graduate assistantship essay sample

How to Write an Essay for a Graduate Assistantship

Van thompson.

A graduate assistantship can provide you with lots of training in your chosen field, a chance to make more academic connections and even a way to pay for your graduate education. These positions can be highly competitive, though, so you'll need to find a way to stand out. A clearly written essay that conveys what you'll bring to the job can draw the attention of the professor with whom you'd like to work.

Explore this article

• Tailor Your Essay
• Focus on Accomplishments
• Explain What You Offer

1 Tailor Your Essay

Your essay should be specific to the assistantship to which you're applying, not a general purpose essay you used to get into graduate school or apply for a study abroad program. Develop a thesis that explains clearly and succinctly why you're suited for this position, then keep all of the information in your essay focused on this. For example, if you're applying for a job as a lab assistant, you'll need to focus on your laboratory and science experience.

2 Write Well

Your essay should be written well, so have someone appropriate edit it for you. Stick to the point, and avoid needless jargon and wordiness. Instead, give each paragraph a clear topic sentence that relates back to your thesis and is directly relevant to the job. A professor offering a job as a lab manager, for example, is likely uninterested in the fact that you won the spelling bee in seventh grade.

3 Focus on Accomplishments

Your letter should highlight your achievements, with a special emphasis on anything that's not made clear elsewhere in your application packet, such as community service, awards you've received, publication credits or challenging classes at which you have excelled. Don't try to explain away poor grades or build a story explaining how challenging your life has been. Your future boss wants someone with a history of achievements, so present yourself that way.

4 Explain What You Offer

To get an assistantship, you can't just focus on your past achievements. Instead, you need to tie these accomplishments to your future. Explain what you bring to the program and why you can offer a better deal than any other candidate. For example, if you've worked in a challenging laboratory environment before, you can highlight your skill, unflappable nature and the fact that you'll learn quickly.

• 1 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Application Essays

About the Author

Van Thompson is an attorney and writer. A former martial arts instructor, he holds bachelor's degrees in music and computer science from Westchester University, and a juris doctor from Georgia State University. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards, including a 2009 CALI Legal Writing Award.

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Obtaining Graduate Assistantships

Assistantships are a way of funding your graduate education . They are more often awarded to PhD students than to master’s students (though a department may sometimes have funding available for exceptional master’s students). You may be awarded a Teaching Assistantship (meaning you help teach a class, teach a section of a larger class, teach a lab, or the like – responsibilities vary by institution); or a Research Assistantship (meaning you work with faculty to support their research – your responsibilities will depend on your field).

When and how do you apply?

Most PhD programs will evaluate your application for funding (including assistantships, fellowships, etc.) when they admit you, based on the same materials you submitted with your application for admission. Most universities also require that you file a financial aid application (including the FAFSA , if you are eligible for federal aid), so that they can also determine your financial need. Check the requirements for each university you’re applying to.

Some universities offer “named” fellowships/assistantships through campus research centers or interdisciplinary teaching centers – these programs are likely to have independent application processes. Research your options carefully and make sure you get all your application materials in on time.

Applying for positions outside your department

If you’ve been admitted for a PhD and your department has not offered you funding (in the form of assistantships/fellowships), contact the department to ask whether students are able to apply for assistantships in other (allied) departments. For instance, the university might offer graduate teaching assistantships for interdisciplinary general education courses, and positions might become available late in the year. If you’re in English, perhaps the Composition department needs additional TAs. Find out what materials you need to submit (usually your CV, LORs, occasionally the application you submitted for admission).

What skills should you emphasize?

If you’re applying for a TAship independently of your admission application, use your CV to highlight any previous teaching experience. In your cover letter, explain why pedagogy is important to you and why you see teaching as an important part of your academic training (and career). If you’re applying outside of your home department, make sure you can demonstrate you have the skills to do the job (for instance, if you’re an Applied Math student, can you also TA Physics? If you’re a Comparative Literature student, can you TA German?).

In addition, you can often supplement your primary funding with work as a grader or reader during exam periods.

Helpful resources on campus will include your home department, the office of graduate studies, and the financial aid office.

In addition to helping our clients get accepted, we also help them obtain the funds they need to attend their dream programs. Learn more about how we can help you obtain a graduate assistantship – or any other type of funding – when you explore our Graduate School Admissions Services .

