Student Parents

I’m a single parent. Are there any resources available to me? —Anonymous

First of all, congratulations! Kids are awesome. The Childcare Assistance Program provides resource and financial support, in the form of childcare assistance. You can also connect with other student parents. The center is located on the Seattle campus in Schmitz Hall. For Tacoma student parents, the UW Tacoma Childcare Assistance Program helps with childcare costs. (Unfortunately, Bothell currently doesn’t have any funds for childcare assistance.)

Ask the Grad School Guru is an advice column for all y’all graduate and professional students. Real questions from real students, answered by real people. If the guru doesn’t know the answer, the guru will seek out experts all across campus to address the issue. (Please note: The guru is not a medical doctor, therapist, lawyer or academic advisor, and all advice offered here is for informational purposes only.) Submit a question for the column →

TA/RA Positions

Where may I look for available TA/RA positions for next quarter? Also, does working in a UW Library give any benefit as the ones received through TA/RA: Tuition waiver or graduate insurance? —Anonymous

Teaching assistants, research assistants and graduate staff assistants are hired directly by departments. If you are interested in a TA/RA/GSA position, contact the department in which you are interested directly for more information. Keep in mind that you can look for positions outside of your home department. Though most departments hire through their own student populations, other departments—particularly those that don’t have graduate students or administrative units that hire graduate staff assistants—will recruit widely for positions from relevant degree programs across campus. Every department runs its own hiring process and can let you know what it requires to be considered for such positions. Check the UW Employment site for TA/RA/GSA positions (category: Academic Student Employee).

The Graduate Funding Information Service is another resource and runs a blog for both UW and outside funding.

As for library positions, Erik Dahl, employment and payroll services manager of UW Libraries, says: “We generally have one or two salaried positions that are in academic student employee positions covered by the UAW contract and, thus, eligible for the tuition waiver or graduate insurance. Most of our student employee positions, however, are hourly positions that do not offer formal benefits beyond wages. Working in the libraries does offer the opportunity to learn more about our resources, programs, and services, which can be beneficial to employees’ academic work. Library positions also allow students to gain skills and work experience that, depending on career goals, may be directly related to their field or generally transferable. And of course (like any on-campus job) library positions are conveniently located and may offer tax benefits relative to off-campus work. Like other on-campus jobs, library positions usually find students working with staff and supervisors who are highly supportive and flexible when it comes to balancing work with their academic schedules and other demands.”

Good luck!

Death and Taxes

Filing taxes seems more complicated than it should be, and there seems to be no help from the university, despite the fact that many graduate students have very similar tax situations. What’s the best way to file to maximize our return (where do we put student fees and union dues and all of the other things that we can claim to reduce our tax liability)? Are there good tax help resources available? —Anonymous

Why are taxes so complicated? Albert Einstein once said, “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Anyway, yes, the UW does provide tax help! Student Fiscal Services is holding general student tax workshops Thursdays, April 2 and 9, 1:30-2:30 p.m. They are also holding a workshop specifically for graduate/professional students on Wednesday, April 8, 2:30-3:30 p.m. and one for international students on Tuesday, April 7, 1:30-2:20 p.m. All workshops are held at UW Seattle, Odegaard 220. If you can’t make a workshop in person, you can download their presentation. Also, the Seattle Public Library offers one-on-one tax help at various branches. United Way offers help at a few additional sites. (You must have made less than $60,000 in 2014 to be eligible for their free help. Probably not a problem for grad students?) Good luck!

“Taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.” —Gerald Barzan, humorist

Cheap Food

Is there any cafeteria in the university that serves food at a subsidized rate? Each meal at the HUB costs around $10/meal, and it just gets a little difficult to afford that on a daily basis. —Anonymous

Unfortunately, there aren’t any subsidies just for graduate students. Residence Halls offer a dining account that includes incentives (3-6% of your dining account level), but they aren’t available to those who don’t live in UW housing. Here’s a list of lunches on the Ave for $5. Be sure to read the comments for more suggestions. And, not to state the obvious, but you could always bring your own food. Lifehacker has ideas for upgrading the typical brown bag so you don’t get tired of them. Good luck!

