Graduate assistantships can offer you a great deal of experience while you are working towards your graduate degree. They allow you to work closely with professors and gain the knowledge and experience you need to succeed in the professional world. Assistantships also help reduce your student loan burden. This is because assistantships often include tuition scholarships and cash compensation.
The first step in applying for graduate assistantships is to contact the department or faculty that you wish to work with. They will interview you, review your application, and recommend you for a position. Afterward, you will be sent an official offer from the Graduate School. If you accept the offer, you will be required to complete an I-9 Eligibility of Employment form through the Human Resources office.
Depending on your department’s policies, your duties may involve teaching. Teaching can be a very time-consuming endeavor. You will also be expected to provide substantial involvement in activities of the organization. Aside from teaching, you will also be expected to conduct experiments.
As a research assistant, you will be involved in developing scientific material for publication and will assist with laboratory experiments. Research assistantships are typically funded by the National Institutes of Health. In fact, the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins, and the University of California San Francisco were among the most prolific recipients of NIH grants in 2017.
When a department offers a graduate assistantship, it is important for the supervisor to discuss the role with the student. The professor will likely want to accommodate the student’s goals. Moreover, the assistantship will offer you experience and knowledge that will help you with your resume. It is also a chance to learn more about the field you’re interested in.
Once you are accepted as a GA, you will be expected to spend 10 hours a week in your duties. These duties may be related to the faculty member’s research or laboratory, or they may be more administrative in nature. Each task should be clearly defined.
To be eligible for graduate assistantships, you must be a current full-time student in a master’s or doctoral program. Additionally, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Depending on the institution, you may also be required to perform a certain number of hours of service to the academic department.
Graduate assistantships can open up a variety of career options. Whether you’re looking for a job at a local hospital, a government agency, or a nonprofit organization, a graduate assistantship will help you find your perfect match. Ultimately, you will be able to make a difference in the lives of others while working towards your goal of becoming a physician or scientist.
Getting a graduate assistantship can be a great way to boost your CV. You will be able to apply your discipline skills while also helping other students progress. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with undergraduate students, which can help you develop the communication and leadership skills you need in the workplace.