Jack asked: How do you have time to work so much and get any research done? In my program at least, grad school is all about the research and coursework is just an annoyance. I can’t imagine working 20+ hours a week and having the time to do 40+ hours a week of research.
Well, I study philosophy and theology, so coursework is not an afterthought or annoyance. It’s where you read the major works, get introduced to new ideas, and learn how to do the work for yourself. Research done during that time is usually for term papers. You can work as a research assistant or teaching assistant, but otherwise, there’s no work component to the program. So, it’s coursework, language exams, and whatever research you choose to do on your own for conference papers or whatever else you’re working on.
That said, I work 15 hour days, 6 days a week. I don’t sleep enough or study enough. It’s not something I could keep up for long and my coworkers and fellow students think I’m insane. But, it’s worth it to me right now to get out of debt. I’m lucky that my job at the library involves a lot of time I can spend reading for class and writing papers. It wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Once I’m done with coursework, I’ll cut back, because I’ll never get through qualifying exams or a dissertation while working this much.
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Love this answer. People ask me the same thing. Next semester I’m working 30 hours (teaching and working the Navy), taking three courses, finishing my thesis and running a website for a student org. So I also don’t sleep, exercise or study enough. C’est la vie. Something has to give. But I have to pay my bills and I don’t want to graduate with 200k in debt like so many other students will.
Glad to read this as I have less than two weeks before adding grad school to my 55-60 hour work schedule each week.
Nonetheless, I’m still terrified.
And that is why library jobs are simply the best. You can multi-task!
I need some of your motivation! I’m not in debt, but I work between 25-40 hours a week during the school year and go to class between 12-15 hours a week, and I barely get by.
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