Funding for graduate schools?

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I just have a few pressing questions/ thoughts, any help is appreciated.</p>

<p>I'm currently a student at a normal state college ( one of the big ten). This coming fall I will enter my junior year. I spent the first two year BS-ing and wallowing in misery, but I still kept my grades up. I just didnt really care for my school or the family drama I was dealing with. My current GPA is 3.57, however, I'm not incredibly involved ( working on that next semester).</p>

<p>So now, here I am, junior year, positive that I want to go to grad school. I have some ideas, but they are incredibly expensive and competitive. I've kept my debt down to below 10k and graduate around there. I have to wonder, is it worth it to participate in an expensive Master's program? Also, I'm keeping in mind that for the next two years, I will be working my butt off to do as much as I can ( while keeping grades up). My major is Middle Eastern Studies, minor Arabic, second major international affairs, minor French. ( I have the time). </p>

<p>I recognize that I am a good student, but nothing special. I feel as though I will be invisible come the application process. I cant afford to study abroad or take an unpaid internship either. </p>

<p>So my main questions: Other than working hard for the next two years, preparing for the GRE, and being a minority, what else can I do to ensure funding for graduate school? And how will I stand out during the application process, i.e, how do I get around the fact that I cant afford the internship or study abroad?</p>

<p>*** I'm not necessarily expecting to get into an Ivy League school, just one with a good program for international affairs.
Thanks</p>

2

<p>Have you participated in any faculty-led research? Look for opportunities to assist professors and gain research experience.</p>

<p>However, you need to know that funding for master’s degrees is less common and less generous than funding for Ph.D programs. Each school has different policies, so you will need to carefully check each program you’re interested in, as to the availability of funding.</p>

<p>Whether it’s “worth it” to tackle a master’s program is entirely dependent on your employment situation, your career goals and your financial status.</p>

<p>There should be no rush to jump right into graduate school, either - unless you are absolutely dead-set on that path. Many, many graduate students (myself included) take time off between undergrad and grad school. In my case, that year involved a paid internship that completely changed my career goals and led to a partially-funded MS program at a B1G school.</p>

3

<p>Also some employers will pay for your masters degree.</p>