Is Grad school do-able with LOs?

westfall · Apr 8th, 2012, 11:49 AM

It might be better for me to post this in one of the parenting threads but maybe I could get some opinions here anyway.

I recently finished my honours degree in biopsych and really want to at some point go to grad school, so im wondering do you think that doing a PhD program with a LO is possible? I know that I have DHs support if I want to and here in Canada I would get an annual graduate stipend as well (its not very much lol) I figure it could be possible since most graduate work would be me working independently on a dissertation so I can mostly make my own hours and work around future LOs schedule.

any TTCers out there who have done a grad degree already is it do-able?

thanks for any input

GirlBlue · Apr 8th, 2012, 15:37 PM

Hey!

I'm TTC and been through a PH.D. and J.D. program here in the U.S. That's given me lots of time to observe mommies do it. I know ALOT of people who do it and say it's the best time for a few reasons:

1. biggest reason: b/c you are able to fix your daily schedules as you fit (which I totally agree with). I took a year to care for my grandmother and get married in the midst of a Ph.D. program and didn't have to stop. Not possible in Law School, or when working for that matter.

2. potential student child care benefits

3. other grad student friends with flexible schedules

4. good benefits at reduced costs (depending on the program and country)

Downside:
1. Financially it can be a strain if OH is not working, but folks make due.
2. stress of trying to finish a dissertation can be monumental, but the key is a supportive partner and spacing it out. Don't try to write 3 chapters in 3 weeks-don't knock it til you tried it-alot of people find themselves in that circumstance.lol

Hope this helps

babyonthemind · Apr 8th, 2012, 21:11 PM

Hi! I'm also in Canada and currently doing a PhD. I started TTC during my master's and was a bit nervous about having a LO in grad school at the beginning. But during my TTC adventure, I've seen tons of other women at my school go on to have kids while in their PhDs (my SIL included) and none seem to find it a problem. In fact, a lot of ppl say that grad school is the best time to have a baby.
You can be way more flexible with time, and schools in Canada (mine at least) allow grad students up to a year of parental leave.

westfall · Apr 9th, 2012, 08:04 AM

Thanks for the replies and congrats on your academic achievements!

Im glad to hear that it is possible, my father went back to University to do his bachelors in engineering when i was 5 and my brother was 2 and I always highly respected him for that. I think it has a lot to do with why I have high academic aspirations myself, so perhaps if I am in grad school my LOs will also learn the value of school.

I like that your Uni offers parental leave babyonthemind what province are you in? Im in ont and the liberal govnt just majorly defunded university research (which means way fewer grad positions at lower funding) so I will likely need to move. We have been looking west for a while now though as there are no jobs here

so not too big of a deal!

babyonthemind · Apr 9th, 2012, 09:35 AM

I'm in Quebec. The uni has its own policy for letting grad students go on parental leave, then if you have federal funding (scholarships and such) they usually have a policy of 1 year maternity leave as well. QC is also known to be one of the best places to start a family. Lost of support.

westfall · Apr 9th, 2012, 18:30 PM

thanks babyonthemind, I love that Quebec has universal daycare and so many awesome social programs. I would LOVE to move there. quebec city is one of the most beautiful in the country and montreal is awesome. from what i understand the cost of living is quite low, is that correct? only issue is that neither myself or DH are fluent in french we worry that DH would have a tough time finding a job.

babyonthemind · Apr 10th, 2012, 16:27 PM

Well, Montreal is bilingual and a LOT of the students at the English universities (McGill and Concordia) don't speak a word of french, and they get by fine. If your DH is looking for a job outside of academia, then it really depends. The city is pretty divided, there's the anglophones and the francophones and it's kind of like they each have their own city. Anglophones have their own hospitals and so do the francophones.
What does you DH work in?

The rest of the province is pretty much entirely french speaking though, so that would be way more difficult. I've lived in Montreal practically my whole life, and I really like it. Everyone I meet at university that comes from elsewhere seems to love it too.

babyonthemind · Apr 10th, 2012, 16:31 PM

Oh yeah, and the cost of living is pretty low too. I get by just fine on my student scholarships and stipends, and I live downtown in the trendy area!

westfall · Apr 10th, 2012, 17:27 PM

Thanks for the input! DH has a degree in public policy and right now works for our local social housing setting up this new green energy program. So we have been thinking BC would the best place for us because they have the most developed green energy industry and a lot of jobs ( or so it seems compared to Ontario)

babyonthemind · Apr 10th, 2012, 17:34 PM

BC seems great, my dream is to live by the ocean/sea.
I haven't been there since I was a kid, and don't remember much. But from the pictures I've seen, Vancouver, the ocean, beach, rainforest, it seems gorgeous!

