Have a draft of a research statement or personal narrative for your fellowship application? Feel like it’s in pretty good shape, but not sure how to give it that top-level shine? This post suggests a strategy of revision for seeing each part of your essay in a new light. Unlike my previous post, this one […]
Advice
Advice
Strategies for Revision Series (Part 1)
Have a draft of a research statement? Sometimes get a sneaking suspicion that it’s not quite hanging together? This post suggests a strategy for revision that’s quick, straightforward, and yet often effective in shedding light on structural problems. I can’t claim credit for the exercise. It was first suggested to me by Emily Bartels, Professor […]
Procrastinating on your Proposal? Recover Your Motivation for Your Project (Post 3)
One thing reviewers look for in an application is your excitement for the project you’re proposing. But sometimes, it’s hard to access your own excitement. Grad school is a long haul, and even the most passionate researcher on the most interesting project will probably find her attention flagging at various points. If giving yourself a […]
Procrastinating on your Proposal? Try These Tips To Jump-Start Your Writing Process (Post 2)
Some applications have so many different parts, each with its own guidelines, that the process can feel overwhelming. But remember: you only have to work on one piece at a time! Research statements and personal statements are required components in most grant applications, and picking one of those can be a good place to start. […]
Procrastinating on your Proposal? Try One of These Tips To Get Started (Post 1)
We all procrastinate from time to time. The high standards and minimal structure of many graduate programs can make procrastination especially likely for even the most capable students, and when we slip into feelings of guilt or shame, it can become even harder to kick-start our motivation. Yet deadlines loom, and in the case of […]
How to Identify What Reviewers Want?
At GradFund we always say “you need to know the funder”. But, why is this important? And how do you do it? Reviewers for graduate grants and fellowships are usually interested in both short-term deliverables (i.e. what training or research you will undertake for the tenure of the grant and why it is significant?), as […]
Featured Funder: Point Foundation National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
Today’s Featured Funder, Point Foundation, is a unique scholarship organization for “out” lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) students. Awardees receive funding for up to five years of educational expenses and also participate in mentoring relationships, networking opportunities, and leadership training. In return, recipients commit to carrying out a community service project every year […]
Featured Funder: The Leopold Schepp Foundation
Trying to fund a master’s degree or PhD coursework? The Leopold Schepp Foundation offers need-based financial support for graduate students (and undergrads too) who demonstrate exemplary character, strong academic ability, and financial need. Graduate students must be US citizens or permanent residents, under the age of 40, and currently taking courses. PhD students who are […]
Show, Don’t Tell
“Show, don’t tell” is a pretty common saying here at GradFund. But what exactly do we mean by this, and how can it help you write a competitive application? Typically, grant applications consist of more than a research design. Funders want to know who they’re funding, not just what they’re funding. Describing the type of scholar […]
Good Writing Happens in Good Company: Three Benefits of Peer Feedback
Image credit: Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash Ever hear of “Lonely Writer Syndrome?” It’s the clinical-sounding term that Writer’s Digest uses to describe the isolation that writers can feel as they toil away by themselves in front of their laptops. But writing does not necessarily have to be a solitary activity. As students who participate in multi-author research can attest, writing can be a highly interactive process, with team members trading drafts back and forth. For those of us […]