IT can be easy to compromise your experience in graduate school or work because you’re trying to get the most you can out of both experiences at once. Especially since you’re essentially doubling the demands and responsibilities in your life for the duration of your degree. Working full-time while also studying full-time clearly requires a lot of effort. Putting so much of your mental and physical energy into this uneasy arrangement can quickly leave you feel.

The flexibility of your employer and your grad program are critical factors in your ability to balance the two endeavors. If your employer understands that you will have academic demands and your will sometimes require shifts in schedule or occasional personal days to deal with school-related obligations, it will make the prospect of studying that much easier. Similarly, finding a graduate program that can accommodate some of the requirements of your work life can make a big difference. That said, finding out that your boss won’t let you shuffle some work hours so that you can attend a 12:30 class twice a week is not something you want to discover after enrolling. It’s best to start talking with your managers about your graduate study plans early, while also researching schools that offer worker-friendly programs (evening or weekend classes, online courses or components, and part-time options). Even if class schedules appear to complement your work schedule, be cognizant of the scheduling issues that can arise from out-of-the-classroom requirements, such as field research, practical experience components, or group projects.

Given the fatigue and stress involved with studying and working full-time, it’s important to recall your motivations for taking this approach, and to regularly evaluate your ability to continue at this pace. If you are really finding it too much to handle, remember that it’s usually possible to reduce your course load once you’ve started your studies and in consultation with your advisor and program director. Keep in mind that shifting the number of credit hours you take each term may also shift your eligibility for some financial aid and impact the time it takes to complete your degree.

8 0

3 years ago