How to Balance It All & Still Stay Sane
Today there are many more non-traditional students pursuing degrees than ever before, which means the typical college experience looks a little different. The estimated percentage of students who work while in school hasn't changed much over the last several decades, but the number of hours these students are working has. A Georgetown University report shows more than 75% of graduate students and roughly 40% of undergraduates work at least 30 hours per week while attending school. One in four working learners is simultaneously attending full-time college while holding down a full-time job. And on top of that, about 19% of all working students have children.
Balancing a full-time job with a full course load – and for some, handling family obligations as well – isn't easy. If you're one of the many trying to balance it all, read on to get expert recommendations on how to manage school and work without losing your sanity.
The Benefits of Keeping Your Full-Time Job While in School
Working full-time while in school certainly doesn't make getting good grades any easier. But there are many advantages you may not have considered when it comes to full-time work and the pursuit of a college degree. Some of the biggest benefits include:
You'll have a steady salary to help pay for schoolWith student loan debt at a record high, graduating with little or no debt is a top priority for many students and can be the motivation you need toendure working 30+ hours per week while taking a full course load eachsemester. Keeping your full-time job not only saves you money by helpingyou avoid taking out large loans and interest on those loans, but it canalso provide peace of mind, allowing you to study with less pressure of afive-figure debt hanging over your head.
You can take advantage of employee benefitsMany employers offer their full-time employees tuition assistance or reimbursement if they're pursuing education or training that's relevant totheir current career. Other benefits may be offered as well, such ashealth insurance and a 401(k). If your employee covers your healthinsurance, you may be eligible for a waiver and reimbursement if thecollege's tuition includes on-campus health coverage and a 401(k) allowsyou to start preparing for retirement before you even graduate.
You'll have more professional freedom post graduationBy graduating with little or no debt, you may have more financial freedom to pursue a career you truly want. Many graduates may feel pressured totake on high-paying jobs straight out of school, even if it's a job theydon't truly want. This can be especially true for those with massivestudent loan debt. Keeping your full-time job can help ensure you're ableto pursue your dream career and not just a salary.
You'll gain real world skillsA degree means little to employers if you don't have the skills,experience and knowledge to contribute fully to your position. While youwill certainly learn a tremendous amount in college, the large portion ofwhat you'll need to succeed in the professional world will come from whatyou learn on the job and the soft skills you'll obtain by working outsidethe classroom.
You'll have an enhanced classroom learning experienceA great way to reinforce what's learned in the classroom is to apply that knowledge to real world settings. Working full-time, especially in aprofession related to your field of study, provides this learningopportunity. And, even better, you can do so immediately. Many collegestudents can do this through internships, but the opportunities may not beas frequent or readily available compared to those who work full-time.
You'll maintain a professional mindsetFull-time work requires a different attitude than full-time school. Those who attend school but do not work have the opportunity to take days off,might have hour-long breaks between classes and get long breaks during thesummer and winter. Moving from that schedule to a working professional onecan be a tough adjustment. But for those who already work full-time, thereis no adjustment period – there is simply relief once the school term isover, as they have more time in their schedule.
14 Tips for Balancing Work and School
Like many other things in life, being a full-time worker and student requires balance. The trick is in figuring out how to arrange your schedule to get everything in a day done while still maintaining your sanity. The following tips can help you find this balance.
The Benefits of Attending an Online College
With the advancement in computer and networking technology, distance learning has become economical and widespread. Today, getting a degree online is not just possible, but quite common. And the best part is that online learning has opened doors to education for those who simply don't have the time to sit in a traditional classroom – such as those non-traditional students who work full time. Here's why online courses are a great option for full-time workers:
[expert-qa theme="primary" title="Interview: How One Student Made It Work" description="
Jenny Rush
Mother, graduate and full-time workerJenny Rush has been a teenage mother, a gas station attendant, a poet, a grocery store clerk, a lab tech, and more. Now she has two degrees, and works in marketing at BiOWiSH Technologies, a biotech startup that provides sustainable solutions for the agriculture and environmental management industries.
Jenny Rush earned an undergraduate degree in neuroscience and a master's degree in professional writing while working full-time and raising a young daughter. Find out what her experience was like and how she juggled it all.
