Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

Regarding the bolded sentence below, graduate students can legally work up to 30 hours a week after 6 months/their first semester.

I've heard there are ways around the wait but either way...with planning and networking you should be able to support yourself.

[PRagic]

Appreciate the correction. I've been out of grad school now for many moons lol....

[nick2012]

Yes, I'm working now at an elementary school and my contract finishes in Febuary, in time for the March intake of GSIS.

I don't really want to renew my contract (if even possible with the budget cuts) and then resign halfway through, certainly wouldn't be good for my school as well as jeopardise any future chance I may have in working with EPIK etc. Likewise not renewing my contact now, passing up the offers I have now at Sogang and Hanyang, going home and applying to Yonsei (no gaurantee I will even be accepted) just seems a little bit too risky for me. I'd rather take the safe route and go straight from finishing my contract to a gauranteed GSIS start March semester. Raring to go, that's exactly right.

I have heard also that Sogang may have a slight edge on Hanyang and I will take that into consideration. I guess I'm weighing up prestige vs scholarship at this stage.

I'm aware that students can work up to 20 (or 30 perhaps) hours per week, but I'm a little surpirsed that grad school students can fit this into their schedule. Is it really possible to study post grad and work that much part time? Must be full on.

Anyway, I really appreicate you guys taking the time to reply. I'll be sure to post any follow up questions I may have haha!

[PRagic]

You'll be taking 3 courses per semester, so, yes, it's totally possible to work. I smoked grad school and taught 4 hours a night week nights AND did other pick-up jobs regularly. Later, I had an internship that turned into a job offer.

Granted, I was in my mid-late 20s, but looking back I have no idea how I pulled all that off. Paid cash for grad school and banked along the way. Working full time over the breaks helped, but meant I never got much of a 'break'.

You can do it if your time management skills are premo and if you're dedicated to knocking out the degree. It won't be easy and you'll get burned out, but it can be done.

It's just hard if you're surrounded by students who aren't working, either during the semester or over breaks. I didn't have a parental bank for any of my university study, so I just accepted the fact that I'd have to work for it. In the end it paid off as my doctorate was fully funded.

Good luck with your studies. Sounds like you have a plan and are ready to jump in with both feet. Go for it!