I would recommend, if at all possible, to be a full-time student. Obviously, right?
When I first started CR school (the FIRST time) I was working full-time and raising my little girl on my own. The latter hasn't changed, thank goodness, but I've gone through lots of changes with the job issue. I have a habit of getting so excited about school. I was one of those kids that loved the "Back to School" sales and then by the time school came around not only had I lost most of the supplies but most of my enthusiasm as well. I was more for the idea of school and not so much the day to day reality of it all. I was pretty good in school, but I have to say that I never learned to study properly and lacked the skills to organize. When the admissions person from CR school interviewed me they told me how many hours it would require, asked my study plan, and I had all the answers. I would study before school, after school, and late into the night if I needed to, as well as on the weekends. Reality can be a bit of a slap in the face, can't it? I ended up cutting my hours, but it didn't make a huge difference. I should point out that on Saturdays I drove about 200 miles RT to get to school so at least one of my weekend days was shot. I failed theory because honestly, I just wasn't putting the time into it.
I restarted a few times but was either still working too many hours or just didn't have the right study plan. When my employer downsized, at the time I was devastated, but it turned out to be one of the best things to happen. Except financially. I was lucky to be able to be a full-time student (and I realize this is a FT program and many of us are FT students AND employees of at least PT status) and an online student as well. I was able to make some progress. I started working part-time about a year ago, and last month I had to add a second (part-time) job. I am very lucky that I'm able to work from home and for the most part the jobs are stress free. Although the training period for the second part-time job was a challenge. A job you have to study for and school? Not a great idea, but in the long run it's totally worth it. And isn't that what this is all about?
What has your experience been with work and school? How do you balance it all?
I also wanted to say thank you for the comments, and this is going to sound incredibly dorky, but I'll embrace that. I have three followers! (See, I told you it was going to sound dorky.) Yes, I'm easily pleased and easily excited.
