Assistantships: Staying Ahead of the Game, Grad School Article

Approaching assistantships early with the same tenacity that you would when researching graduate schools can give you the one-up on others. It is not too early for you to start inquiring about options or to start planning these placements while submitting your application package. Assistantships are just another tool universities use to attract qualified students. In fact, many students are promised assistantships at the time that they apply. Often, successful graduate school candidates will have participated in summer internships and recruitment fairs during their final undergraduate years and occasionally a faculty member will contact an experimentally-inclined student during the recruiting process to offer a summer research assistantship. Many students find that this early placement helps them to adjust to graduate school sooner and gives them a head start in getting acquainted with the career possibilities that exist. Only accepted students are eligible for an assistantship. They are usually granted on the basis of your grade point average, your test scores, and the order of application. So just like any other job you apply for, you have to be qualified and you have to be fast. If you don't qualify for an assistantship within your department, check to see if there are any other positions available in different departments of the school. But again, you must prove that you're qualified and you must apply within the given time to be considered. Decisions on graduate assistantships are generally made in early April for the fall semester and early November for the spring semester. An applicant must have a complete file to be considered for an assistantship and students without adequate test scores are usually not considered. If you are planning on applying for an assistantship, make sure you have already received your best test score. This may require you to begin the testing process sooner. Confirm with the testing center in your area to ensure exams will be available. Graduate assistantships are one of the most common forms of financial assistance, yet they can be confusing. They're like a scholarship that you work for or a 'work-study' program. Some tasks assistants perform could include teaching, grading, conducting research, writing, administrative tasks, etc. They usually allow a student to waive the full amount or a portion of their tuition and provide a small living expense in return for their service. In addition, these positions generally enable out-of-state students to waive the out-of-state fees. Competition for assistantships is highly competitive, so students should consider applying for more than one position. Many commonly apply for assistantships within their own department but you can apply for one in another department providing you have the necessary knowledge and skills. Applications must be filed separately. Check with your department regarding restrictions on the number of assistantships you can hold and the length of term allowed. In addition, most positions must be renewed annually so keep copies of your applications and stay on top of deadlines. You are getting paid for what you do so an assistantship is ultimately a job. You must show up every day and be on time. Like all jobs, your supervisor, in most cases a professor, will have expectations about the work your do. If you are having difficulties, approach them to discuss how you can improve. While you are teaching others, you are also there to learn yourself. Your duties should be designed to benefit you professionally. An important part of your educational experience, an assistantship should increase your knowledge of your industry and skills, acting as an introduction to your chosen career and provide you with some real life experience to draw on in the future. So if you're looking to jump start your career and better understand where your field can take you, stay ahead of the game and apply for your assistantship early.