Since the beginning, Rice University has offered both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Rice University (or The Rice Institute back then) opened its arches in 1912 to students seeking higher education. Rice’s first commencement ceremony in 1916 awarded 35 bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree. In 1916, the first doctoral degree was awarded. Here is a fun fact: typically, schools that have “college” in the name only have undergraduate degrees, while those with “university” in the name have both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Rice continues to be an exceptional university with competitive acceptance rates similar to those in the Ivy League.
All of the history and numbers are good to know, yet they do not describe the Rice “Experience.” In this blog, I will discuss a few differences I have noticed between my undergraduate and graduate experience at Rice. To provide a short backstory of my academic career, I began my time at Rice in 2016 at Baker College (Hell Yeah!) and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2020 (COVID time). I double majored in psychology and cognitive sciences and double minored in neuroscience and engineering design. I joined a doctoral program at Old Dominion University (ODU), where I completed my master’s in psychology in 2022. I then moved with my advisor back to Rice, where I am currently completing my doctoral degree in Human Factors/Human-Computer Interaction psychology.
I know my Rice experiences are not back-to-back as others may have. Yet, when I reentered Rice in 2022, pandemic protocols were relaxing, which allowed me to better compare my two experiences. My discussion will span over multiple blog posts since there are multiple facets of the Rice Experience that I can compare. This blog is the fifth installment and focuses on different ways to earn extra income between undergraduate and graduate school at Rice.
Undergraduate Student: Part-Time Jobs and Internships
As an undergraduate student, I worked part-time as a lifeguard in the Houston area during the school year. I began working at the local YMCA towards the end of high school and held that position throughout my time as an undergraduate at Rice. This job was much more work-heavy and time-demanding during the summer rather than the school year, allowing me to focus on my studies. This is one of the ways that undergraduate students can gain extra income during their time in college.
Another way is to work for one of the several student-run businesses on campus. This can include being a barista for Coffeehouse, fixing bikes at Rice Bikes, serving late-night food at The Hoot, or even making and serving boba for The Tea Nook (formerly East West Tea). I did not work for any of these businesses since I don’t drink tea or coffee or know much about fixing up bikes. However, I worked as a lab assistant at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK). Students could also gain employment through various labs on campus, through the library, or as a teaching assistant (TA) for a course (at least for the Department of Psychological Sciences) or research.
Lastly, a common way to gain extra income was through a summer internship. Each semester, the Center for Career Development (CCD) hosts a career fair for both undergraduate and graduate students to help them find employment. Internships help both the student further their career goals as well as their financial goals (typically).
Graduate Student: Internships, Fellowships, and Grants
In graduate school, a doctoral student’s main job is to be a student. Thus, we are compensated with a stipend to continue working towards our degree and a tuition waiver. The amount of stipend and waiver stipulations vary between departments at Rice. Typically, master’s students do not receive compensation or waivers, but it depends on the program and the funding available. As doctoral students, our primary job is research, and we get paid to do that. We are not allowed to have other incomes outside of that since being a graduate student is a full-time job.
One way doctoral students gain extra money and experience is through internships during the summer. However, some departments may stop providing a stipend when the internship is held since the student focuses on something other than research. Another way to gain extra income is through fellowships and working on grants. This again depends on the department, your advisor, and the award. For a fellowship, it determines whether the award amount will be in addition to your stipend or instead of it. For working on a grant, it will decide if your work on that project counts as additional income (usually paid hourly). I have also seen other students work on campus at the gym or in offices around campus. However, I am unfamiliar with the procedures for those employment opportunities.
I want to note that opportunities for additional income may be limited to international students due to restrictions and requirements. So, individuals should check to see what best fits their schedules. I received extra income by working on a grant I wrote, from a fellowship I received, through on-campus positions, and an internship. From my experience, I recommend applying to lots of opportunities with a similar research topic that will be used for a thesis or dissertation. That way, by working on it, you get extra income while still progressing towards your degree. Additionally, communicate with your advisor and show your motivation to pursue these opportunities. They will be happy to help you in these endeavors.
Overall, an undergraduate student has more freedom to hold more employment positions, yet it depends on their course load and schedule. Graduate students may be a little more limited. Still, depending on their pursuits of fellowships and grants (and their advisor’s grants), they may be able to work on similar research and get paid, which may help them further their doctoral experience.
About the author:
Katie Garcia is from Houston, Texas and is a current Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychological Sciences studying Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction. She got her B.S. in psychology and cognitive sciences at Rice University, and her M.S. in psychology from Old Dominion University. Read more.
Further Reading:
Transitioning from Rice to Rice: Undergrad to Grad Experience – Social Events
Transitioning from Rice to Rice: Undergrad to Grad Experience – Orientation
Transitioning from Rice to Rice: Undergrad to Grad Experience – Housing