Any stories of starting grad school (or even undergrad), while already a mom, and while also working full time?
Tell me I'm not crazy and it's possible, because I just finished a meeting with my admissions counselor .... 
You might also enjoy...
-
It's possible!
I started my MBA program while working full-time and pregnant with DS. I'm going to register for a few classes again next term
It's a lot of time/project management, but I took a combo of online/in person classes that helped a ton!
-
You can do it! Good luck!
-
Awesome! I did it working full time but wasn't a mom yet.
-
@cmomma17: YAY! I also did it while working full time and pregnant. I'm sure that if you have the support you need from DH & family, you can make the time needed to study and do well! Good luck!
-
I'm a full time grad student and I work, but I work for the university, and not in a 9-5 capacity, and my baby isn't here yet, so take this with a grain of salt. I think it's absolutely doable, and eventually, this schedule is going to be great for me. Right now, though, when I'm sick and tired and just don't want to do anything anymore, it's HARD. I spent all of yesterday pretty much wishing I had a normal job so that I could take maternity leave and just concentrate on me and the baby. Alas, that's not what I've got. But, my professors are all really nice and very flexible, so we're making it work. I'll be interested to see what next year brings with an infant. I suspect it will be a lot of late nights (which I would have anyways), just with a book in my hand
I think it's totally possible, and it's great that you are going back. Good luck!
-
I'm not a mom yet, but I'm working full time and in grad school. I have quite a few classmates with kids of different ages.
I think if you have a good support system and can maintain some sense of organization, it can be very doable. Especially if you're in an evening/weekend program that caters to adults. My professors have all been very aware that we have lives outside of classes and are willing to work around schedules and emergencies as long as we keep them in the loop and notify them ASAP if we need to miss a class or move an assignment.
-
Do you require a lot of sleep?
I started on my MS before I had kids and it was hard for me just doing that and working FT - I personally would never be able to do all 3 (work, kids plus MS)
I actually quit after 2 semesters - looking back I wish I went to grad school right after college!
Good luck!!
-
It's totally possible
I finished my MS when E was 1 month old and it was fine. Just sucked not getting to nap when I wanted And DH is working full time plus working on his masters (on campus...mine was online. Much easier/better for me). I see no difference if it were me or him working on it....the difference is that I have time for hobbies and he doesn't have as much leisure time as a grad school attending+working parent.
But it's totally possible and really hasn't impacted our life in a drastically negative or overwhelming way at all. He goes to class one day a week, does homework and projects on weekends and during the week while E and I hang out.
-
@mrsjyw: did your pregnancy line up well with the semesters? We will be TTC #2 soon, but I don't want to wait any longer to get started! Good luck next term!
@swedishfish: thanks!
@mrsh: thanks! what is your degree in?
@mariej: I appreciate your enthusiasm!
were you done by the time your LO came? what degree did you do?
-
I'm hoping to get my PhD in a couple years. It might take longer than the average student but I definitely think it's possible.
-
@cmomma17: Yes, I finished a couple of months before LO came. I received my MBA
-
I am a full time overnight nurse (7pm-7am) 3 days a week and in Nurse Practioner school. Currently pregnant with our first. I think it's going to be hard, but doable. DH is just going to have to help a lot.
-
@MrsKoala: yesssss. Hard, but doable
-
@LovelyPlum: I work for the university that I will doing the master's at!
I sort of have a 9-5 though (the kind of 9-5 that also requires early/late days and weekends too). Are you a professor by any chance? One of the biology professors here had a baby and was back on campus in 2 weeks! 
I was amazed! You can do it! Good luck to you too! @marym: I definitely think this program caters more to working adults. So most of my classes should be one evening a week. I will prioritize organization for sure. I have a good support system, just finding an evening babysitter will be tricky, since DH often works evenings.
-
@MrsKoala: that's awesome! What will your phD be in? You can do it!
@mamaof2: I appreciate your honesty! I wish I had gone right after college too. Right now though I can get free tuition through my job, so I feel like I would seriously regret missing this opportunity. I do require sleep, but since LO was born (he'll be 1 next month), I basically function without any! He still hasn't STTN. That's one of my hesitations, since the sleep deprivation has affected my productivity and alertness.
