Question for people who go to college and work full time

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: pontifex

i can't take more than 1 class on the same night though, as each night class runs from about 5:30 to 9:30. its not physically possible to take more than 1 class a night.

hwo long does an online class usually take?

Que? Each of my classes were 1 1/2 hours long, two nights a week. I guess your classes are only offered 1 night a week?

It depends on the online classes. Take my web design class, my professor has 10 assignments posted that you do, each covering a chapter in the book. She also has 5 quizzes and a final you have to take but they are only available during certain times (Friday morning - Sunday night). They are setup fairly structured to make sure you keep up and don't fall behind.

 

[Special K]

Has anyone ever taken a class with a lab component, such as organic chemistry, while working full time? Is that even possible?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: jhayx7

Originally posted by: pontifex

i can't take more than 1 class on the same night though, as each night class runs from about 5:30 to 9:30. its not physically possible to take more than 1 class a night.

hwo long does an online class usually take?

Que? Each of my classes were 1 1/2 hours long, two nights a week. I guess your classes are only offered 1 night a week?

It depends on the online classes. Take my web design class, my professor has 10 assignments posted that you do, each covering a chapter in the book. She also has 5 quizzes and a final you have to take but they are only available during certain times (Friday morning - Sunday night). They are setup fairly structured to make sure you keep up and don't fall behind.

i looked up 2 different english classes in the Fall class schedule. They both ran from 5:30 to 9:30

one was on Tues. and Thurs. and the other was MWF.
I'm not sure about other classes, but I dooubt they'd be any different.

 

[tw1164]

I work 8-4:30 weekday, and am taking accounting classes @ my local CC. I only take 1 class (4cr) at a time. I tried an online course, but its not for me. I'm taking the summer off so I can help w/ my 4 month old.

 

[alm99]

Have online classes and schools improved their reputation, with the exception of university of pheonix, as being a reputable way of getting your degree? Employers no longer look at it as a joke?

 

[ngvepforever2]

Originally posted by: Special K
Has anyone ever taken a class with a lab component, such as organic chemistry, while working full time? Is that even possible?

I am doing it. It is a pain in the ass because the lab easily adds 3 more hours that are not counted as credits. Right now I am taking 16 credits (which would be 19 if the lab counted) and working almost full time. However, as others have said, it really is important how flexible your work schedule is. In mine, I can do hw here while the pc is running agents or when I finish early and I don't have anything else to do. I can call in anytime and take the day off to work on school stuff. My job is very flexible because I am in school.

ng

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: Special K
Has anyone ever taken a class with a lab component, such as organic chemistry, while working full time? Is that even possible?

Yes, I took the easiest labs possible though. I took Physical Science and Biology. Class was from 6:30 - 9:30 2 nights a week. 1 1/2 hr was for lecture, 30 min break and then 1 hr for lab. Looking back, they were the most fun.

My biology professor was very cool. She was a young girl who worked part time for the power company and was still going for her JD in biology. One of the good things about going at night is that the class is comprised of mostly working adults/young people who are there to learn.

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: alm99
Have online classes and schools improved their reputation, with the exception of university of pheonix, as being a reputable way of getting your degree? Employers no longer look at it as a joke?

Yes and no. B&M schools who are expanding their outreach programs are still just as good as attending the university. You get the same degree as someone who attends.

The schools who are online only and are Private For Profit status, are a joke IMO. A couple people here at work attend AIU and comparing my course work to theirs is a joke. Not to mention AIU has been put on probation two years in a row now.....

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: jhayx7

Originally posted by: pontifex

i can't take more than 1 class on the same night though, as each night class runs from about 5:30 to 9:30. its not physically possible to take more than 1 class a night.

hwo long does an online class usually take?

Que? Each of my classes were 1 1/2 hours long, two nights a week. I guess your classes are only offered 1 night a week?

It depends on the online classes. Take my web design class, my professor has 10 assignments posted that you do, each covering a chapter in the book. She also has 5 quizzes and a final you have to take but they are only available during certain times (Friday morning - Sunday night). They are setup fairly structured to make sure you keep up and don't fall behind.

i looked up 2 different english classes in the Fall class schedule. They both ran from 5:30 to 9:30

one was on Tues. and Thurs. and the other was MWF.
I'm not sure about other classes, but I dooubt they'd be any different.

Jebus! That does not sound right. They should only be 1 1/2 hours long, two nights a week (3 credit hours = 3 class hours a week). How long is the fall semester? Is this an accelerated program?

 

[Platypus]

What time do you have to report to work in the morning? I pulled 21 credit hours and worked 20 hours a week my last two semesters of school but it was nice because I could work inbetween classes (did net admin stuff for university) so I would be on campus all day from morning till evening but I was working and doing school at the same time. It sucked but I managed.

In your situation, I would do your work after you get out of classes, your early classes won't be nearly as time consuming as you might think compared to your later classes. I imagine you'd spend an hour or two each night on stuff.. crash, then get up and start over.

Either that or study/prepare while eating your lunch. There's not going to be an easy solution and it's very largely dependent on your schedule and your willingness to change. One of the most important lessons college will teach you is time management.

