How To Get Teaching, Research & Graduate Assistantships In The US

In this post, we will go over the specifics of teaching assistantships in the United States for international students, including why they are necessary and how to apply for one. So stick with us to the end.

Although the United States is regarded as one of the best places to pursue higher education, it is also one of the most expensive. As a result, students are continuously looking for methods to lower their financial burden through scholarships, grants, and other measures. Obtaining a graduate assistantship in the United States is one method of financially assisting students.

What are Graduate Assistantships in the USA?

A graduate assistantship is a salaried student employment opportunity for graduate students. Graduate assistants work a set number of hours per week and, in return, receive a tuition waiver and, oftentimes, a monthly living stipend.

Assistantship is a kind of grant which is a little bit difficult to live with as it requires your time of the day on physical work while you apply your brain in studies. However, assistantships help you save up on your expenses abroad and gain relevant experience.

Why are Assistantships Important for International Students Studying in the US?

Despite being one of the best countries for higher education, the United States is incredibly expensive. The annual expense of MS in the United States can exceed 50,000 USD or more every year, so you can picture the cost!

While there are a variety of financial aid options available to international students in the United States, they are restricted and primarily based on merit. As a result, a number of universities in the United States offer assistantships to minimize the expense of study.

An assistantship in USA is basically an arrangement between the graduate student and the university whereby the student is asked by the department to assist in research and/or teaching along with continuing their own education.

The assistantships help students in many ways that include:

• In exchange for this help, students typically receive a stipend, fee waiver, university health insurance coverage, or other comparable benefits. The advantages differ between universities and departments.
• Assistantships also give them an opportunity to get hands-on experience in their respective fields. Therefore, it also helps building a strong CV.
• You will have the opportunity to work and learn alongside experts in their professions. As a result, assistantship is a terrific method to network, and the references from these professionals might come in handy when searching for jobs after school.
• Obtaining an assistantship is by far the greatest approach to cover your non-academic expenses. As opposed to a scholarship, you will receive money as an assistant, which you can spend for anything, such as room rent or monthly food expenses.

Different Types of Assistantships Available in USA

There are different kind of assistantships available at most of the universities in USA and three of such types are stated below:

• Teaching Assistantships (TA)
• Research Assistantships (RA)
• Graduate Assistantships (GA)

Before we discuss each one of them, it is important to understand that assistantships are different from scholarships.

Assistantships are on-campus employment for students who are providing some service to the University’s functioning. Scholarships on the other hand are fee waivers offered to students without any student service. Scholarships are something you get by studying hard but assistantship doesn’t only help you with your tuition fee but also saves a lot on your daily expenses. In the case of US, you might find assistantship availability more than you find scholarships.

Teaching Assistantship in USA

In the United States, a teaching assistantship entails working as an assistant to a professor. Aside from teaching, most professors have other responsibilities. When they are not there, the majority of them appoint an assistant to teach the classes.

What are the Responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant in USA?

The duties of the teaching assistantship in USA universities generally include:

• Preparing and conducting lectures
• Leading discussion groups
• Preparing & checking assignments
• Assisting students
• Helping professors with daily activities

Most professors in the US look for a dedicated and eager student who wishes to work long hours and give the desired results to the Professor.

How to Get Teaching Assistantship in US Universities?

The next issue that comes to mind is probably how to get a teaching assistantship or in US universities. You can apply for it when you apply for admissions, but you can only be on that post once you complete your first semester.

The basic eligibility of teaching assistantship in most universities is:

• Admitted to one of the graduate programs at the university
• Proficiency in English Language (both written and spoken)
• Participation in the required teaching assistantship workshop sponsored by college/university
• Good Overall score or GPA

After you’ve identified if you are eligible for TA, the next step is to conduct research. Following the completion of your semester, you should review the profiles of the teachers in your course and select them wisely. The monies you receive are not from the professor’s wallet, but rather from the university, which is funded by the government or other personal trustees.

In some universities you might get a full tuition waiver for TA and that is pure luck. Else on an average you might get paid somewhere between $550-$1200 per month depending on your work hours and quality. Your pay and working hours depend entirely on the kind of work you are offered.

However, before applying for a TA’s post you must consider that you will have to give in your long hours. But in return you will learn a lot while you earn enough.

Research Assistantship in USA

A US graduate research assistant must assist the professor in their lab or office. The assistant learns research while the lecturers save time.

In the US, graduate teaching assistants (TAs) support professors with teaching, while research assistants (RAs) work on research projects.

What are the Responsibilities of a Research Assistant in USA?

