College life is often lived at a hectic pace, with students balancing many things at once. Some students also balance married life with their daily responsibilities at school. The consensus, though, seems to be that marriage is beneficial to scholastic endeavors.

Matt and Becca Ramspott have been married for almost three years, and the relationship has helped them through graduate school. Becca graduated from KU in December with a master’s degree in American studies, while Matt is working on his doctorate in the geography department.

“It’s nice having someone there to distract you when you get too obsessed with school,” Becca Ramspott said. “There’s a delicate balance between distracting your spouse and respecting the need to study.”

Jaime Gassmann and her husband, John, have been married for two years. Jaime is pursuing a doctorate in American studies, and John finished his bachelor’s degree in political science in May.

Marriage also has been positive for Jaime Gassmann’s scholastic life at KU.

“I think for me, as a grad student, I was very lucky to be in a loving relationship,” Gassmann said. “Grad school can be such an isolating experience, but my husband helped keep me social as well as grounded – that is, not letting me become completely nocturnal.

“We’re each other’s support system, even academically. We are always bouncing ideas for papers off of each other.”

The Ramspotts said that marriage can also improve social activities. “Marriage gives you a world outside of school,” Becca Ramspott said.

“In a serious relationship, you get to meet a whole new group of people through your significant other. I have met people with such different academic interests – a lot of science people I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”

Gassmann has also noticed social benefits to married life in college.

“Maybe the best benefit is we didn’t have to brave the treacherous dating pool,” Gassmann said. “Instead of feeling self-doubt and anxiety about meeting other people and impressing them, we’re free of those worries. Instead, I think that because we’re secure in ourselves, we’re actually better friends to the people we hang out with.”

Marriage does bring certain challenges to college life, though.

“It was hard when Becca was doing her master’s thesis,” Matt Ramspott said. “You have to have the patience to let your spouse get things done and not feel neglected. I had to realize that sometimes she would have to be chained to the computer.”

Becca Ramspott emphasized the importance of making time for a spouse, especially in a busy student schedule.

“You’re taking care of someone else,” Becca Ramspott said. “So you have to take time to make dinner if you said you would or keep the house straight. You’re sharing your life with a person who is depending on you.”

Gassmann said it is also important to go out with friends separately.

“(Otherwise) you won’t have any news or thoughts to talk about with each other,” Gassmann said.

The Ramspotts’ further advice for married students included prioritizing and planning ahead, making sacrifices, supporting each others’ goals and interests – and one other note.

“Don’t try to plan a wedding in the middle of the semester,” Matt Ramspott said. “We had ours in the middle of Becca’s master’s, and I had to take an incomplete in a class. There is a reason why weddings happen in June.”