Tax Resources

Are you an international student filing tax for the first time in the US? Are you a resident for tax purposes and don’t know where to start preparing your taxes? Unsure where you fall in terms of tax residency? UChicagoGRAD’s Administrative Services team has resources to help guide you through this process!

Nonresidents for tax purposes can use Sprintax tax software to prepare and file their federal returns. Access is provided via a code from the Office of International Affairs once 1042-S forms have been issued by the university, allowing nonresidents to file their federal taxes through Sprintax at no cost. The Office of International Affairs has also partnered with Sprintax to host a live tax webinar for nonresident filers:

Sprintax Nonresident Tax Session – University of Chicago
Monday, March 18, 12:00 p.m.

Please register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

But what about any residents for tax purposes who cannot use Sprintax? In addition to the information session we’ve recorded for students, the IRS offers resources to help streamline the filing process. The IRS website provides comprehensive guides for students, covering topics such as education credits, deductions, and other tax benefits. And the Free File program allows eligible taxpayers to file their federal tax returns for free on a user-friendly interface. Residents for tax purposes can also utilize free prep services such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to assist with basic tax return preparation and guidance with the filing process. And the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) is a tool that provides answers to a wide range of tax-related questions.

And if you have more questions, or are just unsure where to start, please email gradhelp@uchicago.edu and we’ll point you in the right direction!

Writing Tutoring from UChicagoGRAD

Grad school tests you as a writer: over the course of your program, you could write seminar papers, conference presentations, book reviews, academic articles, dissertation chapters—maybe even newspaper articles, op-eds, or blog posts for a wider audience.

UChicagoGRAD can help! Our graduate writing consultants offer one-on-one advising sessions to help you work through these writing challenges. Book an appointment on GRAD Gargoyle by selecting a “Written Communication” option on the dropdown list of advising topics.

Good writers have close readers, and a strong piece of writing often emerges from many cycles of drafts, conversations, and feedback from trusted interlocutors. In an advising session, you can expect holistic feedback on your writing through discussions about structure, argument, clarity, and impact. You will leave the appointment with a better understanding of your project and clear steps for a stronger second draft.

We also offer sessions for writers who use English as an additional language (sometimes called ESL or EAL speakers). Our ESL/EAL graduate writing consultants have been trained to give advice on a wide spectrum of concerns, including how to navigate interference from one’s dominant language and how to navigate the norms of academic writing in English. If you’re looking for ways to improve your writing style in English, you can find these appointments by selecting “Written Communication: English Language Tutoring” from the list of available advising topics.

Apply for a 2024 FLAS Fellowship!

Are you looking for ways to fund a summer language class? Does your graduate coursework engage deeply with the countries and languages of East Asia and the Middle East? The Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship offers funding to support modern foreign language training with international or area studies. This year, UChicago students can apply to study languages spoken in East Asia (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) or the Middle East (Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, Uzbek). The UChicago deadline for FLAS is Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

In general, FLAS offers funding for the intermediate or advanced study of a language to U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents.  Eligible recipients can receive tuition for a summer course or academic-year study (or, potentially, both).

While the languages listed above are pre-approved for FLAS, you can also apply to learn less-commonly studied languages from these two funded areas, East Asia and the Middle East. If your target language falls into this category (or if you want to make a case for elementary-level coursework), you are required to contact the appropriate Area Studies Center at least a week before the application is due.

You can learn more about this opportunity (and how to apply) here.

(Want to study languages spoken in other parts of the world? Don’t worry! We recommend that you meet with a fellowships advisor to discuss how you can fund your language studies.)

January Estimated Tax Payment Due Soon!

The fourth and final 2023 Quarterly Estimated Tax payment is due on Tuesday January 16, 2024. Whether this is your first time paying estimated taxes—or you missed making payments in 2023—you may have questions. GRAD Help’s 2023 Estimated Tax Information Session webinar covers what estimated taxes are and how to calculate an estimated tax obligation. Watch at your convenience and reach out to gradhelp@uchicago.edu with any questions.

But what are estimated taxes, and when do you have an estimated tax obligation?

Estimated quarterly taxes may be made for any income that is considered taxable and reportable but not subject to tax withholding. For example, students do not need to pay estimate taxes income from a teaching role at UChicago because federal and state taxes are already withheld. However, the University does not withhold federal taxes from some fellowship stipends and cannot withhold any state taxes. That means individual students are responsible for making calculations using tax forms such as the 1040-ES (federal) and IL-1040-ES (state) and determining if they have a potential estimated tax obligation.