" limit="4"controls="false" src=""]
[expert-qa-item title="Q. Why did you work full-time while attending college?"]A. I'm guessing everyone has the same answer to this – because I had to! I couldn't afford not to. There was no way I could take out enough loans to cover living expenses for me and my daughter. I think if people have the chance to get an education without having to work, they should absolutely take advantage of that – it just wasn't an option for me.
[/expert-qa-item] [expert-qa-item title="Q. You chose a challenging curriculum! How did you get through it?"]A. One step at a time! It helped that I was really fascinated by what I was learning. A big part of what motivated me to do well in school was my daughter. I wanted to set an example for her and show her that it is possible to take control of your own situation. Plus, I wanted to build a better life for both of us. Keeping the end goals in mind got me through my bachelor's degree. I didn't love my job, so I told myself that getting a degree would be a way to improve my situation. I didn't get a good job out of my degree in neuroscience – I hated working in a lab, so I stayed at the job I worked while I was earning my degree. That was disheartening, but I got good at it, and the pay was okay.
When I went back for my masters, the only way I got through was by being able to see the end in sight. I knew it was only going to take two years, and that got me through. Now I have a job doing marketing at a biotech company, which combines my love for science and my Master's in Professional Writing. Having a stable job that supports my daughter and I made the whole journey worth it.
[/expert-qa-item] [expert-qa-item title="Q. What did a typical day look like for you?"]A. It varied a lot. When I was in undergrad, I would wake up around 6 am to get dressed, wake my daughter up, get her fed and ready for school and drop her off around 7:30 am. Then, if I had classes, I would head to campus and stay there for the day. If I was lucky, I could leave in time to pick her up and then go to work second shift – usually 3 pm to 11 pm. Then, I'd go to bed and do it all over again. On days when I didn't have classes, I usually worked earlier or spent the day working on school work. I worked weekends, too, so some weekdays I could just go to school, then come home and focus on my daughter.
During grad school, my schedule was more clear-cut. I still woke up around 6 am to get my daughter ready and take her to school. Then, I would usually work from home for one job from about 7:30 am to noon. After that, I would head to campus for my on-campus job and work there until 5 pm when I had classes. Luckily, in grad school, most classes were evening classes, so I could work during the day. I had weekends "free" – I didn't usually work, so I could catch up on school work then.
[/expert-qa-item] [expert-qa-item title="Q. How many hours did you spend doing school work each week?"]A. In grad school, I would say as much as 12 hours some weeks, and as little as 3 hours other weeks. I always tried to get my work done over the weekend so I didn't have to worry during the week, which was busier for me. This didn't always work out, though, and often times I would end up staying up late Monday or Tuesday to finish an assignment. Some weeks were easy, but towards the end of the semester, work could start piling up. Coffee was my best friend.
[/expert-qa-item] [expert-qa-item title="Q. What were some of your greatest struggles and your most rewarding moments?"]A. I missed some important moments – I couldn't be at my daughter's open house. And there were times I was so exhausted. It was sometimes difficult to take my schoolwork seriously because I was already working two other jobs, but I really did want to learn.
The most rewarding moments have been hearing other women say I have inspired them to follow their dreams and demand more for themselves. My daughter is a teenager, so I don't think she would admit that she is proud of me – I don't think she realizes the extent to which I struggled to get my undergraduate degree as a young single mother. But the confidence with which she talks about her own plans for college tells me that I gave her the right example.
[/expert-qa-item][expert-qa-item title="Q. Whenever you started to feel overwhelmed or stressed, what did you doto refocus?"]
A. One thing I always tried to keep in mind was that school was a choice I was making. I chose to go to school, and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go. Many people face significant barriers to their education – bigger than the ones I faced – so I tried to remind myself that even when it was awful, it was still an amazing chance that so many people don't get. I also tried to remind myself that college was supposed to be teaching me something, so I would look for the lessons. Not just academic lessons, but also life skills. I would also remind myself how soon it was until the end of the semester. And when all else failed, strong coffee and loud music always hits my "reset" button, reminding me that I am strong and I can get through anything.
[/expert-qa-item][expert-qa-item title="Q. Having gone through the process, is there any additional advice you'dgive students who are working full-time while going to college?"]
A. My final semester of my MA, I made myself a paper chain counting down the individual class sessions I had left – it was the only way I got through! Sometimes, it's those little things that give you the extra motivation. It's so hard to decide to go back to school, but if you do your research and have a community to support you, you can do it.
[/expert-qa-item][/expert-qa]