Night Moves: Going to Grad School While Working Full Time

Going to grad school while working full time is one of the most challenging undertakings I've attempted. Since my course work gets harder as I delve deeper into my degree, my levels of tension and panic also increase. However, this is not meant to scare people, but offer my own personal experience.

I would still say that if you have even the slightest inkling that graduate school may be something you are interested in - take action today. Don't wait two years to realize, Oh yeah, if I'd only started my degree two years ago...

Follow the advice that I foist on others who ask me what they should know about going to grad school while working full time:

1. Order Your College Transcripts. It's a banal administrative step, but painless to complete. Reminding yourself of your undergrad accomplishments might have you pining for bookstores and bleary-eyed study sessions in coffee shops. If you didn’t do so well, it will serve as a reminder why you perhaps should give things a second try. Plus, you'll need it to talk to an advisor, who will want to review your prior coursework.

2. Run, Don't Walk, To Your Nearest Academic Advisor. It doesn't really matter what school or major. Find someone in your general area of interest who knows more than you do about applying to begin pointing you in the right direction. You can hone in on schools or majors later once you get serious about applying. Getting information from a human is critical. They will more easily tell you where to go next. Wrong answers eliminates those choices, getting the right ones helps you approach your goal faster.

3. Don’t Sign Up for Qualifying Exams. You might be able to snake past these. I did. I rushed out and bought a GMAT book, started listening to LSAT strategy podcasts, then realized my college would let me apply for an MSF without an entrace exam. All the flavor of an MBA without the extra fat. Plus, down the line if I want an MBA, I just add a few more classes, and viola, I’m done!

Even if your school of choice says you must take a standardized test, double-check with a human in charge of admissions for evening classes, who might say differently. They are aware of the realities of the business world. A standardized test can be a barrier to entry, and hence, their tuition dollars.

4. No Matter How Much You Love Learning, You Will Hate Grad School. Realize that working full time and going to school will suck, then do it anyway. Unless you have a financial support system that would allow you to quit your day job, you will experience misery unparalleled. There is no way around this. All I can say is apply zen concepts. I’m not kidding. Turning your study sessions into meditation training is very useful. For more on this, read a great little book called, “Dancing With Your Books.”

5. No Matter How Much You Love Your Job, You Will Love Grad School More. Your job offers you a small slice of exposure in whatever industry you choose to work in, with your specific duties being afforded an even smaller sliver. You will get bored. Grad school is a smorgasbord of intellectual delights. You will be tantalized in new directions, strengths you never knew you had exploited, and your accomplishments will give you tremendous personal satisfaction. You can then translate these into serious job skills for your current or future employer.

6. Think Creatively About Costs. I don't give people a hard time when they tell me they can't afford the time or money investment in grad school. I have the same concerns. You can weigh the decision all day long and never come up with a satisfactory answer. I'd go with your gut, if you are suspicious you want a higher education; figure out a way to get it. If your employer doesn't pay for school or you missed the box when requesting your trust fund after college graduation (don't worry, I did too), consider going to a lower tier school whose rates are less, could offer scholarship, or would require less time committment, or consider going every other semester. Find a way to make it happen.

All I can say is that through all the anxiety of going to grad school, I'm still extremely grateful I'm going through the process. I am finding ways to make it work, improve my focus and organization skills and face adversity with grace. Now - who wouldn't want that?