The Unspoken Rules of Getting a Graduate Assistantship
Graduate school can be quite challenging all-round, but one area that often stands out is financial constraint. While there are many pathways to mitigate this challenge, one of the most conventional routes for funding graduate school is to secure an assistantship. Yep, “assist-ant-ship”, funny name when disaggregated, right?
I wouldn’t be oblivious to assume that you already know what it means. An assistantship is a form of funding opportunity that typically comes in three main types: Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) and Graduate Administrative Assistantships (GAA). In exchange for your duties (with the maximum hours being 20) in these roles, you usually receive a tuition waiver (partial or full), a monthly stipend, sometimes health insurance coverage and a few other “cherries” on top.
The goal of this article is to highlight a few practical strategies that can put you in a good position to increase your chances of securing one of these roles. Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to serve as both a TA and an RA from my master’s program through my current PhD, and these experiences have taught me what often matters most.
First, structure your CV strategically. I strongly recommend categorizing your CV into clear sections such as Teaching Experience, Research Experience, and Professional Experience. For TA roles, your teaching profile matters. Even informal experiences, tutoring, guest lecturing, grading, mentoring, count when framed properly. For RA positions, emphasize research skills: data analysis, programming, literature reviews, survey design, or lab techniques. The key is alignment: tailor your CV to the specific role you are applying for.
Second, start early and be proactive. Many assistantships are filled before formal deadlines. Reach out to faculty whose research aligns with your interests, introduce yourself briefly, attach your CV, and express genuine interest in contributing to their projects. Rather than being generic, briefly mention one or two aspects of their work that genuinely interest you and where you could imagine contributing. A short, well-targeted email can open doors long before positions are advertised.
Third, don’t limit yourself to just one type of assistantship. Teaching, research, and administrative roles all build valuable skills and professional networks, and sometimes your first role becomes the bridge to more funded opportunities later in your program. For administrative assistantships in particular, these positions are often located outside your primary department, such as the graduate school, recreation center, or housing offices. For prospective students, platforms like Hire-A-Niner are often the best place to find these opportunities.
Finally, demonstrate reliability and readiness. Faculty often look for students who are not only resourceful, but dependable. Strong recommendation letters, a clear statement of purpose, and evidence that you can balance coursework with responsibilities all signal that you are a safe investment.
Assistantships are competitive, but they are not mysterious. With preparation, alignment, and early engagement, you can significantly improve your chances of securing one and easing the financial burden of graduate school.