Getting paid to study !!!. Review on Applying for Financial Aid

''Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five.'' -W. Somerset Maugham

This words didn't come from a mercenary but from a person who valued the true worth of money. Money is important, as important as other things in life and everyone knows by now that you can't live on love and air. But why am I talking about money in this category, a category reserved for education, a sacred concept defined by the relationship between a guru and a student. The fact is, education today comes as a price, a price that may be a notch higher than lot of other things in life. Education today, is driven by the lure of lucre, call it unethical but nothing could be further from the truth. It is the biggest industry that offers the richest dividends. Whether it is a student desperately looking for aid to support his/her education or a professor churning out proposal after proposal for that prestigious project in the name of research, the pursuit of which begins and ends with monetary considerations in mind. This is not to belittle genuine efforts in the name of research or interests, but it remains to be seen how much of research can be conducted without proving to someone that is going to be useful.

Monetary assistance is even more critical for foreign nationals who dream of acquiring a decent education in the developed nations like the US, UK or Australia for the sheer difference in the value of currency between the nations. So, unless they have a rich family inheritance, every student is at some point of time strapped for funds and needs financial assistance to pursue his/her education. How does one go about it? I have been in the university setting for about two years now, and have witnessed desperate attempts to acquire that much desired financial aid. Here are some things that I feel, might be helpful to those seeking the same.

First Things First:

Most departments do have a financial aid form, which is mostly need/talent based. After applying to the program, do make sure you have this form filled up, the earlier the better since most universities have early deadlines for financial aid. These positions are mainly for student teaching positions known as 'Teaching Assistantships' and you would be expected to grade papers, conduct labs, assist other students with their doubts and keep the professor happy. If you are selected to be a teaching assistant the university would mention it in you I20 and your fees would mostly be waived off and you would be likely to receive a monthly stipend. These are the easiest jobs (in most cases in the beginning) and you would have enough time to focus on your academics without worrying too much about the job. And one word of advice, don't try to act funny with your students. Keep a healthy professional relationship and all will be fine. I have seen some people get into a lot of trouble because they failed to realize this. And keep your GPA (Grade Point Average) in a healthy state (atleast 3.0). In a graduate school setting, this is important both for financial assistance and for completion of the program. Its importance cannot be over stressed.

Help me Doctor:

If you fail to receive a teaching job, then it is time to approach that rich professor who can afford to support a student or two. Before approaching the professor, write to students working under that him/her to have an idea of the kind of work the prof is involved in and the level of work pressure. If you can handle it and the work sounds interesting, then write to the professor about your interests and how working with him/her would help you realize your aims regarding area of study etc. Most students goof up here. Writing to multiple professors with contradicting interests may lead to blacklisting and your chances of acquiring aid get drastically reduced. If you are lucky, then you may be selected to be a 'Research Assistant' under the professor. Responsibilities may vary, but ultimately it is your job to keep him/her happy. That is the only thing that matters. You may end up having a few publications under your name, and even think of pursuing a doctorate degree. Good luck, Einstein !!

Options Galore:

If the idea of teaching or research does not appeal to you, there are ways around this as well. Your skills may be needed elsewhere. You may have been a web designer or involved in community development in the past. These come in handy while landing up with one of those on-campus assistantships, commonly known as 'Graduate Assistantships (GA)'. These jobs are essentially skill based and are coveted simply because they give you an opportunity to work in an office kind of atmosphere and pick up a few skills on the way. And, these jobs are more secure. In case you decide to do a second masters, or extend your graduation, you boss may decide to keep funding you if you keep him happy. So how do you go about this? Read on.

'There is no free lunch'. If you need someone to pay you, you need to possess something that might be useful to him/her. So, it is time to grab that old unformatted resume and come up with something that really highlights your true achievements and knowledge base. Do not include things that talk about your height and unless you are applying for a PR position, your involvement with student clubs don't really account for a lot. Restrict it to one page, when looking for on-campus positions. If you have done a course in Unix at NIIT, and you are applying for a system admin's job, do mention it and glorify it. It sounds trite, but thats the way things work. Never ever mention things that are untrue, ultimately you would be exposed and sent home. Modify your resume for the kind of job that is on offer. Look for the requirements and if you do possess any of them, do highlight them, at the same time please remember to be truthful. These are real jobs and most of them pay well but you are expected to lead the life of an office-goer. Fix up a schedule in case you are selected and show up every time. You can look for such jobs mostly in the library, the IT dept ,administrative office and even in other departments of the school where the students may not possess the skills needed for the job, for instance a web developer in the Sports dept.

Well, things don't end here. If you are an exceptional student, then you may try your luck at one of those 'Scholarships' offered by the university. These pay really well and are given only to those who truly deserve the honor. Keep your GPA in good shape and stay above your peers and you may just get there.

Keep Trying:

Even if you don't succeed in the beginning in acquiring financial assistance, do not panic. The key is to work hard and proving your capabilities. If your work is appreciated, there is always a chance that you may receive funding after your initial semester or year. Someone once said that 'The harder you work, the luckier you get'. This is so true. And financial assistance is not an end in itself but a beginning to better things. It is however important not to get carried away and throw away everything that came to you easily or after hardwork. Work hard to stick on to the job and make your presence felt. It is more difficult to lose the job, if they feel you are close to indispensible.

And one more word of advice, financial assistance is a good thing, but do remember your true purpose of landing in school. Keep your grades high, and keep an eye on your graduation requirements. After all, that is why you came to school for. Good luck !!