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Grad School
By Harmony | June 5, 2009 | 9:23 pm
The search is on, in full force. I always wanted to get a graduate education, and I can’t think of a better time than at the end of Peace Corps service.
I’ve already found 5 potential programs through the Peace Corps Fellows/USA program. Unfortunately, two of them are cost prohibitive (Yale and Duke). The other three are quite far from home, but the benefits are nice. One of them appears to be a full ride, though the program doesn’t seem very academic at all.
I’ve also been looking outside of the Fellows/USA program. I might be able to secure some grants or scholarships. It would be nice if I can get smart for cheap.
I’m a bit challenged by the admissions process, however. I began my undergraduate education by walking into an office, talking to my very own fabulous admissions adviser, and having him walk me through the process step-by-step (thanks, Laith!) The process was top-notch and straightforward, as was the education.
But these graduate programs are something else altogether. As I understand it, there may be some refresher courses I need to take (i.e. calculus, a class I haven’t had since 1998), then core classes in the first semester, and then internships, and a dissertation. I have no idea how the dissertation process works, or what it means to have an adviser on a dissertation, or any of the other stuff that it takes to be in academia. If anyone has been through the process, I would love a crash course. Just send me an e-mail.
And then there is financial aid. Subsidized Stafford loans come first, but it covers a small amount. Unubsidized Stafford loans can cover almost $9000 a year beyond that, and then there are 2 or 3 other types of loans if the first two aren’t enough. One year of education at Duke, for example, could result in 5 separate loans to cover tuition and room and board! That doesn’t even take into account the loan I still have outstanding for my undergraduate education.
Scholarships sound like the way to go. Does anyone have suggestions on where I can find a comprehensive scholarship database? Where else might I look for free money? Leave me a comment or send me an e-mail. I have lots of interests and experience, so I’d be surprised if there isn’t one out there perfect for me. I even heard that there are scholarships for my birthdate - 4th of July - wouldn’t that be cool?
Topics: After Peace Corps |
June 7th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Hi Harmony,
What degree and program are you considering? I’m a firm believer that graduate-level education (other than so-called “professional” programs like MBA, JD, etc) should NOT cost the student. The reason I take this stance is that, often, there’s not a huge economic return on the investment. That said, if you’re a strong applicant, you’ll find it common amongst PhD-level programs that full funding is available (i.e. 5yrs tuition + living stipend); however, funding at the terminal Master’s-level is decidedly less common.
I’m a PhD-dropout, so I totally value the education aspect. However, I would also advise anyone considering grad school to 1) weigh the financial impact against the rest of their life priorities, 2) be sure that they’re *intensely* passionate about their field of study such that they want to live it ALL day EVERY day, and 3) ensure that there are multiple faculty members you could see yourself working with in a given program - in the event one of the moves to a different program or retires.
Best of luck!
June 21st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Harmony- some great advice above! What fields of study will you likely pursue? I have a close friend at Yale (cancer research) who I can possibly turn you on to, and I am in Burlington VT where UVM is located. One of your group’s father is an administrative officer/counselor here. Connections, connections. I was admited to grad school following PC but ended up being a working father instead. Best, mike@burlingtonvermonthomes.com