How to Get a Master's Degree while Working a Full-time Job
Pursuing a graduate degree is hard enough. Pursuing your master's degree while working full-time is sure to pose some additional challenges. Students in this situation will need to be extremely motivated in order to persevere to graduation. A bachelor's degree may not cut it these days, so for someone looking to make a strong impression, earning a master’s degree may be the way to go.
Being a full-time employee and full-time student can be a daunting, but satisfying, experience. Here’s how you can make the most out of it:
The Home-Work-School Balance
Working full-time, taking classes, and making time for family and friends is difficult. In order to be successful, you may have to sacrifice some social time. With careful planning and dedication, it is possible to earn your graduate degree without losing your mind!
At the beginning of each term, sit down and fill in your calendar (paper, whiteboard, digital--whatever you prefer) with all of your school, work, and personal obligations. Having it all laid out can help you make the most of your time, and help you be prepared tests, deadlines, and events.
Know Your Class Options
Many master’s programs are now offered either as hybrid or online-only master’s degree courses, which have obvious benefits to those with a hectic work schedule. More and more schools offer convenient evening and weekend scheduling. If you have concerns about how a class schedule will fit with your work routine, speak with the professor of the course or contact the college admissions team. They can help you determine how to proceed.
Talk to Your Boss
Let your employer know that you'd like to go back to school to increase your capabilities and the value you bring to the company. Emphasize that you have a plan for maintaining your productivity at work, and how your education will benefit the company. If you anticipate needing to request time off or make a schedule change, it is essential that you have your employer’s support. Your boss may have recommendations on what courses to take--and may even know of an educational partnership program that could get you discounts on your tuition.
Prepare for the GRE
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is usually a requirement for graduate school admission, but in some cases, master’s programs will let students substitute work experience. Speak to your school’s admissions office about this possibility. If that's not an option, you’ll need to take the GRE at a testing center. The exam is divided into three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. All three scores will be forwarded to the school programs you want to apply to.
Get a Handle on Your Scheduling
Whether you use a mobile app or a wall calendar, your schedule is your life. All your work, school, and family obligations should be scheduled as far in advance as you can. (Most of your classes will provide a course calendar which will list due dates.) Plot out your days and weeks and hold yourself accountable for deadlines. If it's been a long time since you’ve been in college, your study skills might be rusty. Try to give yourself plenty of time for reading, writing, and revising.
Maintain Your Personal Life
Dedicating yourself to a full-time work schedule and a full-time school schedule means something will have to give. But it’s important to your success not to sacrifice everything. Give yourself time to watch a movie or read a book for pleasure. Even a little thing like taking a couple of hours to just decompress can make the difference between success and burn out. Go to your child’s baseball game, or take a walk with your loved one; your home life and family are the fuel that will drive you to finish. Don’t lose touch with them.
Prepare Financially with Scholarships, Grants, & FAFSA
While a master’s degree is an investment in your long-term success, the cost of that commitment can be off-putting. Start looking and applying for grants and scholarships early in the process. The school to which you’re applying may offer funding, and in some cases, companies offer financial assistance to employees returning to school. Fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form too, because even if you don’t end up accepting federal assistance, this document is often used by other agencies to determine financial need.
Challenge: Accepted?
If it’s so difficult to balance work and school, why bother? The pros far outweigh the cons in the long run. Even if you’re already established in a job, going to school while working means you’ll be able to finish more quickly without having to put your life on hold. Working full-time means you’ll maintain access to your employee benefits and insurance, as well.
Taking on a full-time master’s degree program while still working full-time means you’re in for a few frenetic years of hard work. But with the right mindset and planning, it can be accomplished before you know it.
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