School + Work = STRESS!

[Sir Fredrick]

For the last two years, I was pretty much a straight A student, except for one class where I had no choice but to miss the final...and I couldn't make it up, so I got a C. Anyway, this year I am working full time and going to class full time and I can barely keep my head above water.
I've failed every other Calc II test -- and I've ACED the other half. I just hope this adds up to a passing grade.
I've got a 3 point in ASL so far, but that's going to change soon after the final next week. And my Calc II final is 2 days before that.
I'm doing ok in World Civilizations except I have a hard time keeping up with the assignments...I've got a final for that due in the next two days, and I've missed two quizzes because I haven't had time to take them.
Ironically enough, I'm taking a stress management class, which isn't helping...I turn in all my assignments late.

What the hell am I doing posting here? I don't know.

Anyone else out there working and going to school? how do you manage?

edit: oops, I didn't really mention what I meant by "school"...I'm referring to College. Also, I work as a Software Engineer.

 

[toph99]

i'm in highschool but have the same problem, so i put in my two weeks notice on sunday. my last day is the 16th, hopefully my grades will pull up.

 

[MrCodeDude]

I only work on the weekends and whenever I have the time on the weekdays. That's what is nice about my webdesign job
-- mrcodedude

 

[SillyMan]

look at it this way for the most part stress is a way of life.
but your stress can lead you to something better and what you are doing now is trying to make sure you have options for the rest of your life so you can reduce that stress ( and I wish you well in doing so )
other places in the world their stress is just trying to stay alive with not much hope of it getting better for them

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< I only work on the weekends and whenever I have the time on the weekdays. That's what is nice about my webdesign job
-- mrcodedude >>



I'm guessing that neither you or toph99 are supporting yourselves? If you can pay rent, car insurance, car payments, and all your other bills by working a couple days a week, then you must be making damn good money...so hats off to you.
I can't afford to quit, I'm living on my own. I'm making pretty good money so I could afford to cut back my hours...but my boss wouldn't like it, and I'm trying to save up enough money so that I can finish my senior year without having to work.

SillyMan - Thanks for the view on perspective. I often get so caught up in the stress that I lose sight of the long term goals...

 

[hcarlson]

going to school, working part-time, and have a kid and wife...it's alright, just not alot of time...

 

[MrCodeDude]

Yeah, I'm not supporting myself. But if I work during college it will be saving for a house or so.
-- mrcodedude

 

[bandXtrb]

FULL TIME Job and school? That is INSANITY. I have never heard of anyone who would attempt to do that..

My friends go to school full time and work part time, which is stressful enough. One of them works 13 hours of work a week, which is more than enough stress with all the schoolwork.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< FULL TIME Job and school? That is INSANITY. I have never heard of anyone who would attempt to do that..

My friends go to school full time and work part time, which is stressful enough. One of them works 13 hours of work a week, which is more than enough stress with all the schoolwork. >>



Well then call me insane.
I can usually manage, except when finals all come due within a week of eachother. gah.
Next semester won't be so bad, hopefully. If I fail Calc II this time then I'll have to take it again though, in which case my workload isn't going to improve.

 

[jmcoreymv]

I work 40 hours a week as a BB tech (yes i know) and I take 5 ap classes at my highschool. Heres how I manage to pull straight A's:

1. English - all that reading that gets assigned (usually 200 pages a week for me), just buy the cliff notes instead, and on the upside they provide insight for you so you dont have to think either
2. Physics - comes naturally easy and for the homework I just write down tons of numbers to make it look like work
3. US History - luckily I had a really good AP Euro teacher last year so I somehow learned pretty much everything in AP US history so I dont bother reading
4. Math Analysis - Just like physics but the teacher doesnt make homework mandatory
5. Comp Sci - finish all my programs in class

So if you are willing to cut corners, a full time job and full time school are manageable.

 

[Nitemare]

I'm in the same boat as you...40 hours a week as a software engineer, except I'm only taking 10 hours. Calc is kicking my as$ as well. Add the holidays into that as well... plus a wife he wants to spend time with you and go out and have fun...