Parking Woes

I went online trying to purchase a parking permit, and they were all sold out except for evening passes. Any other alternatives that are close to campus and don’t require me to leave class every 90 min to pay a meter? —Anonymous

It sounds like your best bet is to go with self-serve parking. Some options are 1) the E1 lot, north of the IMA off of Montlake, which is $2 if you carpool with someone else and have a U-PASS or $6 if you drive by yourself; 2) purchasing a daily permit each day at one of the gatehouses which is $15/day ($3/day for carpools with U-PASS); 3) using a self-serve pay machine, which, depending on the lot, costs $3/hour with a maximum of $15/day or $3/day. Other options to consider are to find a ride-share, commute by bus, or drive most of the way to a nearby park-and-ride and then catch a short bus ride to campus.

If you have any questions, Transportation Services can go through all your options more thoroughly with you. They even offer a Commute Concierge service that will tailor a commute to your individual needs. Good luck!

It’s the Home Stretch!

It’s nearing the end of the fall quarter, and we’re thrilled that you continue to invest in your intellectual and professional development as current graduate students at the University of Washington.

You may have had these thoughts rolling through your mind about graduate school:

“Why did I do this to myself?”
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m supposed to be on top of everything.”
“Will I seriously get through everything I need to before the end of the quarter?

These worries are totally normal, especially during your first year of graduate study. We also know that these anxieties impact graduate students differently depending on gender, race, class, ability, sexuality, nationality, and type of degree program. And they weigh heavy on your mind, in addition to the seminar papers you have to write, student papers that need grading, or lab work that needs to get done. You might even be studying for your generals, looking for a job, planning a family holiday, or dissertating.

Especially during these crunch times, it can help to remember your purpose—why are you here? Your core purpose, the contribution you want to make, the stability you want to provide your family, your passion and curiosity—these are the things that will get you through the tough times. You do belong here, and you can do it. You are in graduate school because you are already serving your community and want to deepen this, or because of a passion for creating innovative technologies, a desire to contribute to scholarship, a hope of getting a good job that matters and sustains you—the list goes on and on.

In addition to remembering your purpose and passion, here are some other tips to help encourage you as you finish out the quarter:

Surround yourself with people who can pull you out of a slump. Friends or peers (in and outside of academia) who can give you a reality check that graduate school is not the entirety of your life, even if it feels that way. Plan a potluck with them, hang out at a cafe, go see a movie.

Exercise. Even a short brisk walk helps calm the mind and gets the blood flowing. It also releases stress hormones that tend to build up during this busy time of the academic year.

Make a quick list of all your accomplishments so far. Attended first day of graduate school (check), taught your first quiz section as a TA (check), developing a specific skillset (check), others? Celebrate these accomplishments and reward yourself (time away from the computer, a date with a friend, a chocolate bar. etc.).

Create situations that help you feel motivated. Is there a quote you love? Tape it to your computer. A band whose music makes you feel like you can do anything? Listen to it before (or after) a big work session. An image of a place that inspires you to get things done? Put this up where you will see it several times a day (maybe by the coffee pot?).

What else keeps you going? Let us know and we will share your tips with others.

Core Programs in the Graduate School is here to root you on! You have made it this far (a big feat), and we commend you for working hard. Give it your best shot—and remember this is all a learning and growing process. You do not have to get it “perfect” right out of the gate (no one does!). You are nearly to that much-deserved break!

Thank you to Florence Sum, Masters student in the Evans School of Public Affairs, for these tips.

Health Sciences Shuttle

How do I figure out the bus system to get to the Health Sciences area? —Anonymous

UW offers a shuttle service between UW Medical Center and Harborview Hospital with stops at UW Tower and Roosevelt Clinic in between. Schedule and specific location of stops here. There are also South Lake Union shuttles that run between the UW Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Harborview and South Lake Union. Schedules and stops here.

