Who should I talk to when applying for a fellowship?
- Your funding source - be sure they know how to contact you. Have you registered correctly in order for the fellowship to be released? Have you set up a direct deposit through the Payroll Office? Are you sure how the funds can be used? Is it a stipend and/or tuition? Will it be applied directly? Does it need to be renewed each year or term?
- Your department/program - see funding source above.
- Grad Admin/Sec - if your fellowship is handled through your department this person will most likely be your greatest source of information.
- Graduate Advisor - is everything set up with your advisor or in the lab for you?
- Registrar’s Office - do they have your most recent address? If not, be sure to change it on the web via Wolverine Access.
- Financial Aid Office - if you have applied for loans, your fellowship will affect them. Some sponsored fellowships are distributed through the Office of Financial Aid.
- GradCare - if your fellowship comes with GradCare health insurance please be aware that it is not automatic. You will either need to have your funding source sign you up as a re-enrollee or you will need to fill out an application if you have not had it in the past.
Be proactive on your investigations of funding sources for your academic career. Do not wait for someone to seek you out and hand you a fellowship or assistantship (in most cases, that will never happen). Think creatively!
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