Securing TA or RA-ship?

[letsjustgo]

I was recently accepted to a master's program without departmental funding (join the club, right?). However, I'm still very interested in this program and am seeking out other sources of funding. I'm currently employed with a NSF grant research project at a public R1, and have been advised by my supervisor to seek out an RA-ship with a different department (many of our employees are RAs who have their tuition covered).

Does anyone have any advice on the best way to find available RA positions? I understand this is a broad question that will vary between schools, but perhaps there are some relatively-universal standards that apply (??). Should I begin randomly emailing departments? Is it better to wait until the late summer months to begin searching?

The same goes for TA positions. There are none available in my department, but the GPC advised I contact some of the larger departments. Nothing promising yet... Anyone have any tips on seeking out and securing a TA position?

[Reinventing]

I was also admitted without funding so far. Apparently at the schools where I applied, it is common to have students seek out their assistantships by contacting departments and offices (some of these have job descriptions posted, others don't).

That said, with a deadline of April 15th, I feel like I'm in a rat-race to come up with something in the next few weeks.

[twocosmicfish]

RA: These positions are almost always controlled by the individual prof's - some schools even use that as part of the admissions process (Prof Y has 2 RA spots to fill, so he goes to the pile of screened applicants and selects 2 to admit) in which case all RA offers are made simultaneous with admission. Contact individual professors with whom you are interested in working, explain that you have been admitted and are interested in working with them. If things click, ask if they would be interested in having you in their lab and if they think they will have any funding this year or after. If they say no, go on to the next.

TA: Some are filled by the teaching professor, others are assigned by the department - your best bet is to contact the department directly and ask. If you can identify individuals you can interview with them as above, otherwise just ask the procedure and see what you can do to get on the list.

For all of these, the more personal the contact, the better - in 2006 I flew down to UT-Austin after finding out that I would probably not be admitted due to a problem with my app. I was able to plead my case and show that I was a good candidate, and left with admission, 2 RA offers and a TA offer. And a t-shirt.

[thepoorstockinger]

Obviously it varies according to schools but I have been offered RA positions at the program I am entering next year because I told the grad director I needed more money and she contacted faculty to ask if anyone had them, as well as my supervisor having work he needs done. That technique may work for you, but I think my case is probably the exception, not the rule.

A suggestion on TAships: if you're at a bigger school target departments without their own grad program. Also look at other schools in the area (preferably ones without lots of grad students).