Related Resources:

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Articles & Advice > Graduate School > Articles

3 Great Grad School Application Essay Examples

The grad school personal statement is an important part of your application. Here are a few good graduate admission essay examples to inspire you.

by CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Jan 3, 2024

Originally Posted: Jun 15, 2017

Graduate school application essays, personal statements, and letters of intent can be a major hurdle to overcome in the application process. Getting just the right words on paper to convey why you want to go to grad school and the impact you intend to have using your degree is a lot to ask. To help you get some inspiration and tell your story the right way, check out these three essay examples. Every essay here comes from a successful grad school application, and after reading the essay we break down just what makes it good. And you’re going to love their stories.

Daniel Masciello, Juris Doctor

University of Connecticut Class of 2015

T ry. To get. Some. Slee—it’s no use.

It’s 3:00 am, 90 minutes before our day at work in the landfills of rural Thailand is set to begin, and the 60-watt bulb is still shining bright overhead. It is radiant.

Directly on my left is one grown man’s bare armpit; to my right is more of the same. I keep my nose pointed at the ceiling. I can’t lift my arms because I am too big, a Caucasian beetle trying to fit into this Thai ant colony.

I’ve been lying still for the better part of six hours now, unable to determine exactly why my host family insists on leaving the brightest light in the house on all night (to this day, still a mystery). It is not for a child’s sake; I, at 22 years old, am the youngest in the home. I’m also the only American. Five grown men, lined up snugly on a queen-sized mattress, are soundly sleeping while I contemplate excuses for not working in the landfill that day.

Twelve hours later, over sticky rice and “fresh” vegetables (from the landfill), I try to call out some of my bunkmates for being afraid of the dark. Nobody laughs at my jokes, but they don’t stop smiling either. Perhaps they don’t understand my infantile Thai. From what I can understand of them, they enjoy talking about how grumpy I’ve been all day. No sleep for some 60-odd hours and putting in two grueling days in the landfill, filtering through mountains of trash from the nearby city of Khon Kaen, looking for yogurt containers and car batteries in the hot Thai sun—these things can change a man’s general disposition.

But I did wake up and go to work with my host family. No, I was not prepared physically or mentally, nor was I in the best of moods that day. But the smiling way of the Thai people is infectious, and it wasn’t long before I was smiling too that night, stomach full and ready for more...

That was back in the fall of 2008. The study abroad program I was participating in revolved around studying specific issues (damning rivers, mining minerals, razing slums, etc.), staying with a village that was negatively affected by an issue, and then working to help solve the problem. It was not uncommon to have sessions lasting eight or nine hours just to prepare for a town meeting the next day. Free time after exchanges and interviews would be spent working in the fields with the villagers or perhaps working on our program’s publications. It was not your typical study abroad experience. I have yet to learn of another like it.

It was also challenging at times. Thailand changed my view on a lot of things for the better, including what it means to truly work hard. As a waiter back home, it was a routine practice to work 40 hours a week in addition to going to class and studying. Still, sometimes I wonder if I used jobs outside of class as a crutch. I always had the excuse: I have to work to support myself. But so do a lot of people. And for some of those people, like many of the villagers in Thailand, working extra hours is not temporary. It's a way of life.

At the time I'm not sure I truly appreciated the privilege I had of going to college, as my undergraduate GPA might indicate. Part of that disappointing number is that I feel as if I was afraid of putting 100% of my effort into school. If I was to put all my effort in and still get mediocre grades, I would have considered myself a failure. Apparently I couldn’t or refused to handle that. How cowardly, not to mention foolish!

But while I was in Thailand, I developed a confidence in myself that I simply hadn’t been able to locate before. On multiple occasions I tasted the failure that comes with studying complex issues in a foreign land. Each time it tasted horrible. But I worked on these failures.

For example, I nagged my homestay families to help me with my Thai and forced myself to request constructive criticism in a group setting. Through these trials I discovered the sweetest feeling of them all: perseverance. That meal next to the landfill, described above, was one of the most deliciously memorable meals of my life for that same reason. I was exhausted and maybe a little bit grumpy, but I learned to work through it—and smile too.

