Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

I'm planning to go back to school to get my degree in a completely unrelated field to where I'm working. I'm looking to make a total career change but to be honest, I'm scared to death! To those of you that did it, how did you accomplish it?

The job I have now is in event coordination and when I have an event to run I have NO free time. It scares me to death to think how am I going to go back to school to get my degree while I'm working full time?

I don't have the luxury of going to work part time because I won't be able to pay my bills so I'm looking at working full time and going to school at night and on weekends.

I don't know what exactly I'm looking for, I guess I'm just kind of freaking out about doing this. It's going to take up a huge chunk of time for me and cost a fortune. I just don't know if I can do it.

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

I didn't switch careers but I did get my MBA when working full time - and my job is not 9-5, during my busy times i work til 9 or 10 at night and weekends. You can do it! Somehow you manage to get it done....you definitely need to be organized and on top of school work. I did have some late nights being up studying or writing papers which sucks but it was only a couple of times. I would strategize the classes i would take - i always took an easy class / professor and a hard class. Ask around when you start to find out about professors / classes etc. The semester during my busy time i would try to take classes I knew i could handle. KWIM?

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Posted by blue11

Posted by HoneyBadger

Posted by blue11

I didn't switch careers but I did get my MBA when working full time - and my job is not 9-5, during my busy times i work til 9 or 10 at night and weekends. You can do it! Somehow you manage to get it done....you definitely need to be organized and on top of school work. I did have some late nights being up studying or writing papers which sucks but it was only a couple of times. I would strategize the classes i would take - i always took an easy class / professor and a hard class. Ask around when you start to find out about professors / classes etc. The semester during my busy time i would try to take classes I knew i could handle. KWIM?

I totally get what you're saying and that's a great strategy.

I haven't been in school for almost 20 years so the thought of going back is incredibly daunting. I think for the first semester I may not even go full time just so I can see how things go and how I handle it.

I took 2 classes a semester, sometimes 3 if the classes were easy. I think when you go at night / weekends its different, most of the other students are doing the same as you and work full time. And the professors know, I found that the workload for most classes was very different than when i went to college - in a better way good luck it's totally worth it!

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

I was working in Construction Management and went to law school.

I worked 8-4 and took classes M-Th from 630-10. It was a long 3.5 years but I would not change it at all. I also took summer classes so I could shave off a semester.

I didn't have kids or a DH at the time which made it easier but many of my classmates were raising kids while doing it. My theory is that if it is something you really want to do you will find a way. I did take loans to help out with money. I also changed jobs part way through to work for a law firm to get experience.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

I went back for my Masters and I did it mostly P/T because I was working as well at the time. I went straight through the year though and took both summer and winter classes so I could finish faster. It took me 2 full years to finish.

I went back for my degree in education and ended up working as a substitute teacher while I was going to school which was a big help because I was able to get school work done on my prep periods and I was out early in the day for classes and schoolwork. Even with that, there were times it took a lot of my free time on weekends and evening in order to get my work done. Somehow, you figure it out and manage.

I did this before having kids which also made it a little easier.

It's scary and costly BUT if it's what you really want then I think you should go for it. Don't let fear hold you back!!...........you will figure out a way to make it all work!

Good luck!!!

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Posted by blue11

Posted by HoneyBadger

Posted by blue11

I didn't switch careers but I did get my MBA when working full time - and my job is not 9-5, during my busy times i work til 9 or 10 at night and weekends. You can do it! Somehow you manage to get it done....you definitely need to be organized and on top of school work. I did have some late nights being up studying or writing papers which sucks but it was only a couple of times. I would strategize the classes i would take - i always took an easy class / professor and a hard class. Ask around when you start to find out about professors / classes etc. The semester during my busy time i would try to take classes I knew i could handle. KWIM?

I totally get what you're saying and that's a great strategy.

I haven't been in school for almost 20 years so the thought of going back is incredibly daunting. I think for the first semester I may not even go full time just so I can see how things go and how I handle it.

I took 2 classes a semester, sometimes 3 if the classes were easy. I think when you go at night / weekends its different, most of the other students are doing the same as you and work full time. And the professors know, I found that the workload for most classes was very different than when i went to college - in a better way good luck it's totally worth it!

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I'm excited to do this, I just hope I can! It helps knowing so many others have done it and are in my position.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

You will be fine. Keep an open line of communication with your professors too. Remember it's in their best interest for you to do well, even if that means changing around due dates and such. And generally speaking, if you are feeling overwhelmed about stuff, so are the bulk of your classmates. My current students have told me that professors are always helpful in this area.

P.S. Ignore the token student who has nothing else to do but read for NEXT semester and do their papers ahead. I am always hearing stories about the one in every class.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

I did this a few years ago. I started out with taking two courses on a Saturday morning and then started taking night courses. I prefer the evening crowd as one PP mentioned, same working crowd, different mentality and understanding.

It becomes hard to juggle work and school but it's SO worth it. I studied on my commute to work and made worksheets to make it easier than carrying books. I read a lot of material on my commute.

Just prepare yourself to know when things are due and give yourself plenty of time to complete the tasks. If you have trouble with anything, just ask your professor or a classmate. I always asked to exchange email or a number with at least 2 classmates just in case of an emergency of an absence.

I wish you all the best and good luck! And have FUN!

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Look into Empire State College. DH works in Manhattan and doesn't get home until late and this is how he's finishing his bachelor's. It's more independent but it works with his schedule. Best of luck!

Message edited 4/8/2014 5:07:01 PM.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee

You will be fine. Keep an open line of communication with your professors too. Remember it's in their best interest for you to do well, even if that means changing around due dates and such. And generally speaking, if you are feeling overwhelmed about stuff, so are the bulk of your classmates. My current students have told me that professors are always helpful in this area.

P.S. Ignore the token student who has nothing else to do but read for NEXT semester and do their papers ahