What am I supposed to do in the summer?!

[Bacchanalia]

So, I'm just wondering what others have done to make money over the summers? Is it possible to live off of a 9 month pay out?

What are some common ways you have heard/done to make money.

I've worked at Starbucks before.... I just hope it doesn't come to that again.

[iphi]

In my department there is almost always hourly work available for students in the summers. It's not as good as a stipend but at least you can work more hours.

[GeoDUDE!]

Apply for internships. Apply for grants to fund summer. TA classes over the summer. 

 

Before I accepted I negotiated summer funding into my contract. That might work for you. 

[BeatrizBear]

I think most people work over the summer or they go somewhere else and sublet their apartment. Many universities have spots for TAs during summer courses. I think most people apply for something like that or try to get summer funding from their department.

[autumn]

Apply for internships. Apply for grants to fund summer. TA classes over the summer. 

 

Before I accepted I negotiated summer funding into my contract. That might work for you. 

 

Would you mind explaining how you approached that? Summer concerns me and I'd like to try this tactic. 

[GeoDUDE!]

Would you mind explaining how you approached that? Summer concerns me and I'd like to try this tactic. 

 

When I went to my accepted students visiting day, I was honest with my now advisor. I told her that I needed summer funding to live in my current place, that I decided I would not be enough to live comfortably. She agreed, and while it wasn't guaranteed for most students, almost all of them get summer funding so it was easy for me to leverage. She also knew I had other offers at slightly less ranked schools but with a considerably better funding package. This bridged the gap. It wasn't really a negotiation at all, I just asked. 

[autumn]

When I went to my accepted students visiting day, I was honest with my now advisor. I told her that I needed summer funding to live in my current place, that I decided I would not be enough to live comfortably. She agreed, and while it wasn't guaranteed for most students, almost all of them get summer funding so it was easy for me to leverage. She also knew I had other offers at slightly less ranked schools but with a considerably better funding package. This bridged the gap. It wasn't really a negotiation at all, I just asked. 

 

Thank you!

[rising_star]

In my department, a lot of grad students TA in the summer. Others work as RAs, go out and conduct field research, or head home (international students in particular tend to do this). You need to see before you go if the stipend is enough to live on all year long. If it's not, then you'll need to ask other grad students what they do in the summer.