I am well aware that law school will probably force me to even further revise my definition of hard work and present challenges and setbacks the likes of which I may not have yet experienced. But I would like to face these challenges, and most importantly overcome them, at your school. I hope my letters of recommendation and LSAT score give the indication that I am capable of doing so. This essay, lastly, is a chance for me to convince you that I can and will. I look forward to hearing from you.

Why this essay is great

Try to stop reading this personal statement, we dare you. The introduction grabs you and doesn’t let go. But besides spinning a great yarn that also says a lot about Daniel’s values, this application essay has an important function: it thoughtfully and maturely addresses any concerns the graduate admission committee might have regarding Daniel’s undergraduate academic performance. Showing rather than telling, he depicts a person who is prepared to do the work to overcome obstacles and learn from mistakes. And since he was admitted to the grad program, clearly it worked.

Related:  How to Know If Law School Is Right for You

Bridget Sullivan, Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration

Boston College Class of 2017                                                                                                    

I did not know higher education existed as a field until I came to college. Despite this, it has surprisingly been the field that has had the largest impact on my college experience. It has given me direction going forward.

College has been my most important experience so far, in that it has allowed me to better understand how I interact with my environment and how others experience the world around them. Without the Student Affairs professionals I have interacted with over the past four years, I would not be where I am today. I hope that in my future as a Student Affairs professional I can give students the great experience I have been privileged to receive. I will take the lessons I have learned and those that I will learn in the future to improve the college experience for many future generations going forward. 

I have enjoyed being a Resident Advisor, a Parent Orientation Leader, and an Assistant Resident Director while attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell for the past four years. All of these jobs fall under the Office of Residence Life. These opportunities have been cornerstones of my college education. They have taught me the long-term and transferrable skills of organization, conflict management, and supervision.

I have most enjoyed being an Assistant Resident Director, as I get to work with the Resident Advisors and Resident Director in a more administrative capacity. The ARD works closely with the RD to get the work done and hold RAs accountable. I think my favorite part of being an ARD this year has been working with the RAs to make sure they have the best experience they can, while at the same time making sure they complete their work well and on time. I enjoy helping RAs and other students reach their full potential, and I feel that it is a learning process for me too. The ARD position has shown me how much I value helping others on the path I have set for myself through my experiences with the RAs I supervise.

Because of the ARD role I have been afforded, I have had the opportunity to see how this potential career may play out. I feel confident about my ability to transition to the professional side of the field because the ARD position has already forced me to take on many of these steps. I tested the waters of the potential career in my RA role last year; this year as an ARD has shown me that I know I can succeed. 

I am passionate about student affairs and higher education because it is an opportunity to work with college students and help them grow and develop. I truly believe that there isn’t a more rewarding career than one that allows you to help others. This field allows me to assist others every day at a time in their lives when many students need it most. It was my developmental path, and I want to give that support to others.

So far my academics and daily practice have not been linked nor intentional. I am excited to be able to make this so by starting a graduate program in higher education. Understanding my former responsibilities in terms of theory and learning how to turn new theories into practice is a process I cannot wait to begin. 

I know the Lynch School of Education can assist me in achieving this goal through their program in Higher Education Administration. The opportunity to study in the Boston area will give me a multitude of professional development opportunities that would be hard to find anywhere else. If I am admitted, I will work hard to maximize my time at the Lynch School and become a young professional who can innovate and improve upon current practices in the field.

This personal statement takes you on a journey, as Bridget discovers her calling as an undergrad, gets all the hands-on experience in it she can, and figures out the perfect way to make it her career: grad school. And not just any grad school—Boston College in particular! There’s no doubt in your mind that she’s going to take advantage of everything BC’s master’s program has to offer, and she has the real-world experience to back her claims up.

Related:  Great Alternative Jobs for Education Majors Who Don't Want to Teach

Haviland Johannesson-Forgit,  Master of Arts in Arts Administration

Vermont State University , formerly Castleton University Class of 2018

While contemplating how I should approach my personal and professional goals and how earning an advanced degree will support them, I came upon my application essay for Goddard College that I wrote close to three years ago:

“Oftentimes, children who lack positive, authoritative figures and emotional support end up making unwise choices that stay with them and induce prejudice and judgment from other people who may be ignorant to what caused these children to make the choices in the first place. This cultural stigmatism that exists in our society often leads to these children being segmented into a disenfranchised group as adults. The misunderstanding and neglect that occurs in communities towards socially disenfranchised children goes against everything that I was raised to take in regard when attempting to understand a person.