Finding and Developing Your Teaching Experience

Many of you want to gain teaching skills but are unable to find TA positions. This doesn’t mean there are no options. If you’re considering a teaching-focused career or a future academic position, develop a portfolio by engaging yourself in a variety of hands-on and observational experiences. Seeking out multiple, even incremental, ways to gain and learn teaching experience will give you clarity on whether or not it is the right career path for you.

We acknowledge that you are busy, that is always a given. Yet we also know that making time for your professional development, even if only for a few hours a month or quarter, is critical to your continued success before earning your graduate degree. Having teaching experiences in your back pocket will give you a leg up in the job market if you eventually decide to apply for academic positions.

Here are a few strategies:

Let faculty and departmental administrators know you are interested in teaching. Getting on their radar is important as they can connect you with a range of opportunities when they come up (often on short notice—for example, when an instructor is out sick and needs coverage).
Volunteer to give guest presentations in a course taught by your advisor, mentor or colleague.
Apply for a teaching fellowship through the Program for Interdisciplinary Pedagogy (PIP).
Volunteer at UW programs like the Genome Sciences Education Outreach program or a local non-profit to gain experience in teaching and tutoring.
Inquire about the possibility of Teaching Assistantships outside of your graduate program of study. Utilize your networks and ask for TA job referrals from thesis advisors or dissertation committee members.
Attend a Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) workshop or event. Also check out their extensive repository of teaching resources.
Attend a Community College Careers and Networking reception organized by Core Programs.
Learn about teaching opportunities at local community colleges by contacting departmental deans and faculty directly to set up informational interviews and campus visits.

Small Cohort

I am coming into my graduate program with an extremely small cohort, and I am worried that I will not be able to make friends with such a small group to choose from. What do I do if I do not get along with my fellow cohorters? Thanks! —Anonymous

First of all, I’m so sorry that I can’t answer every question as soon as it’s submitted. My hope is that now, a month into the quarter, this issue is moot and you’re comfortable in your program and bff’s with everyone in your cohort. But to answer the question: Remember that you’ve all chosen the same program, you have similar academic/research interests, you’ll be going through the same classes/labs/grunt work. By keeping that in the forefront, you’ll see just how much you all have in common. Keep an open mind and don’t feel pressured to cement relationships immediately. Let the shared experience of grad school naturally develop your friendships. And if you find that you need more friendship or more support than you’re getting within that small cohort, consider reaching out to the many student organizations and networks here. An example of this is below. Even if you do get along famously with your cohort, it’s still a good idea to develop support and networks outside of your department and enlarge your perspective. Good luck!

Ask the Grad School Guru is an advice column for all y’all graduate and professional students. Real questions from real students, answered by real people. If the guru doesn’t know the answer, the guru will seek out experts all across campus to address the issue. (Please note: The guru is not a medical doctor, therapist, lawyer or academic advisor, and all advice offered here is for informational purposes only.) Submit a question for the column →

Lone Wolf Doesn’t Want to Be Part of Dawg Pack

I am a married graduate student and I would like to attend a Husky football game with my spouse. I know I am eligible to purchase a single ticket in the student section, but I would like to know if I can purchase tickets (at student pricing) for myself and spouse to sit in a non-student section. While we like to have a good time, we aren’t quite as rowdy as the undergraduate students and would rather sit in a different section than the Dawg Pack. Thanks! —Ashley

I totally know what you’re talking about. Unfortunately, it is not possible to buy a student ticket and sit in a non-student section. So your options are either to buy full-price tickets or to grin and bear it. Think of it as the full Husky experience?

FYI, except for Football and Men’s Basketball, UW students receive free admission to any regular season Husky home game by presenting a valid Husky Card at the entrance. Baseball! Soccer! Volleyball! Fun!

Full schedule and more details →