Introduction to the GradGrants Center
Grad GrantLine Newsletter
Student Academic Appointment Vacancies
GradGrants Center Publications
Workshops
Grant Information on the Net
Tips for Getting Money for Graduate School
Who is Eligible?
Graduate students at all levels of study are eligible for funding. This
includes beginning master's candidates through dissertation-level Ph.D.'s.
All you need is a clear idea of where you are going and the basic skills to
translate that into a grant application.
Information Sources
Visit the GradGrants
Center (GGC) at the Main Library, Research Collection
Room 1052E, 1320 E. 10th St., Bloomington IN 47405 for information and to
fill out search requests
for three computerized databases containing thousands of grant sources.
In addition, the GGC has a library of reference books listing grant sources
-- ask for a copy of our
bibliography.
Deadlines
The majority of graduate student funding programs specify deadline dates
for the receipt of applications. Meeting those deadlines is a prime factor
in succeeding at the grants game. There are other important factors as
well: whether the application is appropriate to the sponsor's needs,
whether it is well-documented and written clearly, and whether it shows
a creative, innovative approach -- but all of these factors are nullified by
a late application. Failure to meet the deadline date is the most common
reason that an application fails. Always check directly with the sponsor
to confirm the deadline date and to find out if application forms must be
requested within a certain time frame.
Plan Ahead:
Start thinking about the grant search now! Summer is often a good time
to begin a grants search, without the pressure of full-time class
schedules and imminent grant deadlines. Nearly 65% of all grant deadlines
fall between November and March; planning ahead allows you to gather
needed information over the summer and get prepared for the crush of
deadlines beginning in November. Remember, the average turnaround time
(from application to acceptance) runs six to nine months.
Trading Up:
Not all students are immediately ready or able to compete for large
awards. There are many small grants which are ideal springboards for
"trading up" to larger awards later on, particularly for new graduate
students. Trading up can help you both in the long and short run. Many
sponsors offer awards in the $250 -- $1000 range, often in the form of
essay prizes, research supplements, or tuition assistance. Although small
grants will not pay your tuition and living expenses or finance your
research project, they are a good investment in your future nonetheless --
sponsors look favorably on past grant winners, even winners of relatively
small awards. When you apply for a $10,000 dissertation-level award,
your track record will work in your favor. The sponsor will see that you
have been through a competitive review process and have come out on top.
Identifying Appropriate Funding Sources:
The first step to locating appropriate programs is to get your thoughts in
order! Define yourself and your project using the following categories:
Funding programs are set up with the express purpose of giving away money and with a specific goal in mind, often to advance a particular area of research and scholarship. Sponsors welcome applications from qualified graduate students whose research and academic careers they can advance. They also hope to advance the cause to which they are dedicated. Therefore, the key to finding a grant is identifying the sponsor's goals or needs and then helping to fulfill them through your work.
The Proposal
The proposal is your chance to present your ideas. Show what makes you
stand out as an individual. Don't be afraid to show enthusiasm about your
project. If you can make your proposal interesting and present a true
picture of yourself and your goals, you are ahead of the game.
Your proposal must clearly establish a link between your project and the interest of the sponsor. Program announcements usually state that one of the selection criteria is the relevance of the proposed research to the goals and interests of the organization. It is up to you to point out this relationship. For specific instructions on successful proposal writing techniques, check the GradGrants Center library; there are a number of books on the topic which may be helpful. The GradGrants Center also provides an experienced grant-writing consultant to assist you one-on-one in writing your proposal.
Success or Failure
If your application is accepted and you are awarded money, rejoice; you
have made an excellent beginning. Notify your adviser and department
chair, as well as
Research at IU and the GradGrants Center. If your
application is rejected, don't despair! It happens to the best and most
experienced researchers. Remember to look upon the grant-seeking
process as an element of your education, and make use of your attempt to
try to improve your chances of future success. Don't give up!
-- Adapted from "The Grant-Seeking Process," by Risa Sodi and Andrea Leskes, in Peterson's Grants for Graduate Study, pp. 7-28.
 |
 |
|
|
Last updated: 5 September 2005 Contact the GGC Webmaster: gradgrnt@indiana.edu Copyright 1999-2005, The Trustees of Indiana University |
||