Family & graduate study, is it possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and experiences of balancing family life, particularly with young children, while pursuing graduate studies in Electrical Engineering (EE). Participants share personal anecdotes and advice regarding the feasibility of managing both responsibilities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Personal experience sharing
  • Advice and tips

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the difficulty of balancing family life with graduate studies, specifically mentioning having two infant children.
  • Another participant suggests that while it may be more challenging than a regular job, having financial security and a supportive spouse can mitigate difficulties.
  • A different participant echoes the initial inquiry and emphasizes the importance of having a spouse who supports academic goals, along with practical advice about securing campus housing and childcare services early.
  • A participant shares their personal experience of extending their PhD timeline due to family commitments but expresses that they would not trade their family for the academic experience, highlighting the flexibility of being a theoretician in managing family responsibilities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that balancing family and graduate studies can be challenging but manageable with the right support and resources. However, there are varying perspectives on the extent of difficulty and the strategies for coping.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the importance of financial stability and support systems, but specific conditions and individual circumstances are not fully explored. The discussion does not resolve the complexities involved in balancing these responsibilities.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering graduate studies while managing family responsibilities, particularly those with young children, may find the shared experiences and advice relevant.

hariyo
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Have anyone done this? After working in industry for some time I am planning to go back to grad study possibly in EE(MS,Phd). I have 2 infant kids. How difficult it will be to balance family life and grad study? Are there any tips or thoughts anyone?
 
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I am not in this situation but I know or have known several people in graduate school with children. Its probably more difficult then when you have a normal job because you will working more hours and won't be making as much money. So it shouldn't be a problem if you are financially secure and you have a supportive spouse.
 
hariyo said:
Have anyone done this? After working in industry for some time I am planning to go back to grad study possibly in EE(MS,Phd). I have 2 infant kids. How difficult it will be to balance family life and grad study? Are there any tips or thoughts anyone?

It's not particularly difficult provided that you have a spouse that agrees with your goals. One piece of advice is that if there are any wait lists for campus housing or childcare services, get on that list as quickly as you can. The other thing is with kids, time is more more important than money, so there are lots of fun things that you can do that aren't too expensive. Something about young kids is whatever their environment is, they'll consider it normal.
 
Added two years to my PhD, but I would never give up my wife or either of my two kids who were born during grad school...

The thing that made it work was that I was free to take a day or two to look after sick kids and I was off for two weeks while my one of my kids had the chicken pox. Being a theoretician allowed me to stay at home and work while they napped, then I'd catch a few hours to work during the middle of the night.
 

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