Five common funding mistakes grad students make

In life, sometimes we learn things too late. While this may not be a tragedy for your violin playing career (hey, you always have time to learn that concerto), it can sometimes be a setback in terms of funding.

Fortunately for you, I have compiled a list of the common funding mistakes so you can avoid making them. It doesn't guarantee you will find funding, but it might stop you from losing out on it.

Five Common Funding Mistakes Grads Make

1. Not Applying On Time: A common mistake grads make is looking too late in the year for funding; they wait until the spring or summer to look. Most fellowships and grants have already been awarded by then. The majority of application deadlines are in the fall quarter for funding for the following academic year. Therefore, you should be applying fall quarter 2017 for money you wish to spend in 2018-2019. The exception to this is on-campus funding, which everyone applies for in the winter quarter. If you're looking for money for this year, it's probably too late.

2. Not Planning For Funding Gaps: Funding only covers expenses for the academic year. Many students fail to plan for how they will support themselves over the summer. Summer funding usually comes in terms of work opportunities, either on- or off-campus. Competition is fierce for work if you believe anything you read in the news: academic and other positions are few. If you need a summer job, you should start searching in the winter and spring quarter for the one you want.

3. Not Knowing Your Funding Options: Your typical new grad doesn't know how funding works on campus or during their career.

• First, many students are unaware of campus funding resources. There are several travel, childcare, emergency, and health grants to help you out.
• Second, some students are unaware of the different types of funding to apply for in the different stages of their academic career. In your first years, you should look for predoctoral funding. When you are ABD, you should be looking for dissertation completion funding. After you get your PhD, there is postdoctoral funding.
• Third, some students are unaware of who to ask. Use your Graduate Program Assistants (GPAs), faculty advisors, fellow peers, and the Graduate Division Funding Peer to learn about funding opportunities.
• Fourth, funding databases: some students do not know of or do not know how to use the free funding database called Pivot. Use Pivot to search for funding opportunities!

4. Not Making Any Connections: Many students hope funding will find them. It doesn't. You have to go out and grab it. Make connections with professors, departments, and employers to get the grants, research positions, or teaching positions you deserve. If you don't let these people know you are interested, willing, and available, they will never contact you for work or offer you grants.

5. Not Being Persistent: Some students apply once and then give up. Don't give up. If you want the funding, you have to keep sending out applications to departments, asking professors to help on their research or teach their classes, and you have to keep applying for fellowships year after year. If you didn't get the job or fellowship the first time, then ask why. Improve your application for the next time so you can get that funding or position you deserve.