Hey guys,
I am wondering if anyone has any useful advice how to optimize one's financial situation as a grad student. As an international student I am really clueless about it.
I got a fellowship for the first year with 22k stipend, tuition and insurance covered. In the 2nd year and after I will have to teach for ca. 19k and tuition and insurance covered. I guess the money are OK for Midwest, but still I am not very thrilled. I know my department has a few fellowships for the best student, best public policy paper etc. that I could aim for too.
So my questions are:
1) How much is actually 20k in Midwest?
2) Can one combine fellowships and teaching? Seems like one could reach above 30k with both.
3) How common is it to work in summer and how much one could aim for? I am thinking about IMF, central banks internship, maybe some consulting.
4) What are other streams of income? Best paper competitions, journal articles etc.?