Can I do this? Are there any other dopers out there taking a full load while holding a full-time job?
I will be going back to school in January to get a Master’s of Public Affairs. While registering today, I noticed that all of my classes start in the evening, with one class on Saturday.
Jesus jumpin’ up, I can hold a real job this time! In fact, I can hold a full-time job, if I so desired. So, any advice?
Good luck, pal.
Do you still want a social life?
I’m serious about this.
I’m working full time and taking classes part time and my social life is next to nothing. On the nights I don’t have class I have tons of homework. My stress levels have doubled as well and for added fun: both of my classes have major projects due the same day (just before finals)!
whew
I would never survive trying to take a full class load.
I was working full time (plus on call) and going to schhol full time to get my AA/S(transfer degree). At the same time, a good friend was doing the same to get his MHA. My schedule was 7:30-4:30 M-F for work, plus I was on call various evenings and weekends, then i went to school two nights a week from 5-10 and every saturday from 8-1. I did it for two years and I’d do it again if there was a school that I could get my bachelors from in the evening. Of course, I didn’t have much of a life during that time, but it was a good time anyway, since my brain was actually being used.
I did this for an entire year.
40 hrs at work + 20 hrs at class = No social life + no $$$
It did however convince my parents that they had raised a responsable adult & convince my friends that I had my sh*t way more together than they did.
All in all, it was very satisfying.
I am full-time in law school and half-time at work (I’m a patent agent), and it’s almost impossible. (I’m not really even half-time during the school year - it’s half-time averaged over the whole year, so it’s more like one-third during school). Don’t do it if you have any other responsibilities (for example, if you want to spend any time with your spouse), unless you have no other choice for financial reasons.
What you can do is contract-type work that can be planned around your school schedule. I did contract programming to pay for grad school, and it worked out OK. But fixed hours and a workload that can’t be shifted to next week when you need to just suck.
Yeah, one of the big plusses that I see is that I would actually be busy. As an undergrad, I was crazy busy. I had meetings every day for some sort of function, I was a full-time student, and a had a part time job.
I can get financial aid, so I don’t necessarily need to be working 40+ a week, I could definitely get by on 20 hours. I will be moving to Indianapolis, where my girlfriend is, which will be nice. I didn’t plan on having a lot of money, so being busy will keep me from spending money I don’t have.
Thanks for the advice. Anybody have more?
It’s very cool that you can take your classes at night, but, like everyone has said, be prepared for no life. I’d let your girlfriend know how your schedule looks too. No sense in her thinking that you’ll actually be able to do anything together while you’re in school. If you can get by on less hours at work, I’d do it. Your school work and your relationship with your girlfriend will benefit from it.
Good luck!
I am working 50+ hours a week and taking 16 credit hours. It’s kicking my ass, and I have never coveted sleep more than I do now, but I have managed to salvage some semblance of a social life. It really depends on how well you deal with stress and lack of sleep, how much work your classes will require, and how much talent you have for time management and/or procrastination. Is it worth it? For me it is, but that’s an entirely personal call. Good luck if you decide to do it.
I’ve never had to work full time and go to school full time, however, my girlfriend has been doing this for the past 18 months, and since I LIVE with her, let me share some indirect advice…
You won’t have much of a social life, if any. You will be tired alot of the time, which can make you cranky. You’ll want to take that crankiness out on someone. You’ll probably have to eat a shitty diet, unless you have someone prepare your meals for you. Did I mention you may get tired and cranky? You may not have much time to spend with your girl, so you may want to get her a pet if she doesn’t already have one. BUT, you’ll be so busy that you’ll be forced to concentrate on school. And you’ll feel enormously satisfied with all that you accomplish.
I think it’s a cool thing to do. Just be sure to inform your friends/SO that you may potentially become a hermit.
My situation is a little different; I’m no longer taking classes, but I do have some intensive data collections for my dissertation, not to mention actually writing the damned thing. I also have a small child, the kind who needs mommy pretty intensively. I was managing these things and working 45 hours a week until two weeks ago.
It was hard. I had no time to rejuvenate or do things for myself. I was always behind on laundry, errands, etc. We ate out a lot. I found myself bitterly resentful of small stupid things that ate up precious minutes in my day. If I got sick, it was a disaster. But I did it for 18 months, and I survived. Two weeks ago I just dropped down to a 70% appointment, so now I guess it’s more like I have 2 1/2 jobs instead of 3. Heh.
IS it doable? Yeah. But I think you need to recognize that you’ll be cranky, as stylus says. If you can keep your eyes on the prize and recognize there is a time limit (you’ll graduate at SOME point) it might even feel like an adventure. Good luck.