Payment dates are spread through the year so that there’s not one lump-sum bill due on Tax Day. The dates set by the IRS for 2024 income are:

Payment Period

(Expected Income Not Subject to Tax Withholding)

2023 Due Dates 2024 Due Dates
January 1 – March 31 April 18 2023 April 15 2024
April 1 – May 31 June 15 2023 June 17 2024
June 1 – August 31 September 15 2023 September 16 2024
September 1 – December 31 January 16 2024 January 15 2025

Lastly, while the deadline to file your state and federal returns for 2023 is not until April 15, it’s never too early to takes steps toward successful tax preparation. Please visit GRADHelp’s Tax FAQ to get started!

Explore career possibilities and connect with alumni and employers

CAREER EXPLORATION

Master’s Career Exploration Series
Thursdays, January 11, 18, and 25, 3:30–5:00 p.m. CT, GRAD HQ (3rd Floor, Bookstore Building)

Calling all master’s students in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Divinity. Join us for a three-week series that will help you demystify the career exploration process. In this workshop, you’ll reflect on your skills and strengths and consider how they can help shape your career trajectory. You will also identify areas for professional growth and learn how to cultivate a network of support through informational interviews.

Social Science Research Careers beyond the Tenure Track
Thursday, January 18, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. CT, Online Via Zoom

Social Science Research Careers beyond the Tenure Track showcases how UChicago social scientists can apply their research skills in careers in industry and nonprofits. The event features short presentations by alumni working in leading research organizations, including NORC, RAND, and Mathematica. It also provides opportunities for students and postdocs to receive tailored career advice via one-on-one chats with presenters. Attendees will leave with a better sense of the differences between applied and academic research careers as well as an understanding of how to break into these fields. This event is open to PhD students and postdocs in the social sciences and adjacent disciplines.

 

CAREER FAIRS

Mx Research Career Fair
Thursday, January 25, 3:00-7:00 p.m. CT, Online Via Zoom

Are you a UChicago master’s student interested in pursuing an engineering or scientific research career? Attend the inaugural Mx Research Career Fair, a new opportunity to engage with employers. The Mx Research Career Fair will feature short employer presentations as well as opportunities to connect with recruiters in one-on-one and group settings. Participating employers include Charles River Associates, NanoPattern Technologies, Quantinuum, and more.

Data Science and Analytics Career Fair
Thursday, February 22, 3:00-7:00 p.m. CT, Gleacher Center

Interested in pursuing a career in the data science industry? The 2024 Data Science and Analytics Career Fair will connect you with employers who are looking for students with analytical and computational skills. Employers are specifically interested in the advanced training that STEM students and postdocs receive at UChicago. This is a chance to connect one-on-one with representatives to learn how their organizations value the unique skills that you have, and to develop relationships with hiring managers. Registration for the fair will open on Tuesday, January 16.

 

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Advance Internship Program: Info Session
Thursday, January 11, 12:30–1:30 p.m. CT, GRAD HQ (3rd Floor, Bookstore Building)

Master’s and PhD students are invited to learn how they can receive funding ($6000) for self-designed internships through UChicagoGRAD’s Advance Internship Program. The program is open to domestic and international students. Internships may take place anywhere in the world. Currently, Master’s students in professional schools, including Chicago Booth, the Crown School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, Harris School of Public Policy, The Law School, and the Pritzker School of Medicine, are ineligible to apply.

 

Research Speaks at the Field Museum: Info Session
Tuesday, January 23, 12:30-1:00 p.m. CT, GRAD HQ (3rd Floor, Bookstore Building)

Join this info session to learn how you can share your research at UChicagoGRAD’s first-ever Research Speaks event at the Field Museum of Chicago. Held on Friday, April 5, 2024, Research Speaks will give graduate student and postdoc presenters from across the disciplines an opportunity to explain their work to the public and fellow graduate students via ten-minute gallery talks. Participants will use an object from the museum’s collections as inspiration for their presentations. Those selected to participate will receive training from UChicagoGRAD, a $50 honorarium, and an invitation to a lunch reception at the Field. This event is part of UChicagoGRAD’s Research Speaks series, which highlights the innovative work done by graduate students and postdocs across the university. Email Nathan J. Hardy with questions.

