need input. funding for m.s. statistics? (original, i know)

[outsourcedfromtheheartland]

hi, all. very new here.

i just signed on to stanford's m.s. stat program for the fall, and while i'm happy as a clam about such a great opportunity, of course any cost-cutting measures available would be an extra bonus...

the program itself doesn't provide m.s. students with funding, as a rule. i was hoping some of you might have some insight as to external funding options, tutoring/teaching gigs, selling kidneys on the black market, etc.

another question: i'm an american girl -- hearing lots and lots about all this mythical funding for domestic females in mathematics but thus far no dice (granted this has been off a super-cursory search, but still); have a sneaking suspicion this money is almost exclusively for ph.d. students. what's more, i'm kinda confused as to where statistics fits in the whole realm of math/social science/hard science/weird science/whatever -- are we fund-able? meaning, does statistics kind of fall through the cracks, or does it jump on to a bigger hub of funding opps like econ (in one direction) or math (in another direction)? i'd imagine it depends on the stats program; there's just such a huge range in the programs out there right now.

all this basically sums up to "I know nothing;" if you know something about any of these please do respond. thanks. hope everyone's semester is wrapping up all right.

[blabla]

I have some experience from the statistics department at Stanford. To be honest, funding opportunities for MS students are limited to say the least. If I were you I would not except a whole lot of outside funding and base my financial schedule on that.

[hubris]

Funding is the trouble with cash-cow MS programs if you are planning on continuing your education.

If you view it as a professional degree, then kinda sucks but the trade off is a bit more palatable.

Anyway, I am under the impression that most Stat departments have consulting gigs come in fairly frequently.

No idea how competitive that gravy train is.