10 Common Concerns of a Poor Graduate Student

I really enjoy scrolling through my Facebook Newsfeed every night before I got to bed and in the morning before I tackle my daily duties.  It isn’t so much to tap into everybody’s personal concerns, but it’s to find all the cool articles that are floating around—some about relationships, others about professional development, and some about college humor.  Lately I’ve been reading some stuff about the struggles of graduate school, and they were hilariously spot-on according to my experiences so far.  In fact, now that my second graduate semester has started, I’ve been in the process of writing my own blog post regarding the struggles and stress that’s already taken precedence in my current state of life.  I also wrote one last March titled “The oxymorons of grad school.”  

While the following concerns are things that I and my graduate peers often joke about light-heartedly, they are also a source of major stress during our graduate journey.  But, we nonetheless appreciate our graduate careers, and in hindsight, probably wouldn’t change it for the world. Read on for a sense of what it’s like to be a poor graduate student.  Below are ten concerns I often face on a weekly basis that I KNOW my graduate friends can relate to. 

1. “Can I make it to campus and back home without having to stop for gas this week?”

Seriously, gas and money should never have to be in the same sentence.  It’s depressing.  It’s really pathetic when you’re forced to make the decision NOT to drive somewhere because your gas funds are just too limited. Yesterday I literally FREAKED OUT when I drove a half hour past my exit because I was in such a daze thinking about my thesis, the papers I had to grade, and the book for my class that still hasn’t been mailed yet.  “My gas tank cannot afford these stupid mistakes!,” I furiously thought to myself…  Funny now.  Yesterday? Not so much. 

2. Every penny counts.

Call me cheap, but when I’m broke, I make sure to get every last penny I deserve.  If someone owes me money for whatever reason (I sell Herbalife products, or maybe it’s a payback for a birthday gift), I quietly hope that he or she writes a check for the full 26 dollars and 52 cents.  It’s seriously painful and I have to force a smile through clenched teeth when I say, “oh, you’re paying cash?  Just give me the 25 bucks and call it even.” Every time I say that, those pennies add up!  Any other time wouldn’t be a problem, and most people make small deals like this out of common courtesy or to build rapport in client relationships.  But, when I’m a poor grad student, that extra dollar and 52 cents could probably buy me a much needed gas-station cappuccino. Because let’s face it.  I have to fill my tank up tomorrow anyway.  It might not be a skinny latte from Starbucks, but it’s caffeine. It works.  

3. Speaking of every penny, I like to roll my coins. 

I add all of my coins to a “college fund” piggy bank that’s been sitting on my desk since my first year at CMU.  I had been shopping at TJ Maxx for some college essentials, and I noticed a ceramic bowl with a lid that was titled “College Fund.”  I’ve been adding my coins to it ever since.  Last time I cashed in exactly 45 dollars of rolled change at my local bank. The bank teller thought it was a little odd since nobody really does that anymore, but seriously, I was 45 dollars richer!  It’s almost full again and I might be able to spare an extra fifty bucks.  Now I actually CAN fill up my entire tank!  

4. That look you get from your friends when you have to turn down a trip to the bar after class is seriously disappointing. 

Look dude, I’d really love to have some friendly chit-chat and grab some pizza and booze, but I have exactly 12 dollars and 36 cents in my wallet to last me the rest of the week. And I already received two emails saying my balance exceeds the limit I set on my credit card.  Give me a few weeks and I can maybe roll more change.  Then ask me to go out.  

5. Having an exciting variety in your lunch bag just isn’t an option.

Unless momma made a nice home-cooked meal last night and gave you the leftovers, the basic PB&J or plain turkey sammich on wheat bread is an afternoon luxury.  Sometimes you might get lucky and can spare an extra 5 or 6 bucks at subway for a footlong, or a nice Mexican cuisine from the salsa grille in the student center.  Savor these rare moments.  They are awesome.  But, typically in my case, I pack chewy bars and a cup of peanut butter, and I dip the granola bar into the peanut butter. My friends thought I was silly, but now they’re all hooked.  It’s like candy!  I urge you all to try it. 

6. Your student balance for printing costs is now down from 45 dollars to 6.25 and it’s only halfway through the semester. 

Hey prof, can I email you my assignments?  

7. If you’re a student worker or graduate assistant, it costs money to look professional on the job.

A cut and color is enough in itself and updating your wardrobe is never easy on the bank account.  Unless you have some real fancy-schmancy hand-me-downs, or your thrift store has a really awesome collection this month, you can guarantee that looking good for the job won’t always be cheap.  Let’s face it, wearing the same work clothes over and over will eventually cause them to fade and thin out, and nobody wants to be seen wearing the same outfit seven times a month, unless you’re some fashion guru and you’re really good at turning 15 articles of clothing into about 50 different outfits. Does anybody else rotate their colors each week?  On Wednesdays I wear pink. 

8. Feeling like you’re running out of patience.

I’m always telling my boyfriend that I must sound like a broken record when I constantly complain about this “holding pattern” in my life.  What if I don’t get the job I want?  Then grad school will have been a waste of time and money… Then what?  Where do I go from there?! All my peers have awesome jobs and their own houses and making good money and then there’s me.  Oh shit… what am I doing with my life?!

9. To go out or not to go out?

It’s a battle of the consciences when the decision to go out on the weekends (aka alcohol therapy) is made by weighing the importance of two options: would I rather spend my money to regain my sanity?  Or should I stay in, save my money, and work on my thesis? 

Soooooo, who reads a thesis anyway? It’s just money, right?  

10. And when you do go out…

Not only are you further behind on your academic responsibilities, but the brutal cycle of financial struggles starts all over again come Monday morning.  Hey, at least you had a good time.  That’s something money can’t buy.  Or does it? Shit, how much money do I have left? Where did I put my wallet?!  

As stressful as graduate school can be, it's also the best time of our lives.  It's the time when we meet an eclectic group of classmates and co-workers who become a big family, one big support system, and most importantly, life-long friends.