I am entering graduate school after about three years of work in industry. I am pursuing a masters in computer science and I will have a research assistantship on the side. I am wondering how likely is it graduate students have a work/life balance?
I am single so luckily, there is no family to take care of but I am wondering about things such as being able to cook healthy meals, working out daily, getting adequate amount of sleep, going to church, or attending various campus happenings.
Is this possible or does healthy, productive habits go down the drain in graduate school?
I can’t speak to your situation specifically but I had plenty of free time in law school- much more than while working!
It all depends on your time management skills. I fluctuated between having a reasonable amount of free time and having no time other than to eat, sleep, and work in my STEM field. Given, I was in a PhD program, so your experience will likely be a bit less strenuous. Still, it really just comes down to your time management.
Cooking: easy
Sleep: fluctuates
Church: dunno, probably not that hard once a week
Working out: hard to keep up with a fluctuating sleep/work schedule more than once or twice a week, but hopefully possible (but more importantly, sitting in a chair all day and eating junk food or at whatever places are on campus every day is quite unhealthy)
Campus events: dunno
Oh yeah, and at grading parties they always get pizza and soda. You have an RA, not a TA, though