Do You Need to Be Needy to Get A Graduate Assistantship?

Question

I have what might seem like a really silly question. I have applied to a local university for the graduate program, and I REALLY want to be a teaching assistant, because I'd love the opportunity to teach some lower division classes. One of the requirements of the university (and many, so it seems) is that you file a FAFSA in order to even be considered for a TA or GA. Now, I know for some grad students the stipend they pay is what they survive on, but I really don't even want the salary. Additionally, I know with my salary, I won't qualify for any level of "financial need". So I have two questions: (1) is it normally required to HAVE financial need in order to be a grad assistant or teaching assistant, and (2) if it is, how can I get experience as a TA, since I want to teach college after I finish my grad program?

Answer 1

Teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships are awards that are offered to a department's most desirable candidates.

These awards are based on merit, not need.

If you do not receive a teaching assistantship and strongly desire to get some classroom experience, find out if your university has a future professoriate program, or some such thing. In these programs, PhD students are taught to design syllabi, lecture, facilitate discussion, and are familiarized with the ins and outs of publishing, etc.

Best wishes to you.

Answer 2

No, You do not have to prove financial need in order to be a graduate assistant. However, there is work required with a Grad assistant position, so typically students do not have time for other jobs while on Grad Assistance.

Quite often the work associated with being a GA is teaching recitation classes. Talk to the academic department of the school you are considering to see if being a TA would be an option

Answer 3

I would just file one for the heck of it. If you have to, why not. It wouldn't hurt either way.