How to Get Your Grant

Audio (3 min 51 sec) from NPR

QUESTION

If I wanted to get a masters degree, do you know of grants or ways of getting grants for something like that? 

ANSWER 

Absolutely!  I got two scholarships for my masters degree.  One came from a family trust fund I found about talking with my brother.  The second came from the university I attended through what is called a “teaching assistantship” (see #5 below) 

I recommend 6 steps to getting scholarships for a masters degree … 

1. Commit | Commit first and the universe will support you. 
2. Learn the Scholarship Types | Click here to learn about types and how to obtain local scholarships. 
3. Model What Works | Ask people you know who have masters degrees (perhaps in counseling) what scholarships they got and how they got their masters paid for | For example, I learned a lot by asking my brother how he got his Ph.D. paid for.
4. Get to know the financial aid officers at the institution you want to attend | Make sure they get to know you and your unique needs and interests.  They can be your best scouts. They often have unique scholarship opportunities that few know about.  They also are the first to hear of scholarships when they come available.
5. Look for Fellowships or Assistantships | Most graduate schools and masters departments offer special scholarships in the form of fellowships or teaching assistantships. Teaching assistants often teach lower level university courses. Some departments, like Physics and Chemistry, offer research assistantships.  These include tuition waivers.  I had a teaching assistantship and the scholarship covered all by $11 per credit.
6. Help 3 other people get a scholarship | In addition to building good karma for yourself, helping 3 others builds momentum and gives you a good idea of places to look.

Good luck!  I hope this helps.

Phil Johncock | Founder of 4Grants.Net | Click here to claim a FREE Digital Audio – “Winning Grants”