A student doing research assistantship in USA is expected to help a professor with the research work. The duties of research assistants vary by discipline and lab. Their duties may include:

• Data collection and analysis
• Report Writing
• Reviewing Literature
• Reorganizing the professor’s lab/ office

How to Get Research Assistantship in USA?

You can apply for this post when you apply for your university, but you will only get the job once you finish your first semester.

The basic eligibility of research assistantship in most universities is:

• Be admitted to one of the graduate programs at the university
• Proficiency in English Language (both written and spoken)
• Research experience & knowledge of the field is desirable
• Good Overall score or GPA

This job might add a sum of between $500-$1500 monthly by working up to 10 to 20 hours weekly which differs from subject to subject.

When choosing a lecturer/professor, be sure that the professor is an expert in a topic that you are familiar with. The grants are funded by university funds, which are in turn funded by the US government or other private agencies.

Graduate Assistantship in USA

Graduate research assistantship opportunities in the United States for international students are another key source of funding for schooling in the United States. A graduate assistant helps a professor or faculty member in a variety of areas such as teaching, class preparation, research, and so on.

GA requires 15 to 20 hours per week for the university’s standard salary.

What are the Responsibilities of a Graduate Assistant in USA?

The duties of a graduate assistant may vary with the supervisor, and the department. The duties may include:

• Assisting with academic tasks and class preparation
• Developing and conducting academic conferences
• Working on funded projects
• Evaluations and Outreach
• Working in non-academic areas such as Student Affairs.

How to Get a Graduate Assistantship in USA?

GA is the same as RA and so is their process of application in most universities.

The basic eligibility of research assistantship in most universities is:

• Admitted to one of the graduate programs at the university
• Good Overall score or GPA
• Proficiency in English Language (both written and spoken)
• Fulfill any university-specific enrollment requirements

Generally, the only difference between teaching assistantship vs research assistantship versus graduate assistantship is that GA are paid more than that of RA and TA as they have more knowledge of the field.

List of Universities Offering Assistantship in USA for International Students

Here are the list of 10 universities offering graduate assistantships in USA:

• University of South Florida
• State University of New York
• West Virginia University
• University of New Orleans
• Penn State University
• University of Arkansas
• University of Houston
• Cornell University
• University of Nevada
• Cleveland State University

How to Get Assistantship in US Universities?

The process of obtaining assistantship may vary between departments and universities. The process may include an application, face-to-face interview, or submitting an essay.

The step-by-step guidelines for obtaining an Assistantship are:

• Contact the Department to enquire about any present or future assistantship openings.
• Study the profiles of the professors at the University Department very carefully. Shortlist the professors who are currently working in your department.
• Study about the professor and the research area that he/she is currently working on in detail.
• Prepare an Assistantship cover letter
• Schedule an appointment with the professor to discuss possible opportunities to work as a teaching or research assistant.
• Explain in detail your teaching and research experience, if any, and all relevant work you have performed.
• The professor will make the final decision whether to employ you or not and he is the one who will decide your pay.

Preparing Assistantship Cover Letter

Preparing Assistantship cover letters for universities in the United States that offer graduate assistantships is another step to obtaining a Graduate level assistantship. A fantastic cover letter includes important information about your expertise and skills, which will assist you in easily obtaining an assistantship.

An impactful Assistantship Cover letter should have the following:

• You being a degree-seeking student in a graduate program
• Reason for your aspiration to obtain the specified assistantship
• A good academic record
• Multitasking
• Work & achievements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Self-motivation
• Professionalism
• Computer competences
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving orientation
• Teamwork
• Other information that would create impact

Finally, it is critical to understand that assistantships are not easy to obtain, but once obtained, they can be extremely beneficial. Apart from scholarships and financial support, you might consider the option of an assistantship because it will let you learn while earning money for living in an unfamiliar environment.

FAQs

• What are some US universities offering assistantships to international students?

Some US universities are:
1.University of South Florida
2.State University of New York
3.West Virginia University
4.University of New Orleans
5.Penn State University

• What is an Assistantship?

A graduate assistantship in USA is a salaried student employment opportunity for graduate students. Graduate assistants in USA work a set number of hours per week and, in return, receive a tuition waiver and, oftentimes, a monthly living stipend.\

• What is a Research Assistantship?

When a student is assigned a Graduate Research Assistantship in USA, they are required to help the professor with their research work and assigned to work in their lab or office. The assistant gets first-hand experience in research while the professors benefit as it reduces their workload.

• What is a Teaching Assistantship?

Teaching assistantship in USA universities means being an assistant to a professor. Usually, every professor has some work to do apart from conducting classes.

• How can I get an assistantship in USA?

The process of obtaining assistantship may vary between departments and universities. The process may include an application, face-to-face interview, or submitting an essay.