Suggestions on the impossible. AKA "How do I raise the money to finance this?"

In My Humble Opinion
1

I posted another thread about getting into graduate school, which is something I’m way too excited about for my own good. Sometimes I get so focused on it I don’t think straight and do crazy things like move to the city where my adviser is on the hopes of getting into school - not on the guarantee I’m in. Luckily for me, that large gamble worked out, but it took a toll on my savings.

Now I’m in, and I’ve spoken with my off-campus adviser and am attending lab meetings once a week with my on-campus adviser. I’m enjoying the meetings (though not yet contributing much), and I’m really chomping at the bit to get started on the research.

The deal is that I’m here, I’m ready to work, and (shocking, I know), my adviser is ready to put me to work. However, my support doesn’t start until roughly September, so I’d need to be able to survive until then. Frankly, there’s a lot of good reasons to start early, if I can, a few examples being finding out the quirks of the lab quickly, being able to start learning the new techniques sooner, and, of course, start talking research and maybe start figuring out actual projects sooner.

The problem comes in timing. Specifically the timing to start the research (not supported yet), take care of my roommate’s puppy (how I managed to move on what was effectively a crazy whim) and maintain a job. Right now, unless I can get an evenings only job (not weekends) or a day job that I can take the puppy to, I don’t see how it’s going to happen.

I’m applying at doggy day-care facilities, and maybe that will work out. I have extensive retail experience, but that will often require weekend work. I also have figured out that my wardrobe has shrunk dramatically and I’ll probably need to do some shopping to work at certain places.

Obviously, my ideal would be to win the lottery (even a small one), and have enough money to last me until September without a paying job (just caring for the puppy and doing my research). Since I figure buying lottery tickets is not actually a smart use of the small amount of savings I have left, that won’t work. I can’t take out student loans because I’m not technically a student yet.

So, I guess what I’m looking for are suggestions of either how to make a medium amount of money quickly, or the kinds of jobs someone with a science and/or retail background can get working in the evenings (but not days or weekends, though weekend evenings is okay). Or other places that will let me bring in a half-grown, somewhat trained puppy with me (ha!).

Thanks in advance to anyone who has a suggestion.

2

It may be a long-shot but bar tending would serve your purpose well. A nice private bar would be the best bet but you can make decent money at lots of places. It is less stressful and generally pays more than waiting tables. The problem is that you don’t say you have experience with that so it may be hard to find a job.

3

If you’re decently good at math, you can get a job as a private tutor. There’s money to be made helping kids pass the SAT and ACT, in the ballpark of $50 per hour. You can advertise on Craig’s List and choose your own hours.

4

Shagnasty, I have considered bartending over and over again, because it does seem like a good fit. However, right when I started considering it, a bunch of threads came up that pointed out how hard it is to break into it (okay, a bunch is probably three or so, and I’m sure I noticed them mostly because it was suddenly on my mind, but still). I am applying at places as I can, but I do doubt I’m going end up with a job like that. I know I saw your name in several of those threads, do you have a suggestion or seven for how someone with no experience can get into the job?

As for tutoring, ITR Champion, that’s what has crossed my mind the most. I’m good at math, I’m good at sciences (most of them), I’m even a decent writing tutor. I’ve tutored before for ~$40/hour, but I realized if I’m going to make a living off of it, I need to make sure I am legit, and I do not know how to go about that. This would be my top choice, but the questions of how to keep it legal and how to build a client base are my biggest concerns here. High hourly pay sounds great, but I have to have the hours to put in. OTOH, if I can tutor close to my home, I can do more hours because the dog doesn’t need constant supervision, just very regular supervision and exercise.

5

Mention your dilemma to your adviser (perhaps in a more focused way). You may be surprised what resources may be available to you.

6

I’ll second that. I mentioned that I was looking for a job to my undergrad advisor, once, and he steered me to the perfect job.

Is there a tutoring center on your campus? If so, working through them could be a good idea.

7

I did mention my dilemma to my off-campus adviser, but I will also mention it to my on-campus adviser next week. Perhaps he will have some more ideas than my off-campus adviser.

I’d love to work through the tutoring center. It would be a lot less money, but I think it would be more steady. The problem is that most on-campus tutoring centers don’t hire non-students. However, I will call them and see if that’s the case. If it is, I’ll see if I can’t talk them into making an exception for people who are admitted but not yet enrolled.

8

Send the puppy out on the street with a little sign that says: “Will look cute for money.” That’s got to be good for a few bucks a day.

9

Brilliant! Only I might have to change the sign to, “Will look cute while jumping all over you for money”. Because she’s really not civilized yet. She’s only five months old. Four months in this photo