Have to Make a Really Tough Job/Funding Decision in 8 hours?

[harrisonfjord]

I am currently in grad school working on my master's in a STEM field; however, I am barely making end's meet. Some weeks (not all) I will go for one-two weeks on $20 because I just don't make enough to support myself comfortably. I am about 55,000 in student loan debt and I am in the first year of my master's program (that includes my undergrad loans).

Right now I am in a predicament because I was offered a prestigious fellowship (I am currently an unfunded master's student). The department only grants it to 6 students, and it is a one-time award (so I won't be getting it for future semesters). It covers tuition but nothing else. 

I was recently offered a position with the housing department but it is a stressful and time consuming on call position. I would be in a management role, so it would be good to get that experience and the benefits package is really awesome: tuition waiver, free housing, a meal plan, health insurance, and the pay I am making now on top of everything.

The stipulation is I cannot have the fellowship with an assistantship position. I can only do one or the other. In the long term, I am interested in research with the DoD and I have also applied to several research positions recently (within the last week) but I have not heard back yet. Therefore, the housing job is not particularly good for my career goals because it would take away from my ability to do research (you also can't have a research assistantship and an assistantship in another department). I currently rent a room in a house, but my name is on the lease so I would have to deal with the stress of trying to find someone to sublease, etc. within the next month if I accept the housing job. But long story short, I have crappy roommates and I would live alone if I got the housing position.

What would you do in this situation? I have already given my current boss my two week's notice, and she knows I applied for the housing position. The part-time job I have now doesn't give me enough hours to make anything worthwhile and the hours I do work make it impossible for me to have another job. I'm lucky if my paychecks cover gas, so I will have to take out loans anyway even if I have the fellowship (until I can find another job). I have to give the housing job an answer in 8 hours and I have no idea what I should do.

Edited November 26, 2014 by harrisonfjord

[geographyrocks]

I think the most important thing to think about is how much are you willing to suffer? 

I don't think anyone will blame you for taking financial security (housing job) over the one semester fellowship.  But I do think this job will set you back in your degree completion timeline.  Like you said, you won't have as much time for research. 

I know this doesn't help, but this is why most people caution against the unfunded masters especially in STEM fields. 

Bottom line, I think you need to take care of yourself.  Which option puts the least stress on you?  Also, you always have the option of dropping the housing job if something better comes along.  It might be a pain in the ass (seeing as you would have to move again), but it is still a future option. 

[Cookie]

I vote for the housing job!

[biisis]

I also vote housing job! You can include the fellowship on your CV, even if you don't carry it to completion, and you'll be able to do better work on your studies with financial security, even if you do so at a slower rate. Time to completion isn't so grave a deal in your masters as it is in the PhD (and even then, it's usually because of funding pressures which don't seem to adhere in your circumstance!). Taking care of yourself is an essential part of grad school, particularly if you want to keep doing it. 

[TakeruK]

If you have the housing job, can you still do research without a research assistantship? (e.g. as part of an independent study "course" or something).

 

I would go for the housing job / financial security in your shoes. It sounds a lot like a "resident assistant" type job for student dorms? If so, this is fairly common for graduate students--all of the resident assistant positions in my school are graduate students (there are a few in my department too!)

[harrisonfjord]

Thank you all for your input. It is much appreciated. 

 

I still can volunteer as an RA, I just will not be able to find a funded position. If anything, I'm hoping this works out well because the hours I work will open up my schedule a bit more and I will have more freedom to find my thesis advisor and start working on my thesis (my program doesn't designate an advisor once you are admitted, you have to take a semester of classes before you select a thesis advisor). 

 

The job isn't exactly an RA position, it's the next step above that. So I would be supervising a team of RAs (7-10 undergraduate students), but I think the management and supervisory experience could also be very valuable.

[TakeruK]

Sounds like a good job to me, especially if you need it to pay the bills.

[Applemiu]

I would think carefully about the housing job. I have had manager on call positions before, and while these jobs can be very well paid, they are also stressful and, if not stressful, extremely time consuming. Basically you will be thinking about the housing job every morning, afternoon and evening. These jobs are very well paid for a reason.

Edited November 28, 2014 by Applemiu

[harrisonfjord]

I completely understand! The only thing is, I will have a very flexible schedule in Spring and I need the compensation package. I already have so many loans that I am willing to do what it takes to decrease the amount. We are talking the difference between 55,000 and 75,000 in loans if I do not have to take out loans for an entire year. I was applying for full time jobs anyway, so I would have just reduced my courseload if I wasn't offered this position, or maybe even taken a semester off. 

 

I do appreciate you pointing out that it will be stressful and time consuming, but I have also interned in the ER and worked at a high-stakes business law firm, so I definitely have felt pressure like that before. 

 

I honestly would rather be stressed out from job as opposed to being stressed out that I can't pay rent (or choosing between eating or putting gas in my car). I know it won't be easy, but I think it's at least worth testing the waters. If it turns out to be too much, my contract is only for a year and I still will graduate relatively close to my original timeline. 

Edited November 29, 2014 by harrisonfjord

[Applemiu]

I honestly would rather be stressed out from job as opposed to being stressed out that I can't pay rent (or choosing between eating or putting gas in my car). I know it won't be easy, but I think it's at least worth testing the waters. If it turns out to be too much, my contract is only for a year and I still will graduate relatively close to my original timeline. 

 

OK, I am sure you will be fine.