Return to school for graduate degree?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of returning to school for a master's and doctorate degree while currently working as a high school teacher. Participants explore the feasibility of balancing work and graduate studies, considering time constraints and financial implications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to pursue graduate studies but highlights the conflict with their current teaching job due to class schedules and financial constraints.
  • Another participant suggests that if the original poster (OP) cannot quit their job or find time for classes, they may need to consider changing jobs.
  • A different participant notes that PhD programs often provide funding or stipends, which could alleviate financial concerns, while master's programs typically require self-funding.
  • The same participant questions whether the OP has savings that could support them during their transition to graduate studies.
  • One participant requests more information about the specific degree the OP is interested in to provide better assistance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on how the OP can manage their situation. There are multiple competing views regarding the feasibility of pursuing graduate studies while maintaining a teaching job.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the OP's financial situation and the specific degree they wish to pursue, which may affect the advice given.

ultramadscientist
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I want to go back and get my masters and doctorate, but at the moment I teach High School. Going back would be impossible due to the times of classes, and I can't afford to quit my job. Is it possible to work around this?
 
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ultramadscientist said:
Going back would be impossible due to the times of classes, and I can't afford to quit my job. Is it possible to work around this?

It seems as if you've answered your own question. If you can't quit your job and don't have the time to go to school because of your job, then I'm not sure what you can do. Get a different job perhaps?
 
ultramadscientist said:
I want to go back and get my masters and doctorate, but at the moment I teach High School. Going back would be impossible due to the times of classes, and I can't afford to quit my job. Is it possible to work around this?

To the OP:

It's worth keeping in mind that when you enter a PhD program, more often than not you will be provided funding or a stipend to cover living costs as a part of your acceptance package (if you do not, that is essentially the equivalent of being rejected). The situation for a Masters program tends to be different, where self-funding tends to be more common.

You say you can't afford to quit your job. Do you have any type of savings involved that can help you as you prepare to return for graduate studies?

At some stage, you will have to make a decision -- whether to continue your current career path as a high school teacher or to pursue graduate studies, because in all likelihood, you cannot do both due to the time commitments for either endeavour.
 
ultramadscientist said:
I want to go back and get my masters and doctorate, but at the moment I teach High School. Going back would be impossible due to the times of classes, and I can't afford to quit my job. Is it possible to work around this?
Degree in what? If you give us more information, we can help you better (obviously)...
 

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