Now what - funding

[Porridge]

I have finished my applications. Ticked all the boxes. I'm wondering whether I need to make make additional funding applications. All my programs provide full funding. A couple of instutitions I had to fill in forms, a couple said applicants were automatically considered. A couple just said all incoming students receive funding. I'm a little apprehensive since, as a foreigner, I'm not sure about all the ins and outs of American funding. I've done my research but now that I have completed the applications, my mind is going overtime - "Have I missed anything?"

Anyway, is this normal, that you are automatically considered? And yes, I'll speak to the departments in question.

[queenleblanc]

Everywhere I applied has a check-box for sending your application to be considered for all sources of funding.  There were some additional check-boxes to designate if you wanted to be considered for research or graduate assistantships.  One school had a separate scholarship essay to be written if you wanted to be considered for any merit-based scholarships.  Definitely check with the department websites if there is a FAQ document for applicants or call / email if you can't find the answers you need.  I think the answers to your questions may also vary with the field of graduate study -- some fields seem to have more funding opportunities available.  Google-search scholarships for your field to see what is out there from non-profit organizations or national organizations in whatever your area of study is.  Some schools will automatically submit applications to all of these programs for you, while other schools expect you to do the legwork yourself on any outside scholarships.  

 

Best of luck to you! 

[rising_star]

At this point, most of the deadlines for external funding have passed. If your programs offer full funding and you indicated your interest in that, then you'll be considered. No need to do anything else except wait.

[TakeruK]

Usually your offer will at least guarantee you funding for the first year (usually it's for longer, based on "satisfactory progress"). So, this allows you to apply for external scholarships during your first year of graduate studies (usually the deadlines are in the fall!). For internal fellowships (i.e. awarded by the school), the department will let you know if you need to apply for them, usually. Sometimes, this might happen as late as May/June because the department might only be able to nominate a few of the incoming students for these awards, so they want to see who is coming for sure first. Usually these internal fellowships do NOT change your funding offer, it just changes the source (i.e. from the school instead of the department). 

 

However, as a non-American, I know there are a lot of scholarships (especially the external ones) are not available for foreigners! I did a lot of research into finding funding for Canadians in US programs and I've only found 3 major award possibilities: (1) there is one single NASA award available for anyone registered at a US PhD program, (2) Fulbright foreign student award, and (3) your home country's federal funding agency (for me, NSERC is Canada's version of the NSF). So for non-Americans searching for external awards, I would say your best bet is to look at  your own government and see what awards they give to grad students in your home country. Usually, they do allow you to take the award outside of your home country under some conditions (e.g. a lower award value).

 

Good luck!