I promised myself I wouldn't start blogging every day. That way I don't disappoint myself or my loyal readers -- a dozen strong, lol -- when I skip a day due to lack of time or creativity, but I have to share some great news.

Lu found out that he was awarded a very, very, very prestigious fellowship! (Oh, my fifth grade teacher would shake her head at all those "very"s.)

Not only does this free Lu from teaching, but he'll also have some extra padding in his bank account. As graduate students, time and money are limited commodities. When planning a wedding, having time and money are essential to the process. There's the rub....





Sources of PhD Funding 101

1. Fellowships: Students get money for doing the work they're supposed to do. It's a pretty nice deal.
• Pros 
• Students actually get paid just to go to school. 
• Cons 
• They're the least prevalent type of funding. Most departments and universities have limited fellowships and national awards are known for being competitive. 
• Students won't automatically get the benefits mentioned below, but they can be strategic about finding research and teaching opportunities.
2. Research Assistantships: Students have to do research for a professor or department.
• Pros 
• Students are usually matched on skills and interest, so the research is enjoyable.
• There's the professionalization aspect of networking in the field and staying up-to-date on the latest research.
• Students may even get a co-authored paper out of the deal. 
• Cons
• Some units may not be respectful of the appointment time, and a 20-hour/week appointment could turn into a 9-5 job.
• Students may get so wrapped up in the research that they may -- purposely or not -- abandon their own work.
3. Teaching: Students have to lecture and/or grade at least one section of a larger class.
• Pros 
• They get hands-on experience running a classroom and dealing with students while still in graduate school.
• There are a wealth of resources available to help student instructors hone their teaching style that may not be as readily available in a faculty position.
• Students may be able to teach their own course during the summer, or participate in other activities that are not available to other who do not have training and evaluations.
• Cons
• The class may/may not be related to the students' greater interests.
• Huge time drain, as classroom requirements often exceed the appointment time.
• Teaching for somebody else and working with other student instructors puts some constraints on how a student instructor does his/her job.