Universities that fund their own grads (not marks-related)

[Jamshyd]

After all the recent doom and gloom in my life, I met up with an old friend who somehow managed to convince me that going back to Acadaemia is really my only choice.

She said (and indeed, showed me on their website) that the University of Toronto actually pays its grad students - not just for tuition, but also a small salary - to just be students, and this is NOT a scholarship!! This applies to research-centered rather than course-centered programs, of which Middle Eastern studies is one.

Get this: she basically proposed that I get into grad-school to make it my job - that most people don't do this because they are looking for more money, but that the numbers offered (between 15k for Masters to 70k for post-grad) are well within my personal comfort zone. She says I have an advantage in this regard because I can apply as a mature student now, making my past marks irrelevant, and also because I am fluent in Arabic - something that is a requirement for the above-mentioned program which would give me an edge.

What do you guys think about this? To me, it seems too good to be true, but after all that she presented to me, it appears that such a life does exist, but that not many people know about it since it is only offered by a few universities, and that those who do know about it are generally looking for bigger money...

 

[Basic Base]

I think this is marvelous! I have just been re-thinking my career pathway now also. Since I am now a convicted felon with no degree but close to 7 years at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a Philosophy/Pre-Law major. I did at one point ponder trying to learn Arabic and going to school for it, and secretly hoping that the govt. would influence my application for a pardon of a felony conviction. If not I guess I'll just pull down a measly $30k a year working as a consular at a drug rehab after I complete a boring Psych. degree.

 

[yucatanboy2]

I'm a science grad student in the US, the stipend is about 20,000-24,000 USD and tuition is waived to the point of being less than 1000 USD a year. Its similarly true in other sciences in the US and canada. That said, non-science grads have to teach a whole lot more, but are indeed paid and have significantly reduced tuitions.

Marks/grades don't really matter at all in gradschool, as long as you are a B or higher. Often they're easier than you anticipate and just to make sure everyone is on the same page. The real work lies in doing your own, independent project/research, where you will be doing cutting-edge work, publishing, presenting, and trying to pass exams, and basically writing a giant book at the end (your dissertation).

HOWEVER, grad school is only for things you really want to spend the next 4-7 years of your life pouring your blood, sweat and tears (working 50-80+ hours a week on it) into and getting paid very little. For me, I do it because I love it, and i know my PhD will be the only way I can get that awesome job I want being a research scientist or professor!!

Feel free to contact me if you want to talk more about grad school! I'm gonna graduate next quarter-ish if all goes well!!!!

 

[peer.review]

It really depends on the school and the department. Here at UCSF the science students in the graduate division get a stipend (I believe around 30000, however, I could be wrong) and money for tuition. However, in sociology, anthropology and history we only get our tuition taken care of. A lot of this has to do with 1) how big the department is, 2) how good your PI (or advisor) is at getting money (and sharing it with you) and 3) how rich the school is.

I would recommend trying to get into a high ranking school because (in general) those are the schools with the most money to give to graduate students.

 

[hobhead]

Jam,
the road to tenure might be on the horizon for you .
arabic, mandarin and other languages are the ticket to ride.

after all you would still have big bucks working for spook agencies if academia became overbearing.

if however you are earning your keep now isn't something that keeps you satisfied - well start the application process.

I have nothing but anecdotal stuff to go by . however i have a young friend that is in grad school (geology) and thrives on all the work and the teaching that he does . takes a lot out of him but he grinds on.

run with it friend.

 

[K-Dazed]

This program sounds wonderful, and I really think you should take it up. Is Middle Eastern studies something you're interested (from reading your posts on here I'd say "yes"), because if so it seems like a very good plan. Do they pay for your dorm/do you have a place to live? Because I could easily live off 15k as long as I didn't have to pay for rent. I may be heading to University of Toronto in a year or two as well, so maybe I'll see you there! :D

 

[Matsuo Munefusa.]

that is very common for grad students to get a stipend for 'living expenses' in addition to tuition waivers. It is usually between 800-1500$ a month depending on location and cost of living and also your background/references/education/past degrees.

Yes its very easy to live on it but dont expect to save a lot for future. Hell man I am living on about 400 dollars a month now with the help of foodstamps. I am looking into making grad school my job again also like you in the future after a couple years outside of school traveling. I am going back to school for another MA (this time in Botany).

Usually you will have to teach classes, but given your background experience this should be no problem for you.

 

[ebola?]

I can only really talk about social science depts. in the US:

At state universities, it's typical to give out partial funding (tuition and living expenses) to most students for the first year, loans filling out the gap, and then offer teaching positions to fund the remaining years. Teaching compensation includes health-care, remission of tuition, and right-at poverty level wages (but usually not lower than that). Teaching is set up to be half-time, allowing one to do...student stuff.

BUT, many students fund themselves mostly through competitive grants, some being way more lucrative than teaching. eg, a National Science Foundation grant lasts 4 years, and the entailed stipend is over double a graduate instructor wage, and tuition is remitted. This fosters anxiety and animosity among students, between those who must concurrently teach and those who don't have to. :/

Programs in private institutions will typically offer more opulent grants over longer periods (less need of cheap instructors?). Some state universities are admitting larger cohorts but offering sparser, more inconsistent funding. eg, at UW Madison, half of incoming soc grads are told, "good luck with funding" upon entry.

...
Any grad school worth its salt will admit someone as insightful as you.

ebola