Grad School Gourmet

One major difference between undergrad and graduate school is no more meal plan. Working full-time and rushing to class afterward can make good nutrition non-existent and eating out can add up quickly. Here are a few tips to get you through the grind…and to keep your stomach from growling.

· To stay awake you’re going to need caffeine, caffeine and more caffeine. If a $5+ Starbucks trip before every class is out of the question, consider packing a supply of K-cups and tea bags. Many schools offer K-cup coffee makers and you can save money with free hot water for tea – try matcha for an extra boost.

· Sometimes you need a soda, but the serving sizes can end up keeping you awake way beyond class. Grab a six pack of mini cans to save money and ensure you’re not overdoing it on the caffeine and sugar.

· Pack like you’re back in grade school. Lots of products come in snack sizes, which keep you satiated in class and sane when you’re running out the door in the morning. Try Sabra’s individual hummus servings with bite size carrots or pretzels. Jif makes to-go servings of peanut butter that are great with apple slices.

· Double up – on nights I have class, I’ll sometimes just pack two lunches. A sandwich does just as well for dinner as lunch, but be sure to keep ingredients like tomato slices in a separate Tupperware to avoid soggy sandwiches.

· On days when you’re in a pinch, you need a good vending machine strategy. Peanut butter crackers, trail mix, and pretzels can keep you going when you’re not prepared with a packed meal.

· Always have a bar (or two) in your bag. Trader Joe’s makes great dried fruit bars and Kind bars satisfy both sweet and salty cravings.

Making time for meals is tough, but with some planning and a few pre-prepared shortcuts you can rely on Raman less than in your undergrad days.

The Unfortunate Similarities Between Part-time Graduate School And Undergraduate School

There's a good chance you end up passed out like these guys, but for completely different reasons.

Two years ago as I was going through the whole rigmarole of applying to graduate schools to pursue an MBA, I couldn’t help but reminisce on my time as an undergraduate. As is probably the case with a lot people, I LOVED my time as an undergraduate. As the application process continued and it came time to make a decision on a school, I couldn’t help but think about how different graduate school was going to be compared to the undergraduate years especially since my primary priority was and still is a full-time job I attend 5 days a week. So, two years later as I get closer to achieving an MBA I've had some time to reflect and noticed some odd similarities between part-time graduate school and my time as an undergraduate. Unfortunately, the reasons for the similarities couldn’t be further apart which most graduate students will understand. If you can relate with these similarities just know that you're not alone and misery loves company:

·         The Assessment Test – So maybe this first similarity isn’t so different after all. The GMAT is exactly like the SAT and ACT, an assessment that will test you on information you will never likely apply in graduate school or life again. But take it seriously. Just like the scores for the SAT and ACT, the GMAT is important to schools.

·         You’re Still Poor – Don’t think you’re in the clear from eating Ramen Noodles just yet. Unfortunately, you won’t be opting for this college staple or food of similar value because you’re stretching some dollars into beer money, a night out on the town or that spring break trip everyone’s been talking about for months. No, you’ll be eating on a limited budget due to rent, insurance, bills, car maintenance and probably some student debt if you’re not lucky enough to have your company sponsor your grad school. A little something called Life.

·         You’re Tired – There are various reasons that cause weariness when you’re pursuing an undergraduate degree. Maybe you had an all nighter at the library, maybe you had too good of a time at the dive bar downtown and didn’t make it in until the wee hours of the morning or dare I say maybe you’re tired because you’ve slept too much lately. Well, being tired in grad school can be attributed to one thing; your twelve plus hour day consisting of a full time job and class afterwards. Working for the weekend takes on a whole new meaning with those days.

·         Time Management Issues – Fortunately in graduate school, the time management decisions are a little more clear cut than they used to be. The decision is easy; your time goes to work then school and then if there is any time between those two and sleeping, you do something you enjoy. Look on the bright side, those decisions now are much less stressful then having to make that difficult decision of skipping out on the afternoon pool session with your entire apartment complex because of you have a lab or skipping classes on a Friday because you decided the weekend started a night earlier this week.

If you’re reading this post and are currently working full time and working towards a graduate degree, I hope you can find the humor in it especially as many times you are reminded how different the graduate school experience is. And if you’re thinking about graduate school and reading this, don’t let it scare you. Just don’t expect to compare your experience to your undergraduate. I think most who have received a graduate degree will tell you it’s worth every minute. After all is said and done, you will appreciate the time you spent earning a graduate degree. 

  

Beauty survival tips for Grad school

Time—this illusive creature is something you learn to cherish when you’re working 50 hours a week, taking classes at night and maybe (just maybe) having an actual life. It’s exhausting just thinking about it. But nothing annoys me more than wasting the time I do get on time consuming beauty regimens in an effort to look less like an extra on The Walking Dead. The undergrad days of looking fresh and rested surviving on pizza and power naps are over. Let’s face it – we’re older, life is harder and it’s no longer acceptable to rock a messy bun and yoga pants during the hours of 9-5, Monday through Friday. That’s why it’s so important to set yourself up for success before you even leave the house. By packing a few cosmetic “survival” items, you can begin to gain some control over a long day’s draining effects.

15 Songs to Get You Through Grad School

15 Songs to Get You Through Grad School

Balancing work and school can be tough, but the right playlist can get you energized enough to make it through another week.

For Studying:

Many people prefer instrumentals while they’re studying. It’s less distracting, but still stimulating enough to increase your energy levels. Classical music is a good option. If Mozart is good enough for baby cognitive development, it’s good enough for you!

1. “Mozart Symphony #40 in G Minor” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2. “Silence Magnifies Sound” by The Six Parts Seven

Jazz is another great genre for studying. Jazz music typically has more upbeat tempos than traditional classical, but you still won’t be distracted by lyrics. If you prefer lyrics, Michael Buble or Norah Jones may help get you through.

     3. “So What” by Miles Davis

     4. “Basin Street Blues” by Louis Armstrong

     5. “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones

Fellow Grad School Students: It's Okay, You're Not Alone . . . .

(But if you are, you are, you must be studying)

Hi there!  As a grad school student at GSU with a full-time job, I understand how difficult it can be to invest in your brain and your career in hopes of one day “having it all”.  Sometimes “The Dream” can be as elusive as an actual dream, sparking brilliantly and then fading as another morning reclaims our subconscious mind.  Sometimes it can be a nightmare.  We get laid off.  Money can be tight.  Work can present challenges in the forms of both difficult tasks and personalities.  We approach a class so humbling that it makes us question our own mental prowess and ability to learn new things.  We start to wonder if until now all the success was sheer luck and maybe there really was lead paint, asbestos and radon gas in the home where we grew up and the effects are just now starting to kick in.  Maybe even we start to visualize all the brain cells we think we senselessly murdered from the alcohol of our undergraduate college days.  We then mourn over the grand loss with a small toast of vodka before turning in to a bed covered in books, tablets, notes and assignments.

Studying can be messy

9 Tips on How to Stay Energized for Grad School

Working and studying at the same time is a real hassle. Getting up as early 5 am on some days to prepare for work at 9am and then proceed to your class at 5pm only to be done at about 10pm isn't really my idea of living a golden life. Well, if what I just described sounds like a typical day for you, then you must be craving a balance. Voila! Today is your lucky day. I can confidently say that I have been there and done that.

Here are a few tips that promise to keep you energized up until you fall into bed at 11pm.