Rant: Working while in grad school

[JCShutout]

I'm so Fing swamped I haven't gone out (just once or twice) in months. When I'm finally done with full time work and a little secondary work to cover car repairs and all the BS, I'm too exhausted to want to research a bunch of crap to get my piece of paper that says I'm an expert when I already have like 95% of the knowledge and skills I'll get from my MA already. I'm just jumping through BS hoops now.

I wish I could be like the other students who only work 10-15 hours/week while in grad school. I don't know how I'm going to get everything done.

[AJ]

I'll agree with this one, I worked full time and went to grad school part time for three years. It really sucked. Add to that a lot of my friends were still in college or had just graduated so we partied like crazy still every weekend.

I don't know how the hell I did it those years.

[JCShutout]

With the economy sucking as it is, I'm almost hoping I get laid off so I can work 50 hours/week on finishing everything, and then worry about a job in December... and be broke, but ya know.

[jim]

Being a full time student is a full time job, no doubt about it. Adding a job on top of that is tough.

But being a parent is a full time job as well, and having a full time job is a full time job. I did all of those while going to grad school, so forgive me for not breaking out the violin.

Keep plugging away, it will pay off.

[Cronos]

I've been vacillating on getting something on the side while I'm plugging away at grad school, too. I know I need something to make me competitive for practicum positions next semester, but I don't know if I can deal with a part-time position and grad work at the same time. I need my breaks for my sanity, so I'm stll thinking about it.

Keep at it, JC. You'll get through it.

[Richie Allen]

I worked full time while going to Grad School (MBA) full time and was also, initially, in a new marriage. Not sure which was the most grueling. I covered a territory in which I had to drive 100 miles each morning just to get to it (Champaign) and often found myself in Terre Haute or Effingham at 4:30 when I had a class in Peoria at 7. I did a lot of studying while driving 70 MPH down the highway (not recommended). I think the only thing that saved me was that I truly enjoyed school, which I couldn't really say about the other two.

[Jocephus]

i was lucky that as a grad student all my jobs were jobs on campus

[Michael]

Currently I work full-time and take 2 MBA classes a quarter. Last year I made the decision to be a B student and do as little work as possible in subjects I don't care about. Maybe I sound like a slacker, but I think I have my priorities straight.

[Richie Allen]

Currently I work full-time and take 2 MBA classes a quarter. Last year I made the decision to be a B student and do as little work as possible in subjects I don't care about. Maybe I sound like a slacker, but I think I have my priorities straight.

Other than listing my graduate GPA on a resume, I don't think it's ever been noticed or discussed by anyone. And I've been told that your undergrad GPA is much more important, as depressing as that is to me.

[planet planet]

JC, can't you get a TA position? It should be less demanding on your time than an 8:00-5:00 job.