Master's degree vs. full-time job: How to do both
Master's degree vs. full-time job: How to do both

August 6, 2019

Tips for Grads: Master's degree vs. full-time job - How to do both

Personal Effectiveness
Pursuing your master’s degree while balancing a full-time job, social life, and family obligations takes strategic planning in all aspects of your life. Use these three tips to help lighten your workload and manage your commitments.
  1. Plan ahead. You know to schedule blocks of time throughout the week to focus on school, but be sure to look at your longer term class schedule as well. If you’re considering using paid time off around final exams or while working on an important project, make sure to set that PTO aside so it’s available when you need it. Keep your calendar up to date, and be sure to get approvals ahead of time.
  2. Gather support. You’ve likely talked extensively with your immediate family about your education goals, but you may also want to include your manager and coworkers. Whether your employer is funding your education or not, be prepared to answer their questions and share your learning plan.
  3. Find your 25th hour. There may be only 24 hours in a day, but there are likely moments within them you can put to use. Whether it’s listening to a lecture on your commute, sneaking in study time on your lunch break or streamlining errands, capitalizing on these small periods of time can lessen your workload throughout the day. You may also consider waking up an hour earlier to take advantage of the quiet time before the sun rises. 

Professional and Career Development

DiscoverPD: Your Guide to Professional Development
DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. Review the nine facets of professional development, complete a self-assessment, and get a customized report and recommendations. 

Wellness Tips: Financial wellness

GradReady is a free, online financial wellness program available to all UW–Madison students, staff, faculty, and alumni. By creating an account, you can learn about money management, credit, budgeting, and other finance topics. GradReady also offers personalized budgeting tools that you can use to make a plan and keep track of expenses. Visit wisc.gradready.com and click on Create an Account to get started.
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