Balancing graduate school and work requirements is an important conundrum that one must face as they enter the decision-making process regarding whether they will pursue a graduate degree. That said, it is more than that. As someone who has completed four different graduate programs, I can say where you are in life matters. Who your support system is matters. What your responsibilities and challenges are matter. And in general, life matters.
Find the Format/Timing for You
My first graduate degree program came almost immediately following my bachelor’s degree program. I was in a place where work was scarce or underpaid, and I did not know what I wanted to do with life. I went through a hamster wheel of pros and cons about whether I should pursue more education. I had a bachelor’s degree. Should I go for more?
At 23 years old, with little responsibility outside of a questionable decision to adopt a puppy the day I graduated from undergrad, I decided to go for it. I applied for a Master of Arts in Teaching program at a Pittsburgh-area university. This program would be an all-in program. I would student teach or intern for forty hours per week and take classes four nights per week. At this point in my life, the work-life-graduate school balance was essentially a physical schedule.
Using Your Time Wisely
I learned early that I needed to schedule everything out. I taught until 2:30 p.m. and I had to be in Pittsburgh by 4:00 p.m. for class. Class went all evening, and I met a friend at the gym at 10 p.m. I did this for a year, and received my first master’s degree. Looking back, it was nuts to run my body to those extremes, but what I learned is that with proper scheduling, keeping myself fueled properly, and keeping open communication with those around me, I could be successful.
Several years later, I decided to get another graduate degree. This time, learning from my time management experiences, I did not want to leave home. My wedding would be just after graduation, and I had a new house. I went online for this master’s degree. This was an exercise in learning what I could do and when I could do it. Quite a few time-oriented discussion boards and copious amounts of PDF readings and reflections later, I had another master’s degree.
Being a completely different experience, I could do the program, for the most part, on my time. I just had to make the posted deadlines.
How Point Park University Made This Easy
I continued this practice into another online graduate certification program. This time, I enrolled in Point Park University’s principal’s program. Again, I was faced with a primarily self-paced, deadline-oriented program where I could learn to be a school administrator. Now, I was working full-time, had a wife and a new baby, and was looking to build a new home. The online program was perfect.
As I continued my graduate school path, I was accepted in Point Park University’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration program. This was an in-person, one-night-per-week, and six full-day Saturday session program. I was amped and ready for it.
My family was now living with my parents while we finished our new home, so we had the support of my parents to help with our son and our pets while I could devote an immense amount of time to my dissertation and doctoral studies. The time became about prioritizing and support. My support system of my wife, my parents, and my in-laws helped immensely as I was able to work at Point Park University on my studies in-person with a great network of fellow educators.
All in all, as I have pursued several graduate programs, all at different points in my life, I must recognize that it isn’t necessarily about your work while going to school. In my opinion, it is about who you have around you and what challenges outside of school and work that you encounter.
Balancing those with proper scheduling and identifying what medium of education works best for you in the moment is the way that someone can be successful in a graduate program. Good luck, all, as you splash into the deep end of graduate school. Be careful; you will probably enjoy it and learn a lot about yourself.
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