I envision my studies reaching children and young adults in many different communities. It is my goal to immerse myself in rural, inner-city, and lower-income communities and meet these children before or in the midst of their time when the decisions they make can influence where their life may lead. I believe that the teachings of dance as a holistic lifestyle will provide outlets of knowledge and self-expression for these children and young adults that will lead them in positive directions.”

In this essay we were expected to write about our intentions and ambitions for our studies; to address the passions that acted as the drive for our work during our attendance at the college as well as after graduation. In returning to this essay, I was pleased to discover that my ambition and dedication to using the performing arts as a source of structure and reliability for youth in this country has not changed. When applying to Goddard College for my undergraduate degree I knew that I would want to continue on to pursue my graduate degree afterwards to enhance myself as a qualified candidate working in my field. Earning my advanced degree will enable me to go forth in the world as a confident and learned individual prepared to create the positive opportunities I envisioned years ago.

While earning my advanced degree, I intend to learn the details and structure that is needed to successfully run arts organizations. The closeness that Castleton University has with the Association for Arts Administration in developing its program for the MA in Arts Administration encourages me; it assures me that the quality and rigor of the program at Castleton is the right fit for my personal and professional aspirations. The efficacy of the program combined with the professional portfolio of projects demonstrating a mastery of skills in a range of areas in the arts and the six-credit culminating internship is exactly what I am looking for in an advanced degree program.

My background in the performing arts is broad. Not only have I have spent many years performing in productions of theater and dance, but I have also devoted my time and learning to other aspects of performance arts, whether it be technical, political, or social. My time attending Goddard College has proven to be extremely educational in training me in areas of social justice and cultural realizations of privilege, class, and human rights. With an accomplished and culturally diverse faculty and staff, the College requires its students to incorporate this training into their degrees, which makes for globally conscious citizens.

What I stand to bring to Castleton University’s campus is a vibrant love for the performing arts accompanied by acute social awareness training. My dedication to improving myself as an individual in my career is resolute; earning my advanced degree is vital to my continuing as a professional in a field so important to the foundation of our culture. I look forward to the opportunity of earning my Master of Arts in Arts Administration at Castleton University. 

Haviland draws a remarkable line from her undergraduate studies and goals to the present day . She’s been on a clear path for a long time, and grad school has always been part of the plan and the logical next step for her career. Her unwavering commitment to arts education and dance as a means for furthering social justice will serve her well professionally—and it probably impressed the graduate admission folks too. Haviland also references specific features of Castleton University’s graduate program, showing she’s genuinely interested in the school and its unique strengths.

Related:  Careers for People Who Want to Use Their Creativity

We hope these essay examples helped you get a better idea of where to take your grad school personal statements. The most important part of writing your essay is ensuring every word you put on the page is authentically you and true to your goals. You can write a great essay and get into a good grad school; just give yourself the time and flexibility by starting early and focusing on your story. Good luck!

Need help getting the ball rolling on your graduate essays? Check out these  Good Strategies for Writing Grad School Personal Essays from the experts at GradSchools.com.

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4 Reasons You Should Apply for a Graduate Assistantship

Posted by Shelly Quance on 3/30/22 8:53 AM

Graduate school is a great way to invest in your future. You further your potential by giving yourself a better chance to get noticed in today’s job market, pursuing your interests in more depth, and making more connections.

Your graduate education is more than what you learn in the classroom — it’s also the work experience you gain. One way to obtain work experience in graduate school is through a graduate assistantship .

A unique experience during graduate years, graduate assistantships provide an excellent learning environment, exposing students to what it is like to be in the workforce (and will also help you in financing graduate school !) .

The Admissions Team at WVU are here to teach you about the value of graduate assistantship and how securing a graduate assistantship can help you finance graduate school while boosting your resume with practical work experience.

Here are several reasons why becoming a graduate assistant will be helpful as you pursue a graduate degree:

What is a graduate assistantship ?

