The Wisdom of the Ages:
The Graduate Student Survival Guide
Here are some hints from current and past students on making your way through the graduate programs
Start working on your thesis as soon as you can, especially if you have some time during the summer to do so.
Make sure you keep your committee up to date on your progress; don’t wait for them to ask.
Be aware of the thesis requirements for your particular emphasis. If you can, get started doing research / collecting your creative work as early as possible.
Don’t feel pressured to take the thesis option. The research paper and portfolio option is just as valid and rigorous, and students taking that option have gone on to Ph.D. programs. Make your choice based on your own desires and future plans, and talk to your advisor and other students to gain some perspective.
For me, finding a part-time job was a necessity during grad school. Luckily, this was teaching at a local community college one night a week. This teaching experience has been invaluable and quite flexible—and along with my graduate assistantship stipend, I’ve been able to squeak by!
What’s great about living in campus housing (besides the location!) is that phone, internet, cable, garbage, and water utilities are all included in the rent. I live in the Hillside Apartments on campus, however, which use propane for heat. Even for a small apartment, the gas bill gets pretty high.
The *real* cost of grad school at UNI often depends on your level of comfort. Are you willing and able to walk 15 min to class, or pay $120 for a parking permit? Do you want to wear short sleeves in your apartment in the winter and pay high utilities, or put on a sweater?
As an English Lit/Creative Writing student, you may spend $200, $300 or even $400 each semester on books. While it’s true textbooks can be found at University Book and Supply, there are also other, and perhaps cheaper, sources for them. There’s always websites, used bookstores and booksellers farther from campus.
If you’re working for the university in any capacity, be sure to complete your W-4 form (Income Tax Withholdings) carefully. The university might not automatically withhold taxes from your monthly paycheck, so depending on your income you may end up owing the government money at the end of the year. Click here for more information about this IRS form. Information for employees of the university is available through Human Resources Services and the Payroll section of Business Services.
For students with children, a child-care grant is available. It may not cover all your childcare costs for the year, but it can certainly go a long way. Click here for information.
Parking permits can be expensive – you can save a lot of money by not buying one if you live close enough to walk.
Getting started in a new place includes other costs, especially if you live off campus. Utility bills, food, and furnishings must all be taken care of. If you have a car, don’t forget about your car payments, insurance, an Iowa driver’s license, auto registration, parking permits, gas (especially if your drive to school or work is a long one), and maintenance.
When making your budget, be realistic. This is a good time to see what things you can live without (Do you really need cable TV? How often should you eat out?) However, if you’re used to spending money regularly on things like music or clothing, it may be hard to break that habit completely. Budget for your personal needs, things like basic supplies, entertainment and going out, as well as for unexpected bills and emergency costs.
Student health insurance is available. If you’re interested, get the information early; the deadline to enroll goes by quickly!
Watch your eating habits; you can save a lot of money by not eating out. A week’s worth of meals on campus or out at fast food costs as much as or more than a month’s worth of groceries. Even if you don’t cook (or don’t like to cook), quick easy recipes are available all over the internet. A small George Foreman-type grill can be a powerful tool. Plus it’s usually healthier to cook for yourself!
Graduate school definitely has a heavier work load in classes; there’s a reason that full-time at the graduate level is only 9 credits. Especially in English, expect to spend a lot of time reading books and writing papers.
It is as important to budget your time as it is to budget your money. Take stock of all your commitments, from study / research time and meals, to travel to / from class and sleep. Make sure you don’t overextend yourself, as it’s easy to find yourself suddenly out of time on a regular basis.
Be sure to take time out to relax or engage in hobbies and other non-school activities. If everything is about school, you’re going to burn out very quickly. I didn’t have anything for me – it was all about school, and I almost burned out.
The Literature emphasis requires 30 credit-hours, which can be completed in 3 semesters. Be careful, though: it’s probably a bad idea to try to finish a thesis, take the comprehensive exams, take a full-time course load, and have a job all at once.
Ask around to find out what the different professors’ styles are like, or talk to the professors themselves – that’ll help you choose courses as well as get you set for success.
Expect a limited choice of graduate-level courses each semester; there just aren’t enough professors to teach everything that’s listed in the course catalog.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Talk to other students, and find out how they deal with questions or challenges.
African-American students may find that certain types of resources (beauty supplies and salons, for example) are only available in Waterloo, which has a higher African-American population than Cedar Falls. Be sure to connect with the Center for Multicultural Education and other African-American students or organizations to get the most up-to-date information.
If you’ve never experienced a Midwestern winter before, here is a link to information and pictures. You’ll need to have the right gear to ensure your comfort, such as a good coat, gloves, hat and boots. Your fellow students and the university can help you decide what you need and where to get it.
Access to a computer is crucial, especially for an English major. Hardware and software are available at a discount to UNI students; you can get more information here. Loans may also be available to help finance the purchase of a computer; click here for more information.
You can have the fine waived on your first campus parking ticket, and guests’ tickets can be waived if you bring your residential permit. Click here for more information.
Take advantage of the printers on campus; the Student Computing Centers all have good black and white printers.
There can be a feeling that you’re adrift or alone, with no guidance and little information. In fact, this is not the case; take the initiative to connect with other grad students by attending evening lectures and events or getting involved in student organizations. Pay attention to the opportunities and activities mentioned in the bi-weekly UNIOnline and MyUNIverse newsletters.
Many grad students at UNI are in their 30s or 40s. We often find the entertainment available on Main Street in Cedar Falls is much more appealing than those places on College Street (known as “College Hill” or just “the Hill”) that are often crowded with a much younger set.