Are you on the academic job market?

Are you in the midst of applying to faculty positions and postdocs? UChicagoGRAD is here to help you put together strong academic job market applications and prepare you for your academic job interviews, job talks, and offer negotiation. Join our workshops, set up a 1:1 advising appointment, and check out our online resources.

Selected Upcoming Workshops

Join us for Curriculum Vitae (CV) Best Practices on Wednesday, October 3, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (CT). The Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the cornerstone of all applications for grants, fellowships, and jobs in academia. This workshop will provide you with CV best practices that will help your academic accomplishments shine. The session is appropriate for graduate students and postdocs in all disciplines. RSVP here. 

Next, mark your calendars for Academic Job Market: Tailoring Your Academic Job Applications on Wednesday October 10, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (CT). Academic job advertisements contain important clues about a hiring department’s priorities. However, these clues can sometimes be hidden amid language that is vague, unfamiliar, or legalistic. How do you decipher these ads, and what do you do with this information once you have it? This workshop will help you decode the language of academic job market advertisements and tailor applications effectively. We will discuss CVs and cover letters in particular. RSVP here. 

If you are looking to prepare for Negotiating an Academic Job Offer, join us on Tuesday, November 7, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (CT). This workshop will help you understand how to successfully negotiate an offer for an academic position (e.g., a professorship, postdoc, lectureship, or visiting position). We will explore when in the hiring process to account for and discuss your needs. We will review what to negotiate to maximize your chances for success in your new role. Finally, we will learn how to conduct the exchange in a way that builds strong ties with your new colleagues and institution. The session will be structured around a case study and role-playing exercise. This workshop is appropriate for PhD/MFA students and postdocs in all disciplines. RSVP here. 

1:1 Advising Appointments

Interested in discussing your job market strategy, workshopping your application materials, or preparing for an upcoming interview? Set up an advising appointment with an advisor on GRAD Gargoyle 

Your dedicated career advisor can help you think through your job market strategy and provide feedback on your CV, cover letter, research statement/proposal, and teaching statement. Simply select “CAREERS” in the scheduling interface and you will see available appointments with your advisor. 

Looking to prepare 1:1 for an upcoming interview or presentation? Choose “Oral Communication” in the appointment system and set up a meeting. 

To discuss questions related to diversity and inclusion, set up a “DIVERSITY” appointment and meet with Joseph Butler, who will also be able to think about and review your diversity statement. 

Online Resources  

For information about academic job documents, check out the GRAD job document resources. If you’re thinking about interviews for faculty positions and postdocs, have a look at the interview resources, which also include links to different interview workshops. 

Questions about the academic job market and resources for applying for faculty positions and postdocs? Email Kathrin Kranz (kranz@uchicago.edu).  

Thinking about Applying to Fulbright? It’s not too late!

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program sends thousands of American students around the globe each year to study, research, or teach for 6–12 months. Last year, University of Chicago was named a top producing institution of Fulbright awards, a designation the university has received each year for more than 30 years. Our graduate students have conducted research in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North and  South America. Fulbrighters come from all disciplines—social sciences and humanities, as well as the arts, STEM, business, and law. In addition to research, UChicago graduate students have taught in Turkey, France, Germany, and South Korea, among many other locations.

The competition is underway, but it’s not too late to get started. GRAD fellowship advisors welcome you to email us about your interest in the program at grad-fellowships@uchicago.edu. You can also learn more by consulting the Fulbright entry in our fellowships database and signing up for Fulbright workshops in GRAD Gargoyle. We look forward to hearing from you!

Academic Job Market Summer Camp, July 10–14, 2023

Photograph of trees and campus buildings with the Chicago downtown skyline in the background.

Are you curious about the academic job market, or are you planning to apply for academic jobs this fall? Build your knowledge and confidence by attending UChicagoGRAD’s Academic Job Market Summer Camp. You’ll receive advice from UChicagoGRAD and Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning advisors as well as faculty from a range of institutions in the US and beyond.