 

[pontifex]

ok, now i'm confused...
i just looked at the class schedules online and they are showing classes that are like an hour and 15 minutes long. these are classes that meet twice a week.

i wonder if i was looking at something different then?

just looked at other classes and i'm seeign evening classes that are 1 hour and 15 minutes long. so i guess i can take 2 classes a night and do like tues. and thurs. then.

looking down the list, i see a few 6:30 - 9:30 classes that meet once or twice a week at a local HS instead of on campus. maybe thats what i saw?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Platypus
What time do you have to report to work in the morning? I pulled 21 credit hours and worked 20 hours a week my last two semesters of school but it was nice because I could work inbetween classes (did net admin stuff for university) so I would be on campus all day from morning till evening but I was working and doing school at the same time. It sucked but I managed.

In your situation, I would do your work after you get out of classes, your early classes won't be nearly as time consuming as you might think compared to your later classes. I imagine you'd spend an hour or two each night on stuff.. crash, then get up and start over.

Either that or study/prepare while eating your lunch. There's not going to be an easy solution and it's very largely dependent on your schedule and your willingness to change. One of the most important lessons college will teach you is time management.

i have to be at work at 8:30 and it takes me about 35-40 minutes to get there.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Platypus
What time do you have to report to work in the morning? I pulled 21 credit hours and worked 20 hours a week my last two semesters of school but it was nice because I could work inbetween classes (did net admin stuff for university) so I would be on campus all day from morning till evening but I was working and doing school at the same time. It sucked but I managed.

In your situation, I would do your work after you get out of classes, your early classes won't be nearly as time consuming as you might think compared to your later classes. I imagine you'd spend an hour or two each night on stuff.. crash, then get up and start over.

Either that or study/prepare while eating your lunch. There's not going to be an easy solution and it's very largely dependent on your schedule and your willingness to change. One of the most important lessons college will teach you is time management.

i have to be at work at 8:30 and it takes me about 35-40 minutes to get there.

Sounds about right, I got used to 6 hours of sleep or less in school. As far as class times, I'd figure out why they're so long.. perhaps there is a lab component to the class? Maybe there is a fast track or something? Either way if your classes are only 1:15 I'd take 4 a week.. (12 credit hours)

Most likely the ones that meet tues/thurs are longer because you're only meeting twice a week whereas the hour long classes prob meet M,W,F

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: pontifex
ok, now i'm confused...
i just looked at the class schedules online and they are showing classes that are like an hour and 15 minutes long. these are classes that meet twice a week.

i wonder if i was looking at something different then?

just looked at other classes and i'm seeign evening classes that are 1 hour and 15 minutes long. so i guess i can take 2 classes a night and do like tues. and thurs. then.

looking down the list, i see a few 6:30 - 9:30 classes that meet once or twice a week at a local HS instead of on campus. maybe thats what i saw?

That sounds better

Yes, you should only be meeting 3 hours per week for 3 credit hour classes and 4 hours a week for 4 credit hour classes (classes with lab mostly).

Be sure to schedule the two classes to be on the same night. It is much easier than going 4 nights a week to school. Be sure to pack some energy bars or such in your backpack to snack on between classes. You will get hungry.

 

[michaels]

I worked fulltime and took 12+ credits every semester.

 

[Utterman]

I work between 40-45 hours a week and take 4 classes a semester. Just have a strong work ethic and discipline and you can pull it off.

 

[pontifex]

now that i found out i must have been looking at something wrong, i should be able to manage 2 classes a semester. i don't think i'd be able to do more than 2 unless the 3rd class is one day a week.

i just can't see how i would be able to do it without losing a lot of sleep.

 

[ballmode]

it's tough... but doable if you got support for the funding and if you got kids... if they can be taken care of

 

[McGyver]

i had 3 jobs + full time school + gambling problem when i was studying in college. so big deal, screw that. just do whatever u can.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: pontifex
now that i found out i must have been looking at something wrong, i should be able to manage 2 classes a semester. i don't think i'd be able to do more than 2 unless the 3rd class is one day a week.

i just can't see how i would be able to do it without losing a lot of sleep.

I work full time 8 - 4:30 and take two classes in the evening, one is from 5:30 - 6:45 on tues and thurs, the other from 6:00 - 7:15 on mondays and wednesdays. My fioncee is doing the same thing, but her classes are only one day a week, so on is on tuesday from 6:00 - 8:30 or 8:45 and the other is on wednesday at the same time. We're both doing 6 credit hours. you just learn to eat dinner late, read ahead of schedule, try to get assignments done ahead of schedule if possible. If you've got something heinous(like my 20 page paper) and you are known to procrastinate(guilty) you might find yourself taking a day off of work here and there to get back on track. You find time, you stop watching television, you work out when you can and you get tired. Then the semester is over and you can relax, i cannot wait to get off work and have a full 7 hours of my own time before i jump in bed.


it seems weird to me that your classes are 4 hours a day two days a week. unless they are 6-8 credit hour classes.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: pontifex
now that i found out i must have been looking at something wrong, i should be able to manage 2 classes a semester. i don't think i'd be able to do more than 2 unless the 3rd class is one day a week.

i just can't see how i would be able to do it without losing a lot of sleep.

It's all about what you can handle. I suggest going with these two classes and see how easily you can manage it. If you find at the end of the term that you could probably do more than go for it, the more you can get finished the faster you'll have your degree. HOWEVER, don't use that as a reason to push yourself too hard because then you're just ****** yourself. It's a balancing act.. only time will dictate the outcome.