Graduate students can rely upon department assistance and faculty for financial guidance.
It's a stereotype that's hard to refute: graduate students subsisting in one-room studio apartments on noodles, peanut butter, pasta and care packages from home. Happily, there are several ways you can support yourself so you don't have to turn yourself into a character from a Dickens' novel while earning a master's or doctoral degree. Past work experience will pay off big so keep an open mind when you search for ways to pay for that peanut butter.
Take the Invalidated University of Northern Iowa Graduate School Potential Test
This informal survey was developed by Patricia Keith-Spiegel to explore the subject of whether or not students are ready to attend any type of graduate school. The questions on this query don't claim to be scientifically validated, but you might be surprised by the answers you arrive at when you complete this short, 30-question quiz. Check out your score. A good result makes an excellent ego and confidence booster if you're particularly insecure about surviving.
Find a Roommate
Better yet, find five roommates. Taken down to its smallest denominator, renting a house with multiple roommates keeps the per-person cost of living more affordable. If you tell landlords that you and your roomies are pursuing graduate degrees, you're more likely to get a lease than you would if you've got that undergraduate "Animal House" aura hanging over your head.
Apply for a Graduate Assistant's Job
Tenured and adjunct professors love grad assistants so they can hand off tedious tasks like grading and proctoring exams plus scheduling, curriculum and other mundane responsibilities. Land a graduate assistantship immediately after being admitted, as there's usually a feeding frenzy for these slots. Consider other on-campus revenue generators if you don't get an assistantship immediately. Grad students are often prioritized when openings at the campus bookstore, library, science and computer laboratories become available, so check these out while you wait for an assistantship to open up.
Snag a Job in the Community
If you live off campus and your lodgings are in close proximity to the town's commercial center, finding a job in the community is a great thing to do. This may not be easy because you'll compete with townies for a finite number of job openings. If you possess solid work skills, they may help you overcome the "temporary" nature of your residency when you apply for open positions. On that note, you'd be surprised at the number of grad students supporting themselves doing temp work at offices, factories and institutions, so don't discount this avenue.
Obtain a Grant
Grad students not only need to be housed, fed and clothed, but research funding is often a critical element in a student's game plan. For these reasons, look for grant money the moment you're accepted into a graduate program. At the University of Oklahoma's Department of Zoology, faculty helps students land project grants, faculty sponsorships and fellowships.
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