The Importance of the Self-Check: Staying Financially Aware Before, During, and After Graduate School

Graduate students at SIPA are often managing more than tuition. They may be balancing high cost-of-living expenses, assistantships, fellowships, external scholarships, family obligations, unpaid internships, career transitions, future loan repayment and more.

The financial aid self-check is a structured habit that helps students pause, review their financial position, and make informed decisions before small issues become expensive problems.

This interactive framework will help SIPA students build financial awareness by guiding them through a structured “self-check” of their funding, student account, borrowing, living expenses, and repayment readiness. Students will learn to identify financial gaps early, make intentional borrowing decisions, and develop a repeatable habit of financial self-management that supports both academic success and long-term financial stability.