Take a Closer Look at Funding Resources

By Tamara Baker, Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization Secretary

Where am I going to get the money to pay for next semester?, Can I receive a stipend to attend that conference?, I need money to pay for my books! These have been questions/statements that I'm sure most of us have asked at one time or another.

As students we are often overwhelmed with attending classes, writing term papers, conducting research, and finding funding. Despite some of these challenges, one good thing is that many graduate programs guarantee funding for their students. However, this may not always be the case (particularly for undergraduate students). Despite the never ending quest for money, there are a plethora of resources that are available for undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate students.

The GSA website is an excellent resource to start your funding search. One source recognized as an excellent tool for student funding can be found as a link on the NIH website at http://www.nia.nih.gov/funding/. Another resourceful website for funding information is www.geron.org/grantstemp.htm. For new investigators and upcoming researchers FundSouce is another search tool for funding in the behavioral and social sciences (www.decadeofbehavior.org/fundsource). For minority students, the GSA website also offers a wealth of information on funding and research training opportunities. For minority students seeking to fund their dissertation, the Minority Dissertation Award is an excellent opportunity not only for funding, but it's also another excellent way to build upon and to enhance your research skills. Another website that is an excellent start to funding resources for minority students is www.free-4u.com/minority.htm. This website provides information on various funding resources from students from all ethnic backgrounds.

Remember, this is only a start to finding the most beneficial source of funding. There are PLENTY of resources available either through the internet or at your local university library. It may take some time to find these sources, but it is definitely worth the time and effort!

Now that I've found the funding source, what do I do?
There are a few things that you should be mindful of when applying for scholarships, fellowships, grants, and/or assistantships. The first piece of information that you should be aware of is the deadline. You definitely do not want to miss the opportunity to receive funding because you missed thedocumented deadline. It is wise to send in your packet of information at least two to three weeks prior to the deadline. Second, make sure you include all the material that is requested. You want every chance to be considered for an award. Therefore, you don't want to miss an opportunity, because of an incomplete application. Third, if letters of recommendation are needed, be sure you do some serious soul searching about who you want to write your letter. Make sure the professor/ mentor/ advisor you ask is knowledgeable of your strengths and weaknesses. Next, be sure you have someone to proofread your work. You definitely do not want to miss an opportunity because of major grammatical errors. Finally, the best way to find out about available funding is to ask around. There are plenty of individuals who have received funding or who either know of someone who has received funding.