-
Whoa! Good for you!
I would not even attempt it at this point. I WOH and have a baby and that's all I can handle. I have a baby that still wakes up a million times a night...I think it would be doable if I were getting more sleep though.
-
@cmomma17: someday, I hope! I'm a PhD student and teaching assistant. I will be back to work 3 weeks after the baby is born, but then I only have to get through a few weeks (hopefully no more than 3) before I can have the summer to do my own work from the comfort of my living room
And that's really nice that you work where you'll be in school. Then, at least, you'll be operating from roughly the same calendar. And don't you just love how "9-5" really means "9ish to 5ish but maybe until you go to bed and first thing again when you get up and probably over the weekend, too"?
Even still, I have found grad work really rewarding. It's what I love to do, so how can I complain (too much 
)?You're going to be awesome
ETA: on the sleep thing, I have a friend who finished her PhD by doing work when LO was up. If baby got up for the day at 4 am, she spent an hour editing a chapter of her dissertation, then they both took a nap when LO was ready to. I know the balancing act will be rough, but the truth of the matter (with my program, at least) is that there's *never* enough time and *always* more work than can actually be done. So, we're all trying to just get by as well as we can anyways. I've actually heard that having a family means you have to be extra productive during the times when you're actually able to do work. So I don't think it puts you at a disadvantage, necessarily.
-
@MarieJ: that's great, congrats!
MBA is one of my options, but I don't think I"m smart enough @blackbird: well I already never get to nap (or STTN), so that should be fine!
Funny thing is DH wants to start school too, at the same time! Eek. Would be a bachelor's for him. I get tuition benefits at work for both of us, so we really should take advantage of it! My program will be on campus, and likely just one evening a week (if I take one class at a time). The other challenge will be my and DH's work schedules - he works a lot of late evenings and almost all weekends so I'm usually solo parenting then. Ah well, life isn't supposed to be easy!
-
I also work at the university where I'm studying. I wish I'd started my program before I got married, but I think I needed the push from DH to get me started. I don't know what I was waiting for!
I find the one night a week classes a blessing and a curse. It's nice that they only take up one night...but sometimes I just can't stand to sit still for that long! And my brain does not function well past 8 p.m.!
Do you know what you're going to study?
-
@cmomma17: Higher education!
@LovelyPlum:
-
@cmomma17: I have a JD and a masters of law.
-
@Anagram: it's really tough! I know, like me, you and your DH both WOH, right? I hope adding school won't make things too miserable. But I also feel like if I don't do it now, I never will! My LO is still not STTN at 11 months but things are improving.
@lovelyplum: well look at you smarty-pants!
I actually do find motherhood pretty motivating, in that my time is much more precious now so I try to be more productive and efficient! @marym: uh oh, my brain is usually done by 7 pm
I think the classes I'd take would usually be 5-8. Lot's of coffee! I will be doing a master's of science in education. But it's a flexible/customizable (is that a word?) program so I have a lot of choice in which classes I take. @mrskoala: awesome! you could be my boss one day!
@mrsh: uh oh, another smarty-pants!
-
So I looked up what classes would be available to take in the fall, and I got SO excited! I think I can do this!
Now to scrounge up some letters of recommendation and write an essay
-
The only time I had a *really* hard time with the late classes was my required finance class. I just couldn't make sense of numbers that late!
-
The classes were not the hard part, it was coordinating group projects that nearly drive me over the edge while completing my masters and working full time! If you have no group projects, you're golden!
-
Very possible! I'm working full time and am in a graduate program - all with a 9 month old. Woo! The program is online, which really helps! It definitely takes a lot of my brain power to stay organized and not lose my mind, and I've had some times where I considered quitting, but I'm pushing on!
I take 2 classes a semester, and it's taking foreeverrr, but I'm glad I'm doing it! Plus, my work is paying for it so free school is a no brainer right now.
GOOD LUCK!
-
@cmomma17: You are totally smart enough! You just need the support of your family and DH to make sure you have time to study and concentrate on your studies. Good luck! I'm rooting for you
Even still, I have found grad work really rewarding. It's what I love to do, so how can I complain (too much 
)?
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
27 comments