Predicting a fellowship opportunity

[Tom Richardson]

I have been contacting every man and his dog for funding, pretty much with no luck (see post on Brit Needing Funding). However, a Prof. at one of the grad-schools I have applied to has suggested that he thinks that I have the sort of background that would be of benefit to the Institute. Although most Research Fellowships are reserved for doctorate students some go to MAs. He has taken my CV and is going to investigate the opportunity further. I am totally clueless (Europe has a very different approach / mentality to these things) and not sure if this is a good sign or somebody just being polite. If you were given an unsolicited offer of support for a fellowship, how would you react?

[repatriate]

This is definitely somewhat more common in the US. Typically, a university will have several university-wide fellowships. These may be endowed by alumni or foundations to promote specific types of research or students (e.g., students from traditionally underrepresented groups), and there is often a general "President's Fellowship" or something similar that is not so restricted. In addition, some departments may have department-wide fellowships for which faculty can nominate prospective students.

Prospective students will be nominated for these fellowships by the departments (or faculty), and awardees will be chosen from among those nominated. It's a way for the departments to make more attractive offers, as these fellowships often pay more than other funding sources, such as RA/TA-ships; they may come without work requirements, unlike TA/RA-ships; and they look good on one's CV. By "investigate the opportunity further" he may mean that he is feeling out other faculty on the committee to see if they would vote to nominate you.

As far as how to react, don't count your eggs 'til their hatched. Even if you are nominated, these fellowships can be very competitive, so it is probably still only a chance that you will get one.

Edited February 9, 2010 by repatriate

[zilch]

definitely a good sign but as repatriate said it is also only a chance. when I was applying last year I was notified by a professor that he was looking into getting me a fellowship and then I got rejected by that University a few weeks later.

[Tom Richardson]

ok, thanks guys. When I first read his email I read the words I wanted to see and saw it as a silver bullet. Luckily I took the time to shape my answer and I am trying not to count my chickens before they hatch. It still would make life a hell of a lot simpler!

Repatriate, I am assuming that renumeration changes by university, but should TA/RA's expect to recieve anything more than a fee waiver?

Zilch, not wanting to rub it in but how long was it before you recieved your rejection letter? As I mentioned, I'm a Brit, and completely clueless as to the whole US system. Right now I'm looking for any opportunity to find funding, but fast realising I am 6 - 12 months behind schedule.

[zilch]

I got the 'you've been rejected' message about 5-6 weeks after my exchange with the professor (I think the rejection was sometime in March, but it honestly just all blends together in my memory). Although I think my case may have been particular to that school realizing it was short on funds or something as I met someone else on a visit elsewhere that had the same thing happen to him.

TA/RA's generally are on a waiver + stipend, depends on how much they expect you to work.

best of luck to you

[repatriate]

Repatriate, I am assuming that renumeration changes by university, but should TA/RA's expect to recieve anything more than a fee waiver?

I don't want to make generalizations because I honestly don't know how accurate I would be. But you may be able to get some general information about assistantships from the university's Graduate College's website. This will give information that is general to the whole school (such as minimum stipends), though departments may add on to these policies (for example, some departments will pay above the minimum; others won't). I don't know what schools you are applying to, but as an example, University of Illinois' Graduate College gives this information here: http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/assistantships