A   graduate assistant   is a graduate student who has secured a specific form of academic employment for which students must apply and be accepted based on academic excellence and faculty referral. Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver based on the tasks they perform for faculty members or departments.

In addition to payment, graduate assistantships are a strategic way for PhD and master’s degree students to gain practical field experience, deepen academic understanding, and network with thought leaders and students in their field.

Graduate assistantships are offered through the university and take place within the university or off-site where the university has connections. Application procedures for graduate assistantships vary by school, but the process typically starts at least a semester before the start of the graduate assistantship.

"I know that many of the leaders at WVU that I have met and work with will make a difference in this world, in particular with the opioid crisis. I am confident that the skills I have gained in my graduate research assistantship at WVU will help me continue to make a difference."  —Sara Warfield, Graduate Research Assistant, PhD in Public Health at WVU

1. By participating in a graduate assistantship, you'll get to network with field experts.

From an educational standpoint, the benefits are fairly clear, but graduate assistantships can also provide you with a valuable network of contacts to look to for references and advice post-graduation.

A graduate assistant often works alongside professors or staff members. Mentorship is an important part of learning, whether you’re in school or in your career — and it’s a built-in part of becoming a graduate assistant. Not only does working with experts in their fields provide a great learning environment, but it also comes in handy after school when you’re looking for references for job applications.

Pro Tip: Hear from one grad assistant who benefited from a graduate assistantship at WVU!

2. You get quality, practical work experience  while  getting your graduate degree.

Your education shouldn’t be reduced solely to classroom time. In order to advance your knowledge and skill set, you need focused, applicable experience in your field. A graduate assistantship can offer you this experience because you’ll have the opportunity to work with and learn from professors and other professionals in your field. 

Not to mention, by working in a graduate assistantship, you'll experience juggling multiple tasks with multiple deadlines. You'll learn to move forward with your own goals and responsibilities while helping others progress as well.

By shadowing a professional, you get to see firsthand what the field is like day-to-day.  For example, being an Athletics Compliance Assistant at a NCAA university would give you the opportunity to work under the Director for Athletic Compliance. You get to know the ins and outs of what it is like to be the Director for Athletic Compliance by assisting in monitoring prospective student-athlete recruitment and student-athlete transfers, research rules interpretations, and learn how to use the NCAA Compliance Assistant software. On top of that, you get to interact with student-athletes, athletic staff members, and other institutional staff. These interactions serve as an exceptional learning experience and allow you to expand your network.

3. A graduate assistantship will help you finance your education.

A graduate assistantship position is largely invaluable due to the academic/practical work experience and the networking benefits you'll gain. That said, many graduate assistantships offer a tuition waiver  plus  a monetary stipend. Thus, a graduate assistantship position can actually help you to fund your graduate degree in addition to providing you with important real-world knowledge and skills.

Pro Tip: Need more information on financing graduate school ? Check out these resources . 

4. You assist and learn from other students in your field.

In leading others, you have the opportunity to relay your experience in the field to others in hopes that they will be inspired to pursue your field. For example, as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant at a local high school, you might be responsible for developing and improving various teams’ strength and conditioning programs, maintaining weight room facilities, marketing, communication between faculty and staff, and ensuring safety standards.

In this setting, you will be surrounded by younger, like-minded students. This opens the opportunity for not only you to gain experience by working with these students, but students to learn from you. Whether you are in the classroom or directly in the field, you have the chance to see what younger generations have to contribute to the field, essentially forming mentorships between you and those of the younger generation.

Are you ready to become a grad assistant at WVU?

West Virginia University awards approximately 1,700 graduate assistantships annually to incoming and continuing students. Students considered for a graduate assistantship must be accepted into a degree program and are required to be enrolled full time — nine credits or more.

Here are the types of graduate assistantships offered at WVU:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Graduate Service Assistantships

A graduate assistantship is truly a rewarding experience. Serving as support to some of the best in your field, getting a glimpse of what it is like to be a professional in the field, and building those who are the future of your field exemplify why a graduate assistantship is essential to your graduate education. If you're interested in transforming your future at WVU and participating in a graduate assistantship, we encourage you to contact us today !