Apr 8th, 2012, 11:49 AM	#1
westfall Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 138	Is Grad school do-able with LOs? It might be better for me to post this in one of the parenting threads but maybe I could get some opinions here anyway. I recently finished my honours degree in biopsych and really want to at some point go to grad school, so im wondering do you think that doing a PhD program with a LO is possible? I know that I have DHs support if I want to and here in Canada I would get an annual graduate stipend as well (its not very much lol) I figure it could be possible since most graduate work would be me working independently on a dissertation so I can mostly make my own hours and work around future LOs schedule. any TTCers out there who have done a grad degree already is it do-able? thanks for any input

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Apr 8th, 2012, 15:37 PM	#2
GirlBlue Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 648	Hey! I'm TTC and been through a PH.D. and J.D. program here in the U.S. That's given me lots of time to observe mommies do it. I know ALOT of people who do it and say it's the best time for a few reasons: 1. biggest reason: b/c you are able to fix your daily schedules as you fit (which I totally agree with). I took a year to care for my grandmother and get married in the midst of a Ph.D. program and didn't have to stop. Not possible in Law School, or when working for that matter. 2. potential student child care benefits 3. other grad student friends with flexible schedules 4. good benefits at reduced costs (depending on the program and country) Downside: 1. Financially it can be a strain if OH is not working, but folks make due. 2. stress of trying to finish a dissertation can be monumental, but the key is a supportive partner and spacing it out. Don't try to write 3 chapters in 3 weeks-don't knock it til you tried it-alot of people find themselves in that circumstance.lol Hope this helps

Status: Offline

Apr 8th, 2012, 21:11 PM	#3
babyonthemind Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,884	Hi! I'm also in Canada and currently doing a PhD. I started TTC during my master's and was a bit nervous about having a LO in grad school at the beginning. But during my TTC adventure, I've seen tons of other women at my school go on to have kids while in their PhDs (my SIL included) and none seem to find it a problem. In fact, a lot of ppl say that grad school is the best time to have a baby. You can be way more flexible with time, and schools in Canada (mine at least) allow grad students up to a year of parental leave.

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 08:04 AM	#4
westfall Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 138	Thanks for the replies and congrats on your academic achievements! Im glad to hear that it is possible, my father went back to University to do his bachelors in engineering when i was 5 and my brother was 2 and I always highly respected him for that. I think it has a lot to do with why I have high academic aspirations myself, so perhaps if I am in grad school my LOs will also learn the value of school. I like that your Uni offers parental leave babyonthemind what province are you in? Im in ont and the liberal govnt just majorly defunded university research (which means way fewer grad positions at lower funding) so I will likely need to move. We have been looking west for a while now though as there are no jobs here so not too big of a deal!

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 09:35 AM	#5
babyonthemind Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,884	I'm in Quebec. The uni has its own policy for letting grad students go on parental leave, then if you have federal funding (scholarships and such) they usually have a policy of 1 year maternity leave as well. QC is also known to be one of the best places to start a family. Lost of support.

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 18:30 PM	#6
westfall Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 138	thanks babyonthemind, I love that Quebec has universal daycare and so many awesome social programs. I would LOVE to move there. quebec city is one of the most beautiful in the country and montreal is awesome. from what i understand the cost of living is quite low, is that correct? only issue is that neither myself or DH are fluent in french we worry that DH would have a tough time finding a job.

Status: Offline

Apr 10th, 2012, 16:27 PM	#7
babyonthemind Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,884	Well, Montreal is bilingual and a LOT of the students at the English universities (McGill and Concordia) don't speak a word of french, and they get by fine. If your DH is looking for a job outside of academia, then it really depends. The city is pretty divided, there's the anglophones and the francophones and it's kind of like they each have their own city. Anglophones have their own hospitals and so do the francophones. What does you DH work in? The rest of the province is pretty much entirely french speaking though, so that would be way more difficult. I've lived in Montreal practically my whole life, and I really like it. Everyone I meet at university that comes from elsewhere seems to love it too.

Status: Offline

Apr 10th, 2012, 16:31 PM	#8
babyonthemind Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,884	Oh yeah, and the cost of living is pretty low too. I get by just fine on my student scholarships and stipends, and I live downtown in the trendy area!

Status: Offline

Apr 10th, 2012, 17:27 PM	#9
westfall Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 138	Thanks for the input! DH has a degree in public policy and right now works for our local social housing setting up this new green energy program. So we have been thinking BC would the best place for us because they have the most developed green energy industry and a lot of jobs ( or so it seems compared to Ontario)

Status: Offline

Apr 10th, 2012, 17:34 PM	#10
babyonthemind Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,884	BC seems great, my dream is to live by the ocean/sea. I haven't been there since I was a kid, and don't remember much. But from the pictures I've seen, Vancouver, the ocean, beach, rainforest, it seems gorgeous!

Status: Offline

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