Going to school and working full time may seem like an impossible task. However, with a little preparation and organization you will be able to seamlessly balance both school and work. Below are 8 tips to help make the transition to graduate school as easy as possible.
1. Outline Your Semester in a Calendar
At the start of each semester, collect your class syllabi and list any important dates in your personal calendar. Include due dates for papers or projects, tests, and final exams. You can use an online system, like Google Calendar, or an old-fashioned agenda pad. You can even get creative and make a bullet journal or use a color-coded system. Maybe write all your class times in red, paper due dates in blue, and exams in green. Planning your schedule ahead is essential for success when going to school and working full time.
2. Schedule Study Time
Once you have your school calendar mapped out, schedule in some study and homework time. If you’re an early bird, schedule your time in the morning before work. If you’re famous for “five more minutes,” schedule your study time at night or even on your lunch break. Set yourself up for success by working within your already established routine.
3. Breakdown Your To-Do List
If your to-do list is overwhelming, break each task into smaller steps. For example, if one of your items is “Write Term Paper,” start by completing the task “Outline Term Paper.” This will help you chip away at a larger project. You can also break your to-do list into smaller time frames. Write down all the things you need to complete within the next day or next week.
4. Use Paid Time Off to Your Advantage
If your employer offers paid time off, use it to your advantage. You can schedule a day off before a final exam to give you extra time to prep. While many people save PTO for a vacation, it’s there for you to use as needed. There’s nothing wrong with using PTO to make going to school and working full time more manageable.
5. Dedicate a Space for School Work
You don’t need to live in a big house to dedicate a set space for school work. Of course, if you have a separate room for studying, that’s great! Make it a nice space that allows for minimal distractions. If you’re living in a smaller space, use a small desk or even a fold out dinner table. Have set binders that you only use for school work. Light a candle to set the study mood. Play some soft music or white noise to help you focus. You can even invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to help block out distracting noises.
6. Ask for Help
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help! Going to college and working full time is a challenge. Many schools have free tutoring and counseling services available for students. If you’re behind on a paper or project, reach out to your professor to see if you can have an extension. If you have children, reach out to family and friends to assist. Try to schedule some child-free time before a large paper is due to focus solely on the task at hand.
7. Take Online Classes
There are many benefits to online classes, such as limiting the time spent commuting to and from campus. If you’re going to school and working full time, making the most of your time is essential. For asynchronous programs, you can also log on to do your school work at a time that’s convenient for you instead of having a set class time each week.
8. Be Flexible
Flexibility is key when going to school and working full time! Whether it’s allowing yourself to use your paid time off “just to study” or accepting that you can only revise your term paper three times instead of a hundred, go easy on yourself.
Take the Next Step!
Now that you know how to go to school and work full time, submit your free application to University of Bridgeport! If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@bridgeport.edu