We invite you to explore our new digital resource page —  Your Guide to Understanding Graduate Assistantships in Graduate School  — for insight into the value of securing a GA position in grad school. 

Recommended for you

Topics: Funding Your Graduate Education

Posted by Shelly Quance

Shelly Quance has spent almost 20 years working in higher education marketing communications. She currently serves as Director for West Virginia University’s Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment where she works collaboratively with College leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate creative and effective comprehensive communication and marketing plans to increase graduate student enrollment.

About the Blog

Deciding what graduate school to attend can be daunting at times, and navigating the admissions process can be that much more difficult. We hope to make the journey from considering graduate school to enrolling in a graduate program easier by publishing content that will be helpful to you as you discern if, when, and where, to pursue your next degree.

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Upload an essay into the `Essay/Statement of Interest' section of the online application. Write an autobiographical essay explaining your interest in practicing social work. This essay is intended to give the MSW Admissions Committee a holistic picture of you as a potential MSW student.

We'd like to know about your strengths, your self-awareness, and your perception of areas for personal and professional growth. This essay should be two to four pages, double-spaced, using Times Roman, 12 pt. font.

• Describe your experiences, both personal and professional, that influenced your decision to practice social work. In discussing your professional history, please include your work setting(s), the length of time you served, and whether or not this experience(s) was paid or volunteer. Include what your learned about yourself from these personal and/or professional experiences. For advanced standing applicants that hold a BSW only:  Please include information regarding your undergraduate field placement in your response to question 1.
• Tell us about an experience with adversity, discrimination, and/or oppression either in your personal or professional life and how you handled that experience. If you have not faced these issues in your life, please explain your perception of the role the social work profession plays in working with people who do face such challenges.
• Discuss your commitment to social justice, both personally and professionally, and how you see this issue relating to your future practice in social work.
• Explain the reasons you have chosen to apply to our social work program.
• State your career goals for the next five years, including the population(s) with which you see yourself working.

Assistantship Essay

If you wish to apply for a graduate assistantship, format a one paragraph essay Word document to be uploaded into the `Assistantship Essay' section of the online application, noting that only full-time students may be considered for graduate assistantships. Detail your research and/or instructional experiences, technological aptitude (i.e., ability to use specific programs, web development, etc.), and any special skills that you would bring to your work as a graduate assistant. Include if you would be willing to work with another department if an assistantship in Social Work is unavailable.

Contact the MSW Program

Primary Contact: Amy Van de Motter, MSW, LCSW

[email protected]

School of Social Work

Kristin Mapson, Ph.D., MSW

Program Coordinator & Professor [email protected]  

Walker College of Business

• Assistantship Essay
• Graduate Programs
• Graduate Student Resources

Warning message

Please note the following: The pay for graduate assistantships is $15/hour. A high expectation for professional behavior includes:

• Dress code of business casual for students while performing assistantship duties (See the dress code listing for details). 
• An understanding that assistantship time is for work for the college - not time to do homework or other non-work related tasks.
• Students must stay on track with their assigned hours or risk having their contract canceled. 
• It is your responsibility to be proactive and seek out ways to add value. 
• Please see the MBA office if you need help finding additional work to keep up. 
• Please be honest in reporting your hours worked. 
• Due to the demanding time requirements of a full time load and assistantship, assistantships will generally not be available to students on an overload.

• How we work

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All You Need to Know about a Graduate Assistantship Program

Getting a graduate assistantship is a major step towards career success, but getting one can be quite difficult. One important distinction between attaining a graduate assistantship and a regular job is that you need to prove your character and qualities as much or more than your accomplishments and experience. Those looking for a graduate assistant don’t just want someone accomplished, they want some diligent, capable, driven, on top of being friendly and helpful. Some of these traits can be difficult to express in a resume, but that’s why a personal statement is often required, to illuminate these qualities in you and to grow on what is in the resume. The problem is that many people struggle to express this in a subtle yet effective manner, but that’s where the help of our personal statement for graduate assistantship can be valuable!

