<p>I’m just another broke grad student, and was looking for ways to make some extra money on the side. I was thinking about trying to get some work as a freelance college admissions essay editor. I applied to but was rejected by Essay-Edge. Does anyone have any experience with freelance editing? Any other good companies to work for? Any other ways for a reasonably smart grad student to make some money in her spare time?</p>
<p>Tutor for graduate entrance exams.</p>
<p>I know a few who do freelance web development. That’s probably a bit more lucrative, but obviously you haven’t said anything about your skillset in that area.</p>
<p>you could always cater to neurotic premeds looking for advice on their application essays. or maybe tutor for your college’s writing center?</p>
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I wouldn’t recommend this to most students, even those who are moderately adept with the technologies involved. Overseas competition has grown a lot over the past 5~10 years, and people like me who have been building websites for a long time often have trouble making decent money.</p>
<p>Some firms still seem to find good local business, probably because their customers don’t realize that there are good, dependable groups on other continent or don’t know how to find them. But don’t expect much from the global freelance market.</p>
<p>A friend of mine just took the CEPhT and is working on weekends as a pharm tech. Not the greatest of jobs (or lucrative), but with lots of 24 hour pharmacies around, it’s something that can work around your schedule.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I’m looking for something slightly different than a pharm tech job. A friend of mine freelances for Essay-Edge and she thinks its great. She works a few hours a week editing essays, and gets some extra money to supplement her stipend. Does anyone know of any companies similar to Essay-Edge, or any similar opportunities?</p>
<p>What about freelance test preparation? There are essay sections involved on some of the majors - not just graduate, but SAT and ACT. There’s also the possibility of working as a writing tutor.</p>
<p>If you like animals and have a car, you might like pet sitting for an actual official business that offers the service and hires local students.</p>
<p>My DD gets $50 a night for overnight visits and $15/hr for daytime visits. Plus you can take and leave the jobs depending on how they fit with your schedule</p>
<p>I tutor. It is a little variable, but I charge $40-50 an hour, so a little goes a long way. Considering that people pay $8-15 an hour to sit in large impersonal classes, I do not think the rate unreasonable.</p>
<p>Take extra TAships - they often pay a tidy sum. As others have said, tutoring is otherwise the main thing that can be done. You might try going into the test-prep area, there are plenty of people who are able and willing to pay $$$ for help preparing for such tests as the SATs, MCAT, GREs, LSAT, GMAT, etc.</p>
<p>I will note though that some programs frown upon students taking extra jobs in grad school as this may impact on the students’ research productivity. If you really have dire financial need though, or if your program isn’t funded, that would be different.</p>
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<p>I have a friend who does freelance editing and she gets as much as $100/hour for it. She isn’t with a company, like Essay-Edge. At a university, there’s often plenty of work that you can get just by advertising on bulletin boards. Grad students are thesing, profs are writing grant applications, undergrads are writing statements of purpose for grad/professional school, and so on.</p>
<p>“Grad students are thesing, profs are writing grant applications, undergrads are writing statements of purpose for grad/professional school, and so on.”</p>
<p>These days, most departments have someone with a PhD in english that reviews grant work, papers, and theses.</p>
<p>I’ve seen plenty of people on ■■■■■■■■ and ebay who make extra cash as a side thing. Depending on where you live and what your inclinations are, you could do anything from selling local moss (I kid you not) to simple restorations of neat vintage stuff found at flea markets.</p>
<p>entrepreneurial drug sales. CEOPT (chemically-enhanced oral pleasure technician).</p>
<p>bartender. ebay merchant. pet-sitting/dog-walking.</p>
<p>there’s a pretty large casino opening near my new university at the end of the summer. i’m practicing my chip counting now, hoping i can score a job as a dealer.</p>
<p>in general, i think grad students have enough mentally taxing work on their hands as it is. for part-time work on the side, i’ve always found that it’s better to go with heavy labour or something insanely monotonous. i’ve held 3 research positions simultaneously while going to school and at the end of the day my brain hurt. the best jobs are the ones where you do the same thing over and over for 4 or 5 hours without having to put too much mental energy into it.</p>