Research grants. Fellowships. Living stipends. Conference reimbursements. Coffee chat budgets. We always hear about the unparalleled monetary “resources” for Princeton undergrads, but what does that actually mean and how do you access them? Here's my experience:
Last year (freshman year), I received two research grants from the Princeton Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment to travel to Boston and San Diego to talk with climate professionals on the ground and observe a ballot measure campaign for public electricity. Last summer, I used the Career Center’s $7,000 Summer Social Impact Internship fund to survive my Congressional internship in DC. This spring, I received another grant through the Pace Center for Civic Engagement’s Bogle Fellowship to work on my own organization full time this summer. I’ve gained a degree of freedom and exposure to the things I’m interested in that were unlocked by Princeton’s extensive systems of investing in students. Through the processes of securing these grants, I realized that only real work was coming up with a project and explaining to funding staff why this money was conducive towards my intended vision. The rest tends to fall into place if I have a reasonable pitch.
Whether it’s exploring a research direction, funding your move to a high-cost-of-living east coast city for the summer, or just seed-funding a project that is entirely your own, the sky’s the limit. If you’re looking at all these resources and feel unsure how they fit into your life, let your imagination wander. It might be easier to fill in the blank than you think if you just say “if money wasn’t a consideration, I would ______”. If you’re professionally unsure, there’s even the Dale Award, which gives you $7,000 to spend a summer pursuing something purely for personal growth like surfing, hiking, or similarly non-traditional in utility.
Princeton’s funding institutions are not intended to only be accessible to a certain caliber of student but rather designed to let you grow, experiment, and learn. So if you feel stuck, email that internship coordinator, book a meeting with the Career Center, walk into your department’s office and ask what funding they offer. Really, just ask.
You can start your search for funding on the University's student funding page, or perhaps through LENS (Learning and Education Through Service), although academic departments and other university institution websites are a great place to look too.