How to Find Support as a Parent in Grad School

This year, the Graduate School and the James Jackson Community of Scholars launched #ULGradNet, an initiative to bring students of similar backgrounds together to support one another. The first event centered on graduate students with kids, in recognition of the systemic challenges, from financial burdens to time management, that can impede progress towards a degree. Faculty and students from across programs joined us to discuss the unique challenges of parenting while in grad school.

Navigating the barriers to success as a parent in graduate school can be isolating, but having a support system in place can make a huge difference in your ability to advocate for your success. There is a growing , and the ways that the pressures of teaching and research can be multiplied for students who are parents or are thinking of having kids. While equivalent data is not available for graduate students, reports that 22% of undergraduate students are parents. Many of them struggle to find and pay for childcare. Students and universities are looking for ways to proactively offset these concerns.

A change in attitude towards having children as an academic is long overdue. Students who were warned about the negative impact of having children may find that the discipline of . By prioritizing your commitments, and embracing the skills you鈥檝e gained as a parent, graduate students can, in fact, 鈥渉ave it all鈥 by strategically balancing grad school and kids.

Most importantly, grad students should know how to access the resources that are available to you. Per , opening a flexible spending account for dependent care can allow you to use before-tax dollars to pay for expenses like daycare and babysitting (provided you meet the eligibility requirements). You can also as they pertain to pregnancy and parenting. 

Get involved in our conversation about succeeding in graduate school as a parent by joining the Graduate School鈥檚 and stay connected with students in a similar situation. Plus, sign up for our for another opportunity to find support.

PUBLISHED

Topics:

Keep Exploring

Previous Blog Post
Next Blog Post

We鈥檙e in the last phase of the semester, and end-of-year holidays are on the horizon. But for grad students, this season isn鈥檛 about winding down -- it鈥檚 more of a mad dash to the finish line.

Here are ten questions you shouldn鈥檛 ask the grad students in your life over the holidays.

PUBLISHED