Working 40 hours...taking a Calc class, a programming class, and a 200 level english class...What exactly is this thing called fun? I will see if I have room in my schedule for it...Nope

 

[MrCodeDude]

I've noticed with assigned reading that sometimes I'm just lost and have to read the chapter over again. Usually, that doesn't help so I turn to SparkNotes.com
-- mrcodedude

 

[RanDum72]

Why don't you lay out your schedule for us so we can look at it and make suggestions? With hectic schedules, time management is the most
important thing. You have to make the MOST out of every minute. Every break, every waking time counts. Can you take classes or work
weekends? You have to be flexible ( and also your schedule) in order to make everything go. On stress management, if you have tried your best
and come out a little short, don't be dissapointed and dwell on it. Move on and plan your next move. Overanalyzing things is also stressful,
just think about something funny when things get too busy.

 

[notfred]

<< I work 40 hours a week as a BB tech (yes i know) and I take 5 ap classes at my highschool. Heres how I manage to pull straight A's:

1. English - all that reading that gets assigned (usually 200 pages a week for me), just buy the cliff notes instead, and on the upside they provide insight for you so you dont have to think either
2. Physics - comes naturally easy and for the homework I just write down tons of numbers to make it look like work
3. US History - luckily I had a really good AP Euro teacher last year so I somehow learned pretty much everything in AP US history so I dont bother reading
4. Math Analysis - Just like physics but the teacher doesnt make homework mandatory
5. Comp Sci - finish all my programs in class

So if you are willing to cut corners, a full time job and full time school are manageable. >>



That doesn't work in college. They dont let you do work in class. Class is for lecture. And in labs, you're lucky to finish the experiment in the time alloted msot of the time.

 

[MrCodeDude]

College seems like it sucks
-- mrcodedude

 

[Sir Fredrick]

sparknotes.com? I'll have to check that out...sounds like it could be a life saver!

My schedule goes something like this:

M-F
9-5: Work

Tues & Thursday:
6 - 8: Calc II

Saturday:
10:30-3: American Sign Language

My other two classes are online, so I squeeze them in whenever I can.
I also have laundry and dishes to do. It's pretty pathetic but I only do dishes about once a week, they pile up in the sink in the meantime.

This week I left work early a couple times to gain some extra study time before the Calc II test, and now I'm going to work this weekend to make them up.

I also cook a big dinner about once a week and then eat leftovers the rest of the time.

I try to see my GF at least a couple times a week too, and it takes 20 minutes of driving to pick her up, 20 minutes back, and then another 40 minutes to bring her back.

 

[Ladies Man]

there are 2 people on my college baseball team working full time/school full time and still find time for baseball
its amazing

those guys are doing good also... one guy is around 40k the other i think is really up there around 70k
Its really amazing

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< College seems like it sucks
-- mrcodedude >>



Nah, my freshman and sophomore years were awesome because I only worked a little, and it was a slack off workstudy job, where I basically got paid to study. I also made a lot of friends.
This year, I'm in a new place, supporting myself, and the only person I really know here (besides my co-workers) is my GF.

If you're just working or just taking classes, it's a breeze.

 

[gopunk]

well i don't work full time... i work 15-20 hours a week. i have a 5 hour break in between my 2 classes (taking only 2 helps), so i work for 3-4 during that time.

 

[bandXtrb]

<< If you're just working or just taking classes, it's a breeze. >>

So if I'm just taking classes, and its stressful, something must be wrong with me?

 

[eshrai]

i was working full time and going to school full time, but i had to drop one of my classes so i didn't go insane. if you have good study habits it wouldn't be too difficult. ( i don't) it also helps if you have easy classes...my hardest one is history...really...its hard...

 

[fastz28]

Another insane guy here.

Work full time and taking 12 hrs of graduate courses.

I work Sun - Thur and classes all day (8hrs) Fri & Sat. Time management is the key, plus not a lot of social time.

This explains why I'm online on Friday night neffing.

Actually I find coming here neffing after every hour of study is a stress reliever.

 

[Jfur]

Yeah, it's tough, but it will be worth it. Just think about how close you are to semester's end and focus your time on what you need to get done. Set a time limit for each thing, and then morve on to the next.

 

[bigdog1218]

ahhh life is sweet, I go to northeastern, and after my coop this quarter, plus an extra job on the weekend i'll have plenty of money for the next quarter of classes and some left over
so i only have my workstudy, which is a joke, and an extra job on the weekend when i'm in classes so its easy to balance everything out

 

[tgillitzr]

when i was in school one of my friends was working a part time job at Fedex...which was about 5-6 hours a night, 5 nights a week. I then worked at the school in the mornings about 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, and then went to school in the afternoons, 5 days a week.

so he was working close to 60 hours a week, plus school.

it was crazy