How many of you are full time workers and students?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences of individuals balancing full-time work and academic studies. Participants share their personal situations regarding employment, study loads, and the challenges they face in managing both responsibilities. The conversation touches on various educational paths, work schedules, and the impact of these commitments on their lives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Personal experiences

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants describe their struggle to balance full-time work with part-time or full-time studies, noting the difficulty of managing time and workload.
  • One participant mentions teaching math and preparing for standardized tests while planning to reduce work hours as classes begin.
  • Another shares their experience of taking years to complete their degree while working, emphasizing the challenges faced during that time.
  • A participant from the Middle-East contrasts their situation, indicating reliance on parental support and summer work.
  • Some express that late-night classes can complicate early morning work schedules, leading to fatigue.
  • Participants in co-op programs discuss the alternating study and work periods, highlighting potential financial benefits and international opportunities.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of managing a full-time job alongside rigorous science courses due to their time demands.
  • One participant humorously reflects on their tendency to accumulate degrees while questioning the value of such pursuits compared to other life choices.
  • Another participant shares their long journey through education, including personal life challenges and financial strategies that aided their studies.
  • Some express skepticism about accumulating large debts for education, suggesting a cautious approach to financial commitments.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences and opinions, with no clear consensus on the best approach to balancing work and study. Some agree on the challenges posed by late-night classes and heavy workloads, while others present differing views on the value of accumulating debt for education.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences vary widely based on their individual circumstances, including geographic location, field of study, and personal support systems. The discussion reflects a diversity of educational paths and employment situations, with no single model emerging as universally applicable.

thakid87
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I was trying to do this as a poll, but I don't know how to...

So, I'm currently a full time worker. M-F, 8-5pm. And, I'm also, either a part-time or full-time student. Varies from semester to semester as it's really difficult to synch between school and work and the free time that I have.

It's really difficult and I imagine it's only going to get worse as I move up to my junior and senior years. When it comes time for graduate school, I don't know what I'm going to do.

If you don't mind, for those of you that are full time workers and still going to school, what do you do for a living?

I'm pretty much a salesman. I sell parts for generators. Doesn't pay very well, but, it's the best I can get right now...
 
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where do you live/study?
 
Not quite full-time, but I teach math about 30 hours a week right now, and also teach GRE and GMAT courses for Kaplan every now and then, but usually never more than 3 hours a week. I'll probably scale that back a bit when my classes start up in the fall and try not to work any more than 25 hours a week.

I'm in a professional program, though, so it's designed for people to be able to work. No classes start any earlier than 4 PM.
 
I worked all through college and yes, it was really tough. I've long since graduated now but I remember very well what a grind it was. I was a part-time student and it took me 9 1/2 years to get my BS!
 
AhmedEzz said:
where do you live/study?

Miami, Fl. I'm currently attending a MDC, a very "prestigious" CC. Supposedly the best in the nation...
 
I hold all respect for you. I am also in college but in the ME its different. I am still living in my parent's house, I work only in the summer and my parents pay my tuition fees.

EDIT : ME stands for Middle-East
 
Up until just now, I've been a full-time worker and a part-time student for a few years.

If the workload at school were contstant, taking 3 courses would definitely be doable. Since the workload never is, taking two courses can be challenging if the work for both peak at the same time (and the work for all your classes almost always have a peak towards the end of a course.)

For the folks taking just two courses, the toughest part is having late night classes and still having to be at work early.
 
BobG said:
For the folks taking just two courses, the toughest part is having late night classes and still having to be at work early.

I completely agree with this. Sometimes I get home at 11:00. Only to have to wake up at 6:00 to get ready for work. And that's without including any of the time we spend studying. Hmm. What can we do but keep on persevering?
 
I'm in engineering co-op program.
4 months study - 4 months job

If I get lucky I can make more than all of my 4 years life cost and get opportunity of working in other countries. I am mainly focused about working abroad in a different cultures even if I end up in big debt.
 
  • #10
Work and school.

Since its summer I'm only working 30 hours / week and taking an accellerated 8 week trigonometry course. Last semester I was working 30 hours / week and took 7 credits.
 
  • #11
It took me twelve years to get through an undergraduate in history and then a masters in library science [i know... not a 'real' science]. I studied on and off full time or part time, went through two marriages, got distracted a lot being a single dad, finally hooked up with a supportive, smart[er than me] woman who keeps me on track,... and somehow managed not to lose the farm. I worked in libraries part time and farming has some seasonal flexibility i was able to work around. The real key though, was that before taking over the farm, i bought a 'fixer upper' house and lived cheap while renovating and renting to other students. Its capital equity helped to support me and my domestic messing up. It was better to have the capital equity working for me than to be dividing my time and energy between work and study.
Another guy i know built a small cottage and then rented it out. For both of us the preparations for a few years before going back to school paid off.

Oh ya... Also, having the real estate equity made for a good line of credit. It took me 20 years to finally clear the debts.
 
  • #12
I wouldn't recommend science and a fulltime job at the same time.

It's probably though good to work some parttime over the years, to get a boost on the old CV.
 
  • #13
I would think it's definitely harder for a lab science major because of the added time requirements.

It's hard for me to imagine not taking at least a course or two at all times, though. I'm probably going to end up dying with ten masters degrees just for the hell of it. That time is probably better allocated to writing a novel or having a kid or adding on to a house or something like that, but oh well. I can't stand being entirely away from an academic setting, either as a teacher or a student.
 
  • #14
I work Mon-Wed 10:00-6:00, Thur-Fri 10:00-8:00, & Sat 11:00-4:00. Never went to school.
 
  • #15
rootX said:
I'm in engineering co-op program.
4 months study - 4 months job

If I get lucky I can make more than all of my 4 years life cost and get opportunity of working in other countries. I am mainly focused about working abroad in a different cultures even if I end up in big debt.

No offense, but accumulating large debt is not worth it.

Keep the debt under $10,000. Trust me on this one.
 
  • #16
Thakid, I just realized that I was in error when responding to this thread. I misinterpreted the title. I am not, therefore, eligible to answer.
 

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