What to do about my grad assistantship?

Question

I have this grad assistantship that according to them I work "20 hours" a week and in return they pay for my education. My assistantship is in the student activities, it is however very time comsumiing and the 20 hours are more like 25 and a VERY spread out 25 hours a week which makes getting a second job- insanely difficult. In any case I feel as if I have this pointless job and the administration holds over my head that my education is free. But whats the point of a free classes - when I cant afford the textbooks to pass the classes? Every other grad assistant I know doesnt have another job or work side jobs once in a while and their parents pay for all their expenses- mine do not! Should I stay in the position? I'd like to know your opinion.

Answer 1

You should be happy for the opportunity... But you are not. You do not beleive that the educational experience is worth the effort/ work. Some people go through much greater pains to 'make things work" in their lives. you should step aside and make room for someone who wants it more! If you do decide to stay you should buy your books online as opposed to the campus bookstore, you can save a lot of money that way. The best site I know of is Textbook411.com , good luck!

Answer 2

You need to realize that at most universities, your contract as a graduate assistant prohibits you from working ANY job in addition to your assistantship. Working an outside job provides grounds to terminate your assistantship. This is because you are expected to work no more than 20-25 hours a week in a job, and devote the rest of your time to your studies.

Yes, your pay is low. Yes, the hours of many assistantship jobs are generally not ideal, and spread out over the week. Yes, student activities assistantships are time-consuming. (Resident assistantships are worse, I assure you.)

However, this is the typical graduate school experience. Most graduate students (nationwide) are not supported by their parents either, and thus they take out small loans (3000 or less) per year in order to cover the expenses their assistantships do not cover. Most graduate students also live on Ramen noodles and tuna fish, and share crappy apartments.

I am surprised and disappointed that the director of your graduate program has not given you this information.

You would be out of your mind to leave your assistantship. If you do, you will be paying for your entire tuition, and your loans for that would be astronomical.

Look at it this way: the program valued you enough to find you an assistantship that carries full tuition remission.

I know my answer does not sound very sympathetic, but you really need to know that your situation is typical, and make the necessary adjustments.

Answer 3

First, have you applied for FAFSA loans? If you are truly supporting yourself you should be able to get quite a bit of government assistance. Also go to the student finance office and see if they have grad school grants for books and spending money.

Secondly, are there other grad assistants in student activities? If so, could you work out a more reasonable schedule by coordinating with them?

Third, the job isn't pointless. Student activities are a very important part of college life these days.

Fourth, how much is your tuition? Remember that what you are getting is tax free income. Figure out your effective hourly wage [If tuition (and room and board?) is $6,000 a semester, and you work 12 weeks at 25 hours a week, you are earning 300 hours - that's $20 an hour, tax free]. Determine whether you could earn this same amount of money working on the economy somewhere.

Fifth, see if you can find a job that could be somewhat flexible. There are always folks looking for babysitters or housesitters or other kinds of jobs that don't require punching a clock. Go visit your student employment office.

Answer 4

I encourage you to continue with the grad assistantship, because in the end- it will be rewarding. If there are some other ways that you can make money to assist you in your finances(which is of course not time consuming- go for it). For example, if you have used books that you no longer need, or clothing you can sell at a low price, etc.(that can be a way to make money- and that doesn't take any time away from you at all).
Best Wishes!

Answer 5

I'm in assistantship that pays for my tuition, which i love but I'm also interested in student affairs administration. I have free tuition and then have loans for my living expenses. What are you studying? Do you think you can find an assistantship in a department more relevant to what you are studying. Also how much is your tuition compared to your living expenses? If your expenses are way more than your tuition being payed for then maybe it's not worth it.

Answer 6

properly in case you're taking the assistantship, might working 20hr/week conceal each thing, plus funds for nutrients, gas on your automobile, very own products and issues like that? If not in keeping with possibility you may take a semester or 2 section-time, save up greater funds from working finished time, then take the assistantship and paintings section time and pass to college finished time? That way you've got greater funds saved up in case you want it.