Don't let lack of money prevent you from attending graduate school

Black Collegian, Oct 2002 by McIver, Linedda

GRADUATE STUDY GUIDE

Upon completing your undergraduate studies, a graduate degree may help you reach your professional goal and make you more marketable for career advancement. Today, some of the most challenging and financially rewarding careers require an advanced degree or professional training. The latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show that the number of occupations requiring a master's or doctoral degree increasing by 23% between the years 2000-2010.

Depending upon the kind of graduate program you are interested in, there are several types of financial support specifically designed to attract graduate minority students. Here is a brief description of a sampling of graduate study programs encouraging minority participation in non-traditional fields such as biomedical, engineering, psychology and public policy/administration, and the mainstay of post-baccalaureate education, an MBA.

Minority International Research Training (MIRT) Program

For the past ten years, the Fogarty International Center and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (formerly the Office of Research on Minority Health) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has offered an international research training program to qualified minority graduate and medical students underrepresented in the fields of biomedical and behavioral research. The Minority International Research Training (MIRT) Program's three-fold purpose is to increase awareness of international research issues and opportunities; expose students to a range of career opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research; and encourage students to pursue graduate degrees and careers in biomedical and behavioral research especially related to minority health problems.

Students train abroad ten to twelve weeks in countries such as Australia, China, England, France, Italy, South Africa and Sweden. "The MIRT Program is not a paid internship. We want minority students who have a strong interest in biomedical research and who would welcome the opportunity to participate in a research program abroad," says Lisa Morgan, coordinator of graduate and professional programs for the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program at the University of Maryland. Participating universities set application deadlines for the MIRT Program. To obtain a list of participating universities and for more information, contact the MIRT Program Director, Division of International Training and Research, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health; Building 31, Room B2C29, 31 Center Drive; Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-2220; or call (301) 496-1653.

GEM

The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM) is a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to increase the number of American Indians, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and other Hispanic Americans pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and natural science disciplines. GEM is well known for providing financial support for advanced degrees in engineering and science as well as providing academic enhancement workshops and seminars on such pertinent issues as minority student and faculty mentoring and retention.

GEM fellowships consist of funding for tuition and stipends. Fellows are required to intern during the summer with one of the sponsoring GEM employers. Financial assistance may be obtained in three different programs: GEM MS Engineering Fellowship Program, GEM Ph.D. Engineering Fellowship Program and the GEM Ph.D. Science Fellowship Program. GEM Fellowship awards are only valid at GEM Member Universities, and each GEM University exercises its own admission requirements and standards that may differ from GEM Fellowship requirements and standards. GEM Fellowship information and applications are available on college campuses from the GEM University Representatives, Minority Engineering Program offices, college and department offices, and other sites. Fellowships and applications may be obtained from the organization's Web site at http://www.nd.edu/-gem/. Completed applications, including supporting documentation, are due at the GEM office on/or by December 1.

NACME

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc. was established in 1974 with the mission to increase the representation of successful African-American, American Indian and Latino women and men in engineering and technology, mathand science-based careers. NACME continues to develop partnerships and to foster research-based changes in policies and practices to secure equal opportunity for all Americans in the areas of Science, Math, Engineering and Technology. NACME also creates and operates pre-college, university and workforce programs, and disseminates critical information via meetings, conferences, the media, publications and the Internet to further support its mission. NACME is also the nation's largest private source of scholarships for minorities in engineering. NACME has various scholarships for Native-American, African-American, and Hispanic/Latino students who are college-bound high school seniors planning to major in engineering or undergraduates majoring in engineering. For complete information on scholarships, various NACME programs and a list of participating colleges visit the Web site at http://www.nacme.org.