What do you do in the summers?

[beefgallo]

I am starting a PhD program soon, and I am getting a stipend for both semesters, during which I am supposed to either TA or RA (in my case - it will be RA for the first year). But in the summers, I am supposed to somehow find something else to do (within the university, since I will be on a J1 visa) and I am not promised that such a position will be provided for me.

 

Were you in similar situations? What do you do? Just approach researchers who might have funding for you? Look for something unrelated to your studies to do at the university for money as a temporary job?

[GeoDUDE!]

Fellowships, RAs, TAs ect.  The summer is the same for graduate students as the rest of the year just not taking classes. 

 

You should talk to your advisor about summer funding. One of the conditions of me attending a school was summer funding for the duration of my program, through one way or another. Even if you have guaranteed funding, you should be applying for summer money (so that previous money can be used else where). 

Edited June 12, 2015 by GeoDUDE!

[beefgallo]

Ok, what does 'applying for summer money' look like? Just approaching people? Or looking for positions advertised somewhere?

[rising_star]

It looks like both of those. Your department may have TA positions available. You may find that a professor has a grant and needs a summer RA. You may find that there are GA positions in other departments. Or, you could just set aside money from each paycheck all year so that you have money available for summer.

[GeoDUDE!]

Or you can apply for NSF grants and fellowships! EAPSI for example encompasses linguistics i think. 

Edited June 12, 2015 by GeoDUDE!

[random_grad]

You can also apply for travel or language grants if your research needs that. E.g. DAAD or FLAS. Ask your financial aid office for options

[beefgallo]

Thanks guys! All of the above seem like things I should do.

[beefgallo]

Isn't DAAD just in Germany?

[Garyon]

Hey guys! One more question on this topic: when do you think would be a good time to start asking around for this kind of summer financial opportunities?

I've asked a bit about it during before accepting my offer of coursea dn I've been told that usually some kind of TA/RA is available but in the end I am in the same situation of beefgallo, with nothing assured. I'll definitely try to put something away each month (I'm counting my stipend on 12 months instead of 9) but I'm not sure I'll be able to do that steadily and extra money are always welcome

Would the start of the second semester (around december/january) be a good time? I would feel a bit unconfortable starting my year asking about money...

[random_grad]

Yep, DAAD is for going to Germany. I mentioned tht as example.

For grants the fin aid office should be always available.

for TAships I d recommend asking the secretary if there s a job board or mailing list you can check; and otherwise let profs know you are looking for opportunities for professional dvpt (don t mention money though). Once should be enough.

[rising_star]

Garyon, I recommend talking to more senior grad students to get a sense of when TA opportunities are made available and how to show that you're interested in them. Some of this varies from one department to the next so those in your department are the best suited to give you advice in this regard.

[kyjin]

Like rising_star said, senior grad students are a good resource. For them, I'd say early is actually better to ask. They may give you information about grants or such that have early deadlines (I've seen several summer grants with January/February deadlines), so finding out those early is better. TA/RAships for the summer may not have info that early though, so your December/January timeline should be fine for that if you're speaking to professors.

 

Just to give you a sense, I've managed to get grants from several sources for the last two summers, and also during my MA. If you can apply to multiple, you're more likely to get enough to live on. Good luck!

[Garyon]

Thank you all!

My financial aid for the year comes through TAships (I just received my assignment for this Fall and I can't wait!), so maybe that would offer a good chance toa sk about summer teaching opportunities. And I'll definitely ask senior students in the department about grants etc.

[beefgallo]

I was also thinking of the beginning of the second semester as a possibly good time to start asking about that, after getting settled and getting to know the department and professors a bit better.

[GeoDUDE!]

a lot of grant/fellowship/scholarship applications are due in december. You should talk to your major advisor quickly IMO.

 

And just a lesson in general: you are going to need to speak candidly about funding with many people in academia. If you find this topic touchy, get used to it. 

Edited June 21, 2015 by GeoDUDE!

[beefgallo]

Major advisor - is that the graduate advisor? Or someone else? I'm coming from a country where it's a bit different, or at least in a different language, so I am not used to the titles yet. I do find this topic touchy, but I hope/believe i'll get used to it, cause I won't have much choice.

[Garyon]

@beefgallo, I'm on the same boat on having to learn an all new academic terminology However, if I understood correctly what they told me during the Open house, in my program the Major advisor is the graduate program director for the first year while from the second year on you have to choose an official one, though I imagine the Graduate director remains sort of a fatherly figure whom you can ask stuff to.

 

As for the funding issue, I too find the topic a bit touchy (maybe is a cultural thing), but I know I have to get used to be blunt about it (for instance, I really need summer funding ), I guess we'll learn in time (best sooner than later).

[TakeruK]

The good thing about funding being a sensitive topic is that everyone feels this way, not just you. We would all love to pretend funding doesn't matter and that we just want to do great research, but everyone knows that we don't live in a pretend world. So, even if it comes out a little awkwardly, your professors will understand because they have been and are currently in similar situations too.

 

If you read blogs online by professors, you'll see that they also encounter similar uncomfortable-ness when discussing things like salary, promotions, lab space negotiation, making arrangements on how to split the pay of a group/lab member etc.

 

I feel very comfortable talking to my supervisor about things but it is still a tiny bit awkward to ask about getting money to attend a conference for example. In many cases, I know the money is there and I know they will agree to pay for it, but I still need to ask because I don't want to develop an attitude where I just assume I'll get all the money I need. But talking about money is a critical part of this job as well as many other jobs outside of academia.

 

Also, it might be a touchy topic or make you a little uncomfortable to talk about, but the way I see it, the consequences of not talking about it and then missing an opportunity or getting screwed is way too high. I'd much rather endure a slightly awkward conversation than suddenly find myself with way less funding than I expected.

[beefgallo]

Definitely, what you stand to lose is not worth being shy about money issues.

 

Maybe it is a cultural thing. However, I come from a place where this should be more acceptable, culturally, this is just a personal issue for me. 

 

Also, the kind of relationship you have with your advisor plays a major role in this, if it's a person i'm in a great relationship with - I will be relatively comfortable talking about these issues. Otherwise, I would be rather afraid I would express myself awkwardly and that I might be perceived as rude/greedy/pushy and overthink the whole thing.

 

Well. I think it will be ok and that it's good gradcafe exists to discuss such issues.

[maelia8]

Just to put this out there, there are university jobs and funding that you can get that are not attached to either overseas/language study (like FLAS or DAAD) or a TA or RAship. At my institution, TA and RAships over the summer are almost never offered to first or second-year grad students - there is a limited number of positions and priority is given to more advanced students. I don't know a single person in my 1st year cohort who was able to land one this summer.

 

Several people applied early (in late fall/winter) for funding outside of the department, like FLAS or a research grant from a study center or external organization, but I went down a different path and landed a half-time job at a humanities institute on campus where I get to participate in career trainings and run their digital communications. I get paid by the hour rather than receiving a stipend, but I'm making plenty of money, and the connections I'm currently making have made me eligible for a great yearlong fellowship starting this coming fall. Don't be afraid to explore other campus options for employment/funding outside of your department.

[beefgallo]

Thanks, that is useful information, and relevant to my situation - since I think i won't be offered anything for the summer and will need to be proactive about it, whether it's looking for something in the department or outside it.