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How can I make money as a graduate student?

I would like to start paying off my student loans before the payments are due but haven’t had a stable income to be able to set aside for such payments

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Daniel’s Answer

Making money in Graduate School is dependent upon your field of study. You need to think very hard about the value of your education, where it will lead you, at what cost, and for how long you will be paying it off. You have options after gaining your Bachelors degree, especially if you have completed internships while in school or worked during the summers. This is your chance to revisit and clarify your career and financial goals based on the costs and benefits of your career choice. Many people have changed tracks between undergraduate and graduate schools.

For medical and veterinary graduate students, you won't have the time or energy to make any money while in school. In those two majors, your options are military or Federal Agencies like the National Health Service Corps, USDA, or FDA. All of those agencies provide scholarships and loan repayment programs. For Graduate Research Science students pursuing in-demand careers, you should base your decision on where to go to school based on the offers you receive for Research and Teaching Assistant jobs. While in graduate school, you may be able to apply for fellowships from the school, National Science Foundation, and industry fellowships from companies that work with the school. For graduate students in Business, internships and externships are usually available, well compensated and are often required. In the Humanities fields, you should be able to apply for teaching and perhaps research assistantships, but they will be very competitive. You should again base your decision on where to attend Graduate School on whether the school will pay your tuition and a stipend as part of their research and teaching assistantships. You will soon have your undergraduate degree and so have value (for *most* majors) in the marketplace. Don't pursue graduate schools that treat you like you are a new student without established market value.

Daniel recommends the following next steps:

Time to reconsider your career goals, financial situation, and do a real cost vs. benefit analysis of the next step before committing to further cost.
Apply to a number of graduate schools, visit them where possible, and treat them like bidders for your established value.
Don't pursue graduate schools that treat you like you are a new student without established market value.
When applying to Graduate Schools, bring up opportunities for Assistantships, Fellowships, Paid Internships, getting as much in writing as possible.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the advice. Katelyn
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Theodore’s Answer

First step is to determine what it is that you would enjoy doing to make income. If you have a passion for what you do, it will be easier for you to manage both the academic rigors and the demands of an employer. Further, you need to find areas where you can cut expenses if paying on your student loans early is your goal. You might be surprised what you can live without if you need to. Think cable, phone plans that are overpriced, even internet. If you are living on your own, look for opportunities to have roommates. Really what it boils down to is your passion, determination and creative problem solving. We are all capable of more than we think. The problem we face is the cost of education since it continues to rise well above the rate of inflation. You will need to find ways to balance the need for sleep and the necessary activities to manage your personal, professional and academic life while you work to achieve your goals.

Tools that will help:
Meditation with binaural beats
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Learning mental photography https://8de1cavowdxz3tbx1puevny0pr.hop.clickbank.net

I utilized the program of Zox Pro Mental photography through graduate school and in all honesty, I really wish I would have found it sooner! It is a program that really should be taught to everyone at the age of 10 and practiced throughout life!

Recognize the power within and move forward accordingly!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Theodore! Katelyn
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Vivian’s Answer

Here's some stuffs I looked into when I was in my master program:
1. I look for TA job -
a. Ask TA of my own classes whether there's opportunity for other classes. TA's professor teach undergrad student too so sometime they know if there's opportunities before a job post on website.
b. Check university website
2. Look for paid internship. This one comes with a lot of career benefit. It can help you build your resume, practice interview skills, and later, higher chance to get a better pay job so you can pay off your debt sooner. (The TA opportunity is very limited so I eventually went for this one)
3. Find a side job from internet - those part time or remote working opportunities (call center, customer service..etc)

Good luck!
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Christopher’s Answer

Hi Katelyn,
In graduate school I was able to find a research assistantship to help fund my education. I would suggest reaching out to professors to see if they have any research assistantships or teaching assistantships available that you could work on. Even if you don't want to teach, a lot of my friends had teaching assistantships they used to help pay for their studies.
Another option is being a ride-share driver if you have a car. Someone I knew did this not because they needed the money but because each time they had a fare they would try and explain their research to them. This gave my friend the experience explaining his research in a simple way that people outside his department could understand. It really helped when it came time for his defense. So this is another way you could earn money while also improving pitching your research.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Katelyn
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Ava’s Answer

My top recommendation is to consider employment in a semi-fine dining establishment! The financial rewards are impressive and the evening shifts won't clash significantly with your class schedule. While it can be demanding and stressful, the substantial income makes it worthwhile.
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Jerome’s Answer

I think there are a few things you can do. One of which would be to offer tutoring for high school students (depending on your discipline). You can get a business license for very little and write off gas, resources, etc. You can also approach the school administration and see if they are aware of any open roles. Alumni often want to support other alumni, so connecting with the alumni association may also serve you well/
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Katelyn
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