One of the most common aspirations of many non-American undergraduate students (yours truly included!) is to fulfill their “American dream” of coming to the United States for their graduate studies. We work very hard on our tests, essays, and applications. And our efforts finally pay off when we are offered an admit from our most desired university (like University of Michigan!). While some of us are offered fully-funded graduate student positions like a GSRA that partially or fully cover tuition, the vast majority of us are required to pay tuition. This puts a substantial burden on us as most of us take bank or personal loans. Luckily, the University of Michigan offers a plethora of opportunities for international students to make some money, while you study, that can help sustain yourself as you navigate graduate school!
Since most master’s programs are not funded, a great way to gain work experience and make some cash is to find a job on campus. There are plenty of opportunities available that are typically listed here. However, if you are looking for a more research-oriented position, a great resource is the ‘Careers’ section on your Wolverine Access homepage. Here you can find several job listings for temporary Research Assistants, Lab Assistants, and similar. These positions are usually part-time (< 20 hours/week) and can work well when taking classes. Application process normally involves sending in your latest resume, a cover letter, and in some cases, the names of 1-2 referees. Depending on your educational background and work experience, you can find a wide variety of opportunities that you can be ideal for. Keep applying to as many job openings as possible and I have no doubt that you will find a perfect fit for you!
Another great resource (and is the one I would highly recommend) is look within your own department. The advantage of finding a research position in your department is two-fold: 1) It gives you an opportunity to get to know your peers and faculty better, and 2) Working on a research project very closely related to your degree program will really help your future job search in the same field. The best way to find out about potential research positions available with faculty in your department is to send out an email to professors introducing yourself and inquiring about available opportunities. Professors at the University of Michigan are usually very busy, so do not get disheartened if you don’t hear back immediately. I myself sent out emails to 4-5 professors during the first week into my master’s program and it took 2-3 weeks for me to finally land an hourly paid research assistant (RA) position in a lab. A good rule of thumb is to send a polite follow-up email if you don’t hear back for a week. An even better opportunity to interact with faculty members and find out if they are looking for someone to join their lab is during your department’s orientation. This is one of the most effective ways to familiarize yourself with your department, learn about the kind of research that your professors are involved in, and find your best fit. During my own department’s orientation, several professors encouraged new students to approach them for possible research opportunities, a trend quite common among various departments at University of Michigan.
From my personal experience, I can tell you that research-based positions are a great way to gain experience during graduate school and really boosts up your resume! It also helps you understand your own interests and skills. I joined a lab as an RA during my master’s and realized how much I loved research work, thus prompting me to join the PhD program at my department. I am continuing my dissertation research in the same lab and am thankful each day for my early decision to work there! The University of Michigan is one of the best research institutions in the United States (and globally too!) in multiple disciplines of study. So, I would highly recommend you make the most of your opportunity while here. As master’s students, you are likely to be done with coursework in 1.5-2 years. During that time, gaining additional research experience will certainly help you grow your career by giving you an edge during your future job search.
I wish you all the very best and welcome you to Michigan! Go Blue!
Written by Gayatri Iyer
Summer Orientation Peer Advisor
Graduate Student
India
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