Connor - I am doing this next semester, just one semester! I am still an undergrad and have one semester left before I will be a junior. Most of my classes are required transfer courses (Biology, Cultural Studies) and I am taking 18 credits. I also work full-time. I was going to switch to part-time but can’t do it financially. A big part of my checks all go to bills or the car, which needs a lot of work, so money is really tight. I am working 32 hours, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and then going to school mon, wed, fri.
I am not looking forward to it, but it is just for one semester and I will be able to save up $$ for when I am working toward my major.
I say go for it.
Good luck. 
I worked full time and went to school full time for 3 years. A couple of semesters I took 6 classes - 18 credit hours. I wouldn’t do it again (even at only 5 classes), and I highly recommend that anyone who doesn’t have to do both things full time do whatever he can to work that out - whether it’s working less hours or taking less classes. But, it might be okay for one academic year or so.
I’ve worked ~30 hours a week and gone to school full-time for several years. I’m used to it. 'S nice being richer than all my friends, I must admit. 
When I was in college for my RN, I worked full-time, schooled full time and had kids who were 9 and 14 and involved in dance,gym,sports,Rainbow girls,
I also took care of my elderly in-laws. It was hard work, I had no social life, no sleep, and lived on caffiene.
It was the most fulfilling 3 years of my life. I proved to myself that I WAS tough and I really could do anything if I put my mind to it, just like the cliche says.
Do it, Do it, Do it, or you will regret it later.
My husband does this full time work/school thing. The thing I find is that you have to have an easy full time job. My husband does tech support for an ISP, so he has time to do homework between calls. He also never, ever sees me except for in bed. Hold on! He asleep by the time I get to bed so nevermind. He never sees me. He definitly can’t pull straight A’s while on this schedule, but you gotta do what you need to, to survive. I definitly would NOT recommend you doing this unless you are in dire need of money. (i.e. can’t pay rent, electric, gas or phone) Other wise don’t do it. Get a part time job instead.
Good Luck.
I worked full-time and was a full time student for four years - but there are two buts. One, I was an undergraduate,mostly taking classes in my major ( psychology) and other social sciences, which came easily to me. Two - the jobs were full time in terms of hours, but they weren’t “real” jobs. They were jobs normally filled by part-timers ( fast food and transit operator in a bank),the schedules were made up every week so I could ask for particular days off, and most of my coworkers were part-timers, so I could get someone to switch shifts or just cover mine if I needed to. I then went on to an MBA program. All of my classes were in the evening, so I got a “real” job. Even though I was taking only six credits, the combination of a 35-50 hour a week job, (where I had a specific workload and deadlines, not just standing behind a machine for my scheduled hours, and the only flexibility was if I took a vacation day) and six credits of coursework in areas that were new to me ( finance,accounting) was much more difficult. In fact, it was so difficult, that I never finished. In retrospect, I wish I had continued with the part-time type jobs, even at full-time hours. At least then I could have cut back on the hours when it got too difficult.
I have a full-time job (40+ hours), a part-time job (10-15 hours), an internship (that I’m slacking on) and go to school (12 hours).
I am tired. Very tired. And grumpy.
My advice to you is that if you are going to do this, set it up to where you can slack or cut back a little if needed. Sign up for classes that don’t have a very strict attendance policy. Get in good with your co-workers who can pick up hours for you during finals. Develop a very bad caffeine addiction.
What are the benefits? I have no idea outside of the fact that when you yell and scream at people for doing little things, they will tend to excuse it because they can clearly see that you are about three steps away from the edge of sanity.
This is just my opinion.
Good lord, evilbeth, do you not like yourself?!? Look at that friggin’ schedule! Trying to buy that island in the South Pacific?
TONS of good advice people. Thanks. Its all going to come down to if I can get the job or not. I work in South Bend right now, and our office is based in Indy, so I’m working on a transfer. Secretary work is easy, even for a guy.
Connor - I did that for 2 years after I got home from the Air Force. I DO NOT suggest it. Nevermind no social life, that’s the least of it. Think of the stress you’ll be under by having to work all the time. You have to pay attention and be alert in class. Then you have to go do a good job at work while finding time to do your schoolwork. Somewhere in there you need to sleep so you can concentrate and be well-rested for school and work.
So again, DO NOT do it unless you have to. If you do not need money that badly, then only work part time. There’s no need to put yourself through that kind of strain just to prove you can do it or whatever. Forget that stuff about how proud you’ll be of yourself afterwards. Screw that. Focus on your schooling - you’ll be proud with a college diploma too. I was proud after basic training, but I wouldn’t do that again if I could avoid it either.