What to Expect
As a graduate teaching assistant (TA, for short), you
can typically expect to receive a stipend and/or tuition remission. The details vary by graduate program and school, but many students earn a stipend between roughly $6,000 and $20,000 annually and/or free tuition. At some larger universities, you may be eligible for
additional benefits, such as insurance. In essence, as a TA, you're paid to pursue your degree.
Training Opportunity
The financial rewards of the position are only
part of the story. It is only through teaching a subject that you really come to understand it. You'll explain complicated concepts in your field and develop a more sophisticated understanding of them. You'll gain valuable experience in and out of the classroom
and have the opportunity to interact closely with faculty members in your
department. The relationships you develop with your professors are crucial to
your future success. Interact with professors and seek their advice. You'll become more well known by faculty and develop a few close relationships that can lead to important opportunities in the future including helpful recommendation letters.
What You'll Do
Teaching assistants' duties will vary depending on the school and
discipline, but you can expect to be responsible for one or more of
the following:
- teaching or assisting with one or more sections of a course
- running laboratory sessions
- grading undergraduate student papers and exams
- holding regular office hours and meeting with students
- conducting study and review sessions
On average, a TA is required to work about twenty hours per week; a commitment that is certainly manageable, especially as the work helps to prepare you for your future career.
If you plan to pursue an academic career, testing the waters as a TA can prove to be an invaluable learning experience where you can gain some practical on-the-job skills. Even if your career path will take you beyond the ivory tower, the position can still be excellent way to pay your way through grad school, develop leadership skills, and get some great experience
