RA working load

[flyinglion]

Just have a question...One program told me that for year 2-5, they would guarantee a paid job, and my potential advisor told me that I could work on his project to get hourly income. I calculated the amount, and found that I may need to work at least 20 hours per week to support myself financially.

But the question is, I don't know how much does that working load means to me. Students need time to work on their research projects and develop their dissertation studies right? What do you think about that working load?

My area would be education/psychology, by the way.

Thank you!

[StudyMom]

I have an RA/TA load. The TA job alone takes about 11 hours or so, depending on the amount of correcting and grading I have to do in a given week. On top of that there are required office hours (3 hours) which is where I try to get the grading done. I have found RA jobs vary in amount required but the projects I have this semester are taking at least 8 hours a week. I also have three children under 10. So, basically what I'm saying is it is possible to work 20 hours, give or take a few, and work effectively on your degree. Mind you, it is sometimes stressful to balance RA/TA work, my own research and courseload and the needs of my children. I figure sleep is optional for the next three years! Also, I get a little grumpy!!!

Best of luck.

StudyMom

[rising_star]

Most of the TA and RA positions in my department are for 20 hours a week, which makes them a part-time job. You have to manage your time well but it leaves time for classes, your research, and relaxation, I've found.

EDIT: I should add that these are 20 hours a week on paper. Some people have a TA/RA combo that totals 20 hours, others have a fellowship that buys out part of their time, etc. My current TA is 10 hours a week and I usually don't put that many hours in, unless there's an assignment I need to grade.

[flit]

Wow...I didn't know how spoiled we are here in Ontario... it's pretty much policy that the expectation is that you'll work no more than 10 hours/week at your university

(of course, I get 'round that by teaching 9 hours a week elsewhere, also, but that's a don't ask/don't tell kind of thing)

[katreese]

My RA position is 20 hours per week, which according to other, more experienced grad students, is more hours than the TA positions require. 20 hours seems like a lot to me, but the real difficulty is scheduling - I have to work daytime hours, so I am constantly taking off of work to meet with professors, go to department meetings, go to conferences, etc. etc. I'm going to be working the entire month of June in order to make up all the time I'm missing.

[scigrad]

This discussion is really blowing my mind. My RA is for "20 hours" per week as well, but it's become quite clear to me that "20" means "all waking." I suppose it's different in liberal arts, but it seems the disparity is just enormous. I'm not quite sure what to make of it.