Presentations & Trainings

Many applications require personal statements, but writing them can present numerous content selection challenges. What should you choose to say about your personal history — and how do you make it relevant? This Shop Talk will focus on personal statements in the context of external funding applications, but the advice and tips shared will be widely applicable to other personal statements. During this session, you'll learn how to:

• curate your personal history
• create a compelling application story
• connect with the organization's goals

Presented by Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz, External Funding Coordinator, The Graduate College &
Dr. Brian Smith, External Funding Coordinator, The Graduate College

This workshop combines reflection activities with practical strategies to increase your confidence as a writer and improve your writing productivity. The session will challenge common writing myths and address typical pitfalls that often hold writers back, such as waiting for inspiration, “binge writing,” all-or-nothing thinking, and more. Participants will identify their own attitudes and beliefs about writing, learn techniques to shift their writing mindset, and practice exercises to build writing stamina and promote positive writing experiences. Participants will also have the opportunity to build their own writing community by signing up to join a writing group. We recommend bringing materials to type or write with to this session!

Presented by Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz, External Funding Coordinator, The Graduate College &
Dr. Brian Smith, External Funding Coordinator, The Graduate College

This session is for continuing TXST students for The Graduate College Scholarship. Find out how to make your application stand out! This presentation will offer valuable insights into the application and review processes for these awards, including tips and tricks for success, requesting letters of recommendation, common mistakes to avoid, and an insider perspective on how this funding is awarded and disbursed.

Presented by Lynnette Lombardo, Internal Funding Specialist, The Graduate College

International Education: External Funding for Graduate Students

Interested in learning more about external funding opportunities for graduate students to study or conduct research outside of their home country? Attend this special International Education Week event, which will involve three different sessions, tailored to specific audiences and purposes: Funding for Study and Research Abroad, Funding for Students Studying in the United States, and a panel of TXST External Funding Recipients. Registrants may sign up for any or all sessions.

Funding for Study and Research Abroad
10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
This session will provide a brief overview of some of the external funding opportunities available to help graduate students study foreign languages, teach English, and conduct research abroad. Although most of these opportunities are limited to U.S. citizens, we will also share strategies used by international students to pursue funded activities outside of the United States.

Funding for Students Studying in the United States
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

This session will provide information about the approaches and tools used by international students to find external funding opportunities for which they are eligible. During this session, attendees will discover how to customize their funding searches, as well as learn about TXST international students who have received external awards.

Panel of TXST External Funding Recipients
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
This event will conclude with a panel discussion about the successful strategies that TXST awardees have deployed in their own planning, searching, and application processes. Join us to hear from these external funding recipients about their experiences and advice in seeking international education!