I have firsthand experience with time management as a graduate student. I entered my first program of graduate study at a large state university one year out of undergraduate school. To pay the bills I bartended part-time and served as a graduate teaching assistant.
My second graduate program began over a decade later while married with two kids, a house, and a full-time job. I also served as a graduate assistant but this time I attended a small private university. Working as a GA is how I paid tuition. Though this post is not about money, graduate assistant duties must be considered when managing time. In my case, I forfeited time for money. All situations are unique but nearly all require some form of sacrifice. If earning a graduate degree was easy, everyone would have one.
“I’m worried I won’t have the time to study and attend class.”
When I hear comments like this one I reassure folks that it can be done. It’s all about priorities. When you take the plunge and begin graduate school it’s important to prioritize how you will spend the majority of your free time. You may have to give up some television and/or gaming but most folks are surprised at how much free time they currently waste.
This is the priority I used:
1. Family
2. School
3. Work
Also, depending on your chosen field, you may be able to use work-related projects for classroom assignments. I myself took advantage of opportunities to knock out work tasks as part of my studies. This can be an effective time management strategy.
“I can make time for classes, but there’s no way I can keep up with the reading.”
When I hear comments like this I recall a class I took on the subject of Modern Rhetorical Theory. The 16-week graduate seminar required I read these books:
· Lacan — On Feminine Sexuality, the Limits of Love and Knowledge, 192 pages
· Foucault — The Archaeology of Knowledge: And the Discourse on Language, 256 pages
· Bahktin — The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays, 480 pages
· Derrida — Writing and Difference, 362 pages
· Toulmin — The Uses of Argument, 262
· Burke — A Grammar of Motives, 554 pages
At first glance, the reading list appeared intimidating. However, if you add up the total pages and divide by 16 weeks (typical semester), you end up with just over 130 pages per week. Graduate students, depending on their major and research focus, should expect 75 to 200 pages of reading per week, per class. Two three-credit-hour courses per semester is a full-time load for graduate students. It may sound like a tremendous amount of reading but it really isn’t. In fact, reading hundreds of books per year is possible by simply cutting back on social media and television.
Before I began graduate school I made it a personal goal to read one book per week for a year. If you can do that you can survive reading in graduate school. Be warned, reading a 400 page Stephen King novel per week is very different from reading 400 pages of academic writing. The beauty of reading for your graduate degree is that you have chosen to gain a deep understanding of the subject matter. Pick something you love to learn about and the reading won’t be such a burden.
“I’m worried I’ll get burned out and quit.”
This is always a concern especially when matters of health and/or personal relationships start eating into your study time. Luckily, most master’s programs are set up to be completed over two years (i.e. 30 credit hours split over 10 courses) with a maximum of seven years to complete the program. No matter how long it takes to graduate it’s important to find a balance between work and school. My first foray into graduate school I worked part-time and attended school full time. My second go-round I worked full time and attended school part-time. Attempting full-time work and full-time graduate school is not recommended. You may risk flunking out of school and/or losing your job.
Remember, no matter how crazy family, school, and work may become, a break is always around the corner. In the spring semester, most schools have a spring and Easter break followed by summer break. During the fall semester, you’ll enjoy a fall break, Thanksgiving break, and then Christmas Break.
“I don’t know that a graduate degree will be worth all the time.”
Time spent investing in yourself is never wasted. The potential Return On Investment (ROI) associated with completing a graduate degree can be significant.
You’ll be busy and you’ll have to turn down a few social engagements in favor of reading and research but it will be over sooner than you think.
You’ll be glad you invested the time.
