how do grad students live?

[Anonymous]

I understand you can take out loans for the actual education but food, housing, etc. - if you are in a program where you can't work and do school do they just finance everything thru credit cards? Parents?

[Anonymous]

Save up before you go to grad school
Spouse
Grad school pays stipend
Work and do grad school at night

[Anonymous]

you mean PhD students?

[Anonymous]

You can take our loans for living expenses too. They are usually st w higher rate. And you try to get a ta positions etc to bring in some money.

[Anonymous]

I have educational trusts for school.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't enter a PhD program unless your tuition is covered and you get a stipend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have educational trusts for school.

Ahh yes. I knew a trust fund baby would pipe in.

Trusts = DCUM's solution for every money problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't enter a PhD program unless your tuition is covered and you get a stipend.

+1
I thought this is how it worked. If someone is planning on borrowing to finish a PhD, it's probably not worth the amount borrowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't enter a PhD program unless your tuition is covered and you get a stipend.

+1
I thought this is how it worked. If someone is planning on borrowing to finish a PhD, it's probably not worth the amount borrowed.

Yup. DS is in a fully funded PhD program and pays for nothing/gets a stipend.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I'm not talking about programs like MAs or PhDs that are likely to be fully funded. Thinking about programs like physical therapy (my kid's area of interest), PA school, med school etc. that are very unlikely to be fully funded.

[Anonymous]

Parents, or save up from a job before you enter.

[Anonymous]

When I went I lived on campus and the financial aid package factored in the total cost (tution and R&B). I was required to take out loans and contribute savings to the total. I worked in the summer between years (it was a 2 year MBA program) and earned a decent amount to offset the second year. I also did a work study on campus and in the second year my earnings were pretty decent from that. Everyone in my program worked for 2 or more years before school so a lot of people had saved money to cover part of the cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I'm not talking about programs like MAs or PhDs that are likely to be fully funded. Thinking about programs like physical therapy (my kid's area of interest), PA school, med school etc. that are very unlikely to be fully funded.

I did it with a combination of loans, financial aid, and a second job. I lived in shared housing, cooked meals, bought food on sale, and went to a lot of networking events for the free food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I'm not talking about programs like MAs or PhDs that are likely to be fully funded. Thinking about programs like physical therapy (my kid's area of interest), PA school, med school etc. that are very unlikely to be fully funded.

Parents pay.

[Anonymous]

If you are talking PhD--don't pay a dime! They are taking your money. My program is funded through fellowships and assistantship that give you tuition remission and a stipend. The stipend is meager but their are ways to supplement it--teaching, reading admissions apps, tutoring. You have to ask around, but people usually have a consulting gig on the side. You will be broke unless you are married to someone with an income. You drink cheap beer and find free food on campus. I would recommend going young and trying to get out in 5 years max. You will make a fair amount of money. (six figures or close to it unless you go faculty or are a teacher) upon graduation if you do it right.