Getting real experience while doing your graduate course is vital to ensure you make the most of the degree. It will help you experience by yourself what it is like to work in the field you have chosen. However, you can skip the part where you hand in a thousand resumes to companies you would like to work with. And, instead, you can take a graduate assistantship program. Graduate assistantships programs are designed to help students gain real experience in academia. You can assist a professor with their investigation, or help an academic staff member with their work. There are endless opportunities and, the best part, you can apply for a graduate assistantship program from another college within your university.

In this case, the college will post the requirements you will need to have and you will have to undergo a selection process. Here, they will ask you about your studies and the knowledge you have in that particular field. This is especially important for interdisciplinary programs. If you have decided to do a graduate assistantship program, you should contact your graduate school for more information. But, if you haven’t applied for graduate school but you think you would be interested in doing this program in the future, here is a list of ten graduate schools that offer graduate assistantship programs.

• University of Florida Graduate Assistantship Program
• Chatham University Graduate Assistantship Program
• University of Illinois Graduate Assistantship Program
• Montclair State University Graduate Assistantship Program
• Cornell University Graduate Assistantship Program
• University of Houston Graduate Assistantship Program
• University of South Alabama Graduate Assistantship Program
• Michigan State University Graduate Assistantship Program
• Dakota State University Graduate Assistantship Program
• Southeastern Louisiana University Assistantship Program

What You Need to Include in Your Graduate Assistantship Essay

If you want to apply for a graduate assistantship program, you will have to submit a personal statement for graduate assistantship as part of your application. In your personal statement, you will have to describe your academic background, what average mark do you have, what are the subjects that you are more interested in, as well as why do you want to take part in the program. Let’s review each part in detail.

• Your academic background. The graduate school will be interested to know what have you done so far. Talk about the courses you have taken, what subjects you have taken, as well as any activity related to the field. You can even mention one of your academic essays that you feel proud of. However, it has to be related to the field.
• What average mark do you have. Briefly mention the grades you have gotten and how they are a reflection of your hard work and discipline as a student.
• What are the subjects that you are more interested in. Describe what areas you feel more attracted to, and what type of research would you like to undertake.
• Why do you want to take part in the program. This particular question will help the academic board decide if you are a good fit for the program. If you show that you have previous knowledge on the field and that you know what the program you are applying to is all about, you will have better chances of getting accepted.

Writing a Personal Statement for a Graduate Assistantship Program

As we mentioned earlier, a graduate assistantship program has many benefits. It will help you get firsthand experience on the field, as well as helping you decide if you want to pursue a job in academia. If you want to benefit from its advantages, you will have to go through a selection process first. And, for your application, you will have to submit a graduate assistantship essay.

This essay will help your application stand out from the crowd and will help you position yourself as a strong candidate. We have created a list with some useful tips to help you learn how to write a personal statement for a graduate assistantship program. Make sure you take note of them and keep them at hand in case you need to revise them while writing your personal statement.

• Your personal statement should reflect your strongest skills. You will need to write about those traits that make you a strong candidate. The best way to find them is to brainstorm some phrases and words that you think describe you the best.
• Your personal statement should be written in objective and formal language. Do not use complicated sentences, clichés, or slangs. Make sure that you always respect the reader.
• It should also contain your research interests. Mention what academic areas you are more attracted to. However, they should be related to the college you are applying for a graduate assistantship program.
• Your personal statement has to follow a basic structure. Present yourself, talk about why do you want to be part of the program, mention your strongest qualities, academic, and career background, as well as your academic goals. Support those arguments with personal anecdotes and stories.

Useful Advice about a Graduate Assistantship Application

Applying for grad school assistantships can be a little bit tedious since you will have to do it at the same time you are enrolled in grad school. To make the process easier, here are some useful tips you can follow when applying for a graduate assistantship program. However, bear in mind that these are general guidelines and that you should contact your college for further information.

When applying for a graduate assistantship program, you need to be sure you meet all the requirements. You have to be either a full-time or part-time student, and you will have to be taken a minimum number of credits. Also, you will have to make sure you understand the program you are applying for. In some cases, you can apply for an interdisciplinary graduate assistantship program but you will have to meet certain requirements.

Make sure you write down all the important dates for you application, you will not want to miss a deadline. Talk to the tutor in charge of selecting grad students, and ask them about how can you improve your application. They will definitely give you some useful guidelines that you can follow.

Professional Help with Personal Statement for Graduate Assistantship

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