Monday–Friday, July 10–14, 2023, 9:00 a.m. CT, Saieh Hall and Online

RSVP in GRAD Gargoyle 

Monday, July 10 (Zoom)

Overview of the Job Market
Hiring Committee Panels (HUM/Social Sciences and STEM)
CV Best Practices
Immigration Options Beyond OPT, STEM OPT and Academic Training

Tuesday, July 11 (in-person)

Cover Letter Best Practices
Diversity Statements
Lunch Provided by UChicagoGRAD
Managing Your Academic Job Search

Wednesday, July 12 (in-person)

Research Statement Best Practices (HUM/Social Sciences and STEM)
Teaching Statement and Portfolio Best Practices
Lunch Provided by UChicagoGRAD
Creating an Academic Website

Thursday, July 13 (in-person)

From Zoom to Campus
Demystifying Job Talks
Lunch Provided by UChicagoGRAD
Interview Stories from Recent Hires Panel

Friday, July 14 (Zoom)

Applying for International Academic Positions
Considering Teaching Positions off the Tenure Track
Getting Postdoc in the Humanities and the Social Sciences

3MT Competition 2023

three minute thesis logo
Join the audience of UChicago’s 3MT competition to see PhD students deliver compelling, three-minute presentations about their work. 13 PhD students representing the Humanities, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and the Crown Family School will compete for a total of $2,000. You will have a chance to vote for the “audience favorite award”.

COMPETITIORS

  1. Adarsh Suresh, PhD Student in Molecular Engineering
  2. Adina Feinstein, PhD Student in Astronomy
  3. Caroline Kelly, PhD Student in Crown Family School
  4. Casey Ferrara, PhD Student in Psychology
  5. Giorgio Sarro, PhD Student in Geophysical Sciences
  6. Isabella Scott, PhD Student in Mathematics
  7. Jelena Momirov, PhD Student in Chemistry
  8. Jelena Scepanovi, PhD Student in Human Genetics
  9. Kelly Holob, PhD Student in the Divinity School
  10. Nick Bayhi, PhD Student in Biophysical Sciences
  11. Pallav Goyal, PhD Student in Mathematics
  12. Rachel Chery, PhD Student in Music
  13. Walter Alvarado, PhD Student in Biophysical Sciences

JUDGES

  • Ella Karev (PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations), Humanities Teaching Fellow, UChicago, Winner of the 2022 3MT Competition
  • Tony Banout (PhD in Divinity), Inaugural Executive Director, Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, UChicago
  • Vera Dragisich (PhD in Chemistry), Senior Instructional Professor and Director of Academic Programs & Graduate Studies in Chemistry

Event details:
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
Friday, May 19, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD (3rd Floor, Bookstore Building) 

More on 3MT at UChicago.

Consulting Spring Training, May 8–12, 2023

Consulting Spring Training is a week-long event series for graduate students and postdocs interested in careers in consulting. Whether you’re just starting to explore consulting or are working on job applications, this series can help you prepare for the next step in your process.

Simple silhouette graphic of two people chatting across a table.

Day 1: Consulting 101

This session will consist of a brief overview of the consulting industry and where graduate students and postdocs fit in. You will also hear an interview with a PhD alumnus of UChicago and BCG.
Sign up for Day 1.

Day 2: Resumes and Cover Letters

This day will consist of hands-on workshopping of resume drafts, led by Pam Schilling from Archer Career. IMPORTANT: Before this session, we highly recommend watching a recording of Pam’s workshop on resumes and cover letters: VIDEO HERE. Also, please see the attached suggested resume template. For this session, we encourage you to work on a draft of your resume and/or cover letter before you arrive. Come to UChicagoGRAD with your draft, where we will do a quick demo of a resume review before breaking into small groups to work on drafts with your peers, facilitated by Pam and UChicagoGRAD career development staff. Sign up for Day 2. 

Day 3: Communicating like a Consultant

This day is an in-person, hands-on interview, and networking workshop. For this session, we will learn best practices for communicating like a strategy consultant, followed by hands-on activities to practice and refine your answers to common interview and networking questions in small groups, facilitated by UChicagoGRAD career development staff. Sign up for Day 3.

Day 4: Case Interviews

The case interview is a unique component of the interview process at many consulting firms. The content of this session will include a summary of the case interview process, an overview of preparation strategy, and live demonstration of cases. Sign up for Day 4.

Day 5: Meet the Firms

This session will feature representatives from several different types of consulting firms that hire advanced degree talent. Hear a series of presentations from each firm about the types of “cases” that they work on. The presentations will be followed by a panel Q&A. Next, consulting firms will be separated into individual rooms, lunch will be served, and you will have the option to meet in small groups with consultants of your choice for two 30-minute sessions. Sign up for Day 5.