So, who else did (is doing) the "work fulltime and go to college" routine?

[jread]

I'm in the process and it's definitely not easy. Makes me wish I would've had my sh*t together back when I was 18 and free of bills. Then again, I feel like I'm getting more out of it since I'm more mature and work harder and making good grades (4.0 so far). I took 6 hours last half-semester, taking 6 hours this summer, and taking 9 hours in the Fall. I plan to keep up a year-round schedule until I finally finish. This is on top of working a fulltime job and then my other responsibilities at home. We're also buying our house and getting married next year on top of it all.

I know some others on here have done this (and maybe even much more). How did you get through it? Was it hard to stay motivated and keep your grades up? Would you say that it was all worth it in the end? I know it will go by faster than I think but it's still hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes After the fall I will have 37 hours left to finish.

 

[mchammer187]

i didnt

and am glad

now that i'm working full time i really miss college and really find myself wanting to go back for another 4

graduated may 04

 

[Orsorum]

I've been in school nonstop since October 2001, I worked full-time this last fall while taking 18 credits (5 classes). That drove me to a mental breakdown.

For anyone that does 15-18 credits while working 40 hours a week and makes decent grades, I salute you. That takes a huge pair. (and I've worked 20 hours a week since Fall 2002)

 

I've got two part time jobs and I'm a full-time student (both are on-campus jobs).

It's hard, but I love my jobs (and it pays the bills), so I'm happy to do it.

 

[JSLIM]

not motivated to go back to school, bills need to be paid.

 

[Anubis]

i worked 20 hours a week in school but i worked for the school so i guess thats a lil different

 

[middlehead]

Did it for a year and a half, paid for my whole run

Sitting on a 3.85 GPA going into my last semester.

That's 3.85 out of 4, in case anybody goes to a fruitcake school where they go to 5

 

[scorpmatt]

been going to school fulltime since january of 04. started my job mid april of 05, started night classes at my school january of 05. The day classes were from 8am to 4pm 5 days a week. the night classes go from 5pm to 10pm. I work from 7.30am to 4pm. these 15 hour days are gonna kill me one of these days.

Edit: I'm currently holding a 3.95 GPA as well.

 

[dderidex]

I worked full time (50 hrs wk+, although paid for 40, as tech jobs usually are) and went to school full time (only 14 credit hours, IIRC).

Did that for a couple years - first and a half, wasn't married. Even taking care of house, working full time, and going to school full time is all possible under such conditions.

Got married, and 6 months later had to drop school. Didn't start going back (and THEN only REALLY part time) until a few years later.

I'd say most people, if they REALLY tried, can hack the equivelant of 3 full-time jobs at once for an extended period of time.

Merely HAVING a wife (no kids, nothing, just HAVING a wife) counts as 2 full-time jobs for purpose of the above calculation.

 

[miri]

I go to school full time but do not work 40 hours a week.

 

[MetalMat]

I worked as a waiter for most of my college life. Used to work doubles over the weekends to pay my bills. Fun times: Go to work friday, go out after work or play a gig, work a double on saturday (also go out or play a gig after work) then work either sunday mornings or a double. Besides that I would work 2-3 night more out of the week. All this while taking 16-18 credit hours. Pulled off a 3.1 :beer:

 

[neovan]

Worked full time and was taking in about 15 units/semester. I wouldn't recommend it but I think you learn to manage your time more wisely. GL.

 

[ggnl]

I did it. Graduated 2 weeks ago. I wouldn't recommend doing it. It's definitely not very fun.

I guess it was worth it, but I didn't really have a choice. My parents couldn't afford tuition, so the only way to do it was by myself. If I had a choice I would choose to not work. All my friends were having a lot of fun while I was slaving away.

 

[spacejamz]

graduated from HS in 1987 and started working full time. Started taking community college classes off and on since 1989. Finally got my Associates in 2002 (with a 3.4 GPA) and now working on a BS...

 

[trmiv]

I worked full-time and went to school both part and full-time for a few years. It sucked, but I did it. If I had it to do over again, I would find a way, any way to just go to school. I missed out on the entire "college experience" because I worked full-time.

 

[BRObedoza]

tried working fulltime my first year of transfer and my grades went down the crapper. quit during my second year and my grades are still in the crapper

 

[monk3y]

I was throughout college, now I'm done with college so I work around 52 hours a week.

 

[jread]

Originally posted by: trmiv
I worked full-time and went to school both part and full-time for a few years. It sucked, but I did it. If I had it to do over again, I would find a way, any way to just go to school. I missed out on the entire "college experience" because I worked full-time.

But is the "college experience" really a big deal? All I remember my friends ever doing was going to parties and getting drunk, over and over and over. I didn't feel like I was missing out by not going. I much preferred being by myself and playing videogames, etc. Then again, I'm quite an introvert so I probably don't fully appreciate social interactions.

 

[Sphexi]

Did it...did the work full time go to highschool/college thing actually. Now that I just work fulltime it's like a vacation, I have days off where I do NOTHING, rather than days off that I go to class but not work, or go to work and not class.

 

[DainBramaged]

I work 50ish hours a week and go to school full time during spring and fall semesters.

 

[StageLeft]

That sounds like it sucks, but the less bills you come out of uni with the better.

But is the "college experience" really a big deal? All I remember my friends ever doing was going to parties and getting drunk, over and over and over. I didn't feel like I was missing out by not going. I much preferred being by myself and playing videogames, etc. Then again, I'm quite an introvert so I probably don't fully appreciate social interactions.

I'm an introvert, too. You're right about what the college experience is, and to answer your question: yes, it's a big deal. You'll look back when you're 27, your life is a mess and you work an office job, and think fondly about drinking with your buddies, back when the biggest thing on your mind was some meaningless essay due in a week, and not how the heck are you going to make that next mortgage payment, get your wife to stop cheating and say she loves you again, and make that sexual harassment ordeal at work just go away.

In terms of "fun", yes, university ranks up there. Just make sure you live on/near campus.

 

[jalaram]

I worked full time while working on my master's. However, that really lengthened my time in college.

 

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

I'm working fulltime and going to college fulltime.
I admire you though... with a wife, kids, and mortgage... I bet it makes it 10x more harder. All I have to worry about is myself.

 

[Dracos]

Originally posted by: jread
I'm in the process and it's definitely not easy. Makes me wish I would've had my sh*t together back when I was 18 and free of bills. Then again, I feel like I'm getting more out of it since I'm more mature and work harder and making good grades (4.0 so far). I took 6 hours last half-semester, taking 6 hours this summer, and taking 9 hours in the Fall. I plan to keep up a year-round schedule until I finally finish. This is on top of working a fulltime job and then my other responsibilities at home. We're also buying our house and getting married next year on top of it all.

I know some others on here have done this (and maybe even much more). How did you get through it? Was it hard to stay motivated and keep your grades up? Would you say that it was all worth it in the end? I know it will go by faster than I think but it's still hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes After the fall I will have 37 hours left to finish.

I totally understand what your going through. I just returned to school at the beginning of the year and between family, typical tech job of 60+ hrs a week and College, I still have no idea how I am keeping an A- GPA. I took the summer off but things will pick back up once Sept hits and its back to school.

To top it all off We are buying a house and getting married next year. I still have no idea how I am fitting this all in.

 

[Feldenak]

I did. I averaged 13-16 semester hours while working 38+ hours/week.