Finding TA/RA positions at U Michigan as a CSE MS Student

[esez]

I am accepted to the MS program at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). I have high GRE & TOEFL scores and solid research experience including a first author paper at a top-journal.

 

I originally applied for PhD and I cannot afford the tuition of the MS program. What are my chances for finding an assistantship before starting my studies or after my first semester?

 

Should I contact the funding office to learn more about the assistantship opportunities?

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

[techboy]

Hi,

If you haven't contacted yet, you should definitely contact them. You may also want to contact faculty to find out more about TA opportunities. As I understand, you will still need to do so after or during your first semester.

Good luck!

[sleepyhead]

I attended Michigan as an engineering grad student and was in your shoes three years ago. It'll be tough to find GSI or GSRA positions your first semester since advisors are reluctant to hand those out to masters students they haven't worked with yet (Also PhDs have priority and will take the majority of available positions). What I did was conduct research with a willing advisor for a semester (for credit) and once I "performed," he was willing to fund the rest of my masters with GSRA.

 

Sure I had to pay tuition for the first semester, but it didn't take long to pay it off once I graduated. Good luck on your studies! 

[shinigamiasuka]

Pretty much the same here. Got accepted by University of Michigan a few days ago, and although it's my top choice, the fees are a lot. Thanks for the tip sleepyhead. Was the professor your research/thesis advisor and of your area of interest? Also, should I contact any of the professors I'm interested in working with right now?

Edited March 28, 2015 by shinigamiasuka

[sleepyhead]

Pretty much the same here. Got accepted by University of Michigan a few days ago, and although it's my top choice, the fees are a lot. Thanks for the tip sleepyhead. Was the professor your research/thesis advisor and of your area of interest? Also, should I contact any of the professors I'm interested in working with right now?

Congrats on getting accepted! I was doing a course only Master's so having an advisor was not required, but the professor I researched for became my advisor (I'm actually going back to him for a PhD this fall). I would contact every EECS professor that is in your area of interest after April 15th to see if they are looking for any Masters students. Ideally you're looking for professors who aren't taking any PhD students the following year and have some funding to take on Master students. Good luck! 

[shinigamiasuka]

Congrats on getting accepted! I was doing a course only Master's so having an advisor was not required, but the professor I researched for became my advisor (I'm actually going back to him for a PhD this fall). I would contact every EECS professor that is in your area of interest after April 15th to see if they are looking for any Masters students. Ideally you're looking for professors who aren't taking any PhD students the following year and have some funding to take on Master students. Good luck! 

Thanks again! Really appreciate your input. And since we're all hopefully going to the same place, let's hope we meet! 

[heyo]

Have you guys had any luck in getting funding as a Master's?

[heyo]

Also, does anyone know if it is very likely to be admitted to the PhD program after the master's at Michigan?

[shinigamiasuka]

Sleepyhead was right, professors are reluctant. I've tried emailing them and it's like they're completely ignoring me, except this one professor who replied--and quite positively, too. Unfortunately, however, he might not be able to fund me at the moment. That's okay, one semester's okay to manage. But yeah, like sleepyhead did, I'm meeting up and hopefully starting off research with him, and then continue throughout my stay--God-willing. One of my reasons for choosing grad studies at UMich is the research after all.

Here's what he replied: "Thanks for the introduction. If you come to UMich, we can meet to discuss to see if there is any suitable project for you. I don't expect to have new research assistant positions due to the current funding situation."

 

About MS to PhD transition, they have the steps for that here: https://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/graduate/ee/ee_How_to_transition_from_MS_to_PhD.html

[sleepyhead]

Sleepyhead was right, professors are reluctant. I've tried emailing them and it's like they're completely ignoring me, except this one professor who replied--and quite positively, too. Unfortunately, however, he might not be able to fund me at the moment. That's okay, one semester's okay to manage. But yeah, like sleepyhead did, I'm meeting up and hopefully starting off research with him, and then continue throughout my stay--God-willing. One of my reasons for choosing grad studies at UMich is the research after all.

Here's what he replied: "Thanks for the introduction. If you come to UMich, we can meet to discuss to see if there is any suitable project for you. I don't expect to have new research assistant positions due to the current funding situation."

 

About MS to PhD transition, they have the steps for that here: https://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/graduate/ee/ee_How_to_transition_from_MS_to_PhD.html

 

Good luck on your research! Hopefully you'll get your funding situation worked out. I'm not sure if you're looking to get into the PhD program or just finish with an MS, but it looks like the MS to PhD requirements differ between departments. In aero, you just need a 3.5 GPA and a willing professor. 

 

Don't feel too bad about professors not responding. It's a hectic time right now with the end of the semester and graduation coming up. You should try reaching out again in the summer when they're less busy and have a clearer idea of what research topics are available in the fall. Keep your options open (including the advisor who responded to you). 

[shinigamiasuka]

Good luck on your research! Hopefully you'll get your funding situation worked out. I'm not sure if you're looking to get into the PhD program or just finish with an MS, but it looks like the MS to PhD requirements differ between departments. In aero, you just need a 3.5 GPA and a willing professor. 

 

Don't feel too bad about professors not responding. It's a hectic time right now with the end of the semester and graduation coming up. You should try reaching out again in the summer when they're less busy and have a clearer idea of what research topics are available in the fall. Keep your options open (including the advisor who responded to you). 

 

I'm not quite sure yet... I'll probably discuss this over with my future advisor before I decide. I do want a PhD at some point, but I just don't know yet if the situation is going to be right to continue right now after an MS, or after taking a break off of studies and getting some experience in the industry. However, I will be able complete the courses required to take a qual exam by the time I can apply for a PhD, so I guess it wouldn't be much of a problem in that way. And, I'll be taking the thesis-based track for which I'll need an advisor anyway.

 

I actually sort of gave up and decided to just go and meet up with the professors after I arrive on campus in August; but after what you said, I'm going to try and initiate some discussion again some time later.

 

Thanks again for all the advice and help.