERT, VIGRE, CESUM NIH Training Grants USDA National Needs
Fellowships To Know
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship * National Defense Science and Engineering Grad Fellowship EPA STAR Fulbright IIE * Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Ford Foundation Mellon
International Students
Scientists – NSF Dissertation Support Fulbright, Rotary, Rockefeller, IREX, Muskie, CONACYT PEO Peace Scholarship, AAUW Special funding from various countries Enter “International” in IRIS or COS search
Make it happen!
Where Do You See Yourself Going?
Contemplate your path What do you want from further education?
Develop a map of educational goals Plan ahead with focused attention Develop a mix of funding strategies
Make Connections & Prepare
Network – Professors/Staff/Peers Cultivate 3 recommenders Develop affiliations and contacts at other institutions, research sites Travel – conferences/research Develop preliminary data
Timing Matters
Develop a plan for each year Note deadlines Apply in fall of 1 st & 2 nd yr for fellowships Use summers to research & write Advance to candidacy & have your topic approved in time for deadlines File the FAFSA in Jan./Feb. each year (US)
Travel & Conferences
Search for travel support 6 -12 months before the experience!
Apply for the experience & seek funding to get there at the same time. Seek affiliations & contacts early.
Apply for professional society scholarships & work at conferences. Join your professional organization now
Learn by Doing - Practice
Classes/Workshops Form a writing group Offer to read, help on someone’s grant Use courses to prepare Learn to self-edit
Cultivate Great References
Get to know 3 referees before you need their help Ask those who can best write for you Ask if they can write you a strong letter for this application Meet far in advance to plan Give them everything needed Provide reminders of deadlines
Stay Focused Each page of an application that you write may be worth thousands of dollars… stay on track.
Write an hour a day!
Value the Process Regardless of Results
Your thinking will advance and you will often receive valuable input from reviewers.
You will strengthen your abilities & your topic.
Great Attitudes
Focus your passion Overcome fears Do the worst thing first Practice optimism Be persistent Know your self-worth has nothing to do with receiving an award