How likely is it to secure an RA or TA on arrival to the school? University of Washington to be specific.
Course-MPH in Epidemiology Fall 2024
If this screen name is your real name, I would urge you to change it ASAP
I was a TA in grad school. I received this as part of my acceptance. In my department that is how it happened.
My DS was asked to TA his second year of his masters program.
Ask the department chair. That is where you will get your answer
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You need to call and ask. My D’s program does not.
To RA, call Residence Life and ask if it’s a possibility.
I was offered a grad assistantship to run the recitation for a large lecture. It was provided to me before committing. I did not seek it out. This is how I paid for grad school.
I was offered a role in the computer lounge at another acceptance - but didn’t choose that school.
If you can’t afford a school up front on day one, then it’s not the right school for you.
If you’ve been offered nothing, I’d reach out to the department and ask how you can secure something. And the same with housing - although I wouldn’t think it would be likely.
Good luck.
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Since OP is asking about grad school I assume she means “research assistantship”.
@LuckyGirl803: As others have said, ask before you go. If you can’t afford to attend without an assistantship then you should make alternate plans.
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Well - I added another wrinkle 
Sorry about that - I thought it was odd a grad student living in a dorm - although they have grad housing!! They just called mine an Assistantship if I recall. It was an MBA - I did Bus Com 301 - definitely no research involved!!!
Thanks for the correction.
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Yes, all of this stuff was laid out in my financial aid package upon acceptance to the program - they mapped out six years of grad school and showed how each year would be funded (which included teaching positions, etc). I did not apply separately for anything.
It may be that most of those positions have been reserved for PhD students (if that is an option at the department). It may be possible for you to get the “leftovers,” however.
As others have said, ask before you go.
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This is a grad student and I think they
Mean “research assistant “ for RA.
They can clarify
If you weren’t offered an assistantship in your acceptance letter, it’s likely you won’t receive one (at least for the first year). However, you won’t know if you don’t ask. Maybe someone who was offered declined - so you never know.
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Thank you. Is something wrong with my display name?
Not after you changed it.
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There are funding opportunities currently posted and the applications have not closed yet. Did you apply for these positions or ask about the details, see if you are qualified etc?
The website also says to contact the dept for information regarding funding opportunities. Have you done that and are now waiting…and wondering?
I would contact the dept regardless. As I mentioned before, my daughter’s program does not have paid TA or RA positions, but they recently offered her a job within the dept that she is able to do from home for a few hours a week.
It is unclear to me whether you applied for a position and are waiting…and curious…or you did not apply yet.
Yes i have applied and keep on applying for the posted opportunities. And i contacted the department chair and she said they didn’t have any opportunities yet…that was in February '24. Should i contact her again ?
Keep applying to the open positions. The application deadlines for those that are posted have not passed yet.
When you spoke with the dept chair in February how did you leave it? I would contact her again.
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Alright. Thank you so much @twogirls
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When I was in grad school (25+ years ago, but I think this still applies), I got nothing my first semester when I started in the fall. But a couple of TA positions opened up in December for the spring semester and they offered one to me because I had previously expressed interest. So even if you don’t get something to start with, it’s possible to get something later. Once I had that TAship, I was offered another one for the subsequent semester (I declined because by then I had an RAship lined up, but once you get an assistantship and do well it seems easier to continue getting offers after that).
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Did you fill out the Fafsa? One of my kids had grad school scholarships that were offered only to those who filled it out. She also found a part time job on campus.
I agree that sometimes opportunities open up once you begin. That just happened to my daughter.
Alright. This is promising. Thanks
Yes, i believe so too. I am an international student. FASFA in-eligible.