You will probably be spoilt for choice if you’re looking to do part-time studies while keeping your job. There is a whole list of universities from Britain, US to Australia offering a wide range of choices to suit your career choice. And these institutions, government and private, are attracting good enrolment each year.
This is a positive trend because learning should not stop when school’s out. Lifelong thirst for knowledge assures your employability and helps in your career development.
But ask anyone juggling work and studies with personal commitments about their experience, and you will get an earful about how stressful and exhausting it is. All said, many have gone through and passed. Some are working on shifts, some have jobs that require them to travel and yet they were able to juggle and balance their life to cope and complete the course successfully.
What does it require you if you’re studying part time? Usually it means at least a few weekday nights and/or weekends will be spent in class from 7-10pm. It is physically and mentally draining to attend class after a long day at work. But after a few weeks, you will get adjusted. It becomes a routine.
Making time for assignments or projects and exam preparations is another regimen which you need to get accustomed to. Remember, you’re an adult or matured student – you can pace your studies according to your schedule. So don’t sign up for too many modules in a semester. Best keep to two modules to balance with your day job requirements.
Now what course should I choose? First, consider if you want to grow in your current career, or do a switch. For one, doing a course relating to what you’re doing in your day job makes it easier to understand what’s in the textbooks. This, however, should not deter you from pursuing your dream if you want to take an entirely new course unrelated to your work.
Next is to consider your abilities. If you are not good at writing, then avoid a course that weighs heavily on writing skills. Or if you’re weak in Mathematics then don’t do a course that demands such skills. You want to do a course that you are comfortable with, be motivated to pursue relentlessly until you graduate, perhaps two to three years later.
Then look carefully at the institutions offering the courses. Make sure they are reliable and are licensed by the Ministry of Education. Look up the internet pages for reviews by students about their school or lecturers. It is important to do a course that is recognised by employers if you are to extract value from your hard-earned degree. Never assume that getting that degree will get you the boost you want.
Persevering through graduation
Choose a course with a schedule that suits your study pattern
Courses for working adults are typically offered on weekend afternoons and weekday evenings. Are you able to cope with staying awake in class at night? Are you disciplined enough to do your own reading or do the school’s projects at night when you are not in class? Can you discipline yourself to stay focused in class right after a long day of work? Doing well will be a pipe dream if you are going to spend most of the class sleeping or spacing out.
Know your deadlines, plan your timetable
Find out major deadlines for projects and assignments, dates for tests and exams. List them down on a large piece of paper and stick it up somewhere in your bedroom as an ever-present reminder. When planning your timetable, leave some room for contingency. Never leave things to the last minute as they will snowball and you are likely to fall flat.
Identify periods when you can study without distraction. Many find studying between 9pm to 2am a good window. Often it’s not about how much time you spent studying, but how much quality time you spent absorbing the facts.
Form a study group
Join forces with like-minded people to get you through those tough times when you feel your enthusiasm giving way. Studying with others who are in a similar situation makes you feel that you are not suffering alone. However, if your study group is just a group chat then opt out sooner or later. You will be better off studying alone.
Family support
Family support is one of the most important factors in helping you establish a healthy balance. Family members are the ones you can fall back on unconditionally when you need assistance. Seek their support and understanding and they will certainly encourage you.
Take care of your health
If you fall sick, you will have plenty to catch up on when you have recovered. Keep yourself healthy by getting sufficient sleep and lots of water. Get some exercise each day, and eat at regular timings to avoid gastric.
Find time to relax
While you will have to sacrifice much of your leisure time to study, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Make sure you at least have a bit of fun and social time each day.
– This article first appeared in a lifestyle magazine
