Housing While in School

[dasher44]

Hi all!

 

I was just curious as to how everyone affords rent, food, and utilities while completing a master's in speech. I know part-time jobs are an option, but it would never be enough to cover rent. What do you do?

[maelia8]

I am not in SLP, but as someone in my 5th year of a Ph.D. program, my advice for covering rent is always to get one (or maybe two) side hustles, preferably on campus. Unless you're in a field with high levels of tipping, you'll make more per hour as a research assistant to a professor, or working for the student government (at my institution, there are many paid positions in student government, or as an intern in a graduate division or for a university administrator. These jobs usually have very flexible hours, often involve a monthly salary rather than being paid by the hour, and the work can even be done independently at your own computer, or while manning a desk and doing your on homework or research on the side. My sister is doing her masters' and she works as a TA for two undergrad studio courses (she's an artist) on her campus. Doing a job nearby and flexible is the way to go to ensure that you are not caught commuting (and paying for that commute, thus losing valuable time to do your own work.

[bibliophile222]

Lots and lots of loans. Sad but true.

My boyfriend works, which helps, but housing isn't cheap here so must of his income goes to rent. 

Loans are terrible, but they are the only way I could get through my program without going insane from overwork. My ~5 hours of work-study a week is all I can handle.

[soontobeslp2018]

My school offers off campus apartments for grad students. Since it’s university run I use my loans to pay for it. No monthly rent because it’s paid for when I pay tuition and my financial aid covers most of it. 

[aelwood14]

On 10/24/2018 at 12:52 PM, dasher44 said:

Hi all!

 

I was just curious as to how everyone affords rent, food, and utilities while completing a master's in speech. I know part-time jobs are an option, but it would never be enough to cover rent. What do you do?

Unfortunately, housing and other living expenses (i.e., groceries, gas, etc.) are typically paid for with financial aid or private loans. I am a  first year SLP graduate student. In my welcoming/acceptance letter, my school mentioned that if we do plan to work, then it is recommended to work a maximum of five hours per week. The workload is high and demanding, in our program, we are considered to be "on-call" for any community screenings, meetings, labs, etc. Although, we usually have an idea of when we may be needed, its never a guarantee and missing something for work is considered to be unexcused. I have a cohort of 35 students and believe may be less than 10 of us work (including babysitting, Lyft driving, etc.). When I first started, I seriously thought I would have time for work, but I can't even imagine fitting the time in now that I am halfway through the semester without giving up sleep, self-care, and the small social life that I do have now. I would honestly be burnt out if I had to work on top of going to school. I feel like I should also note, some of my classmates are in relationships, or they are married; their significant others tend to help out with living expenses. However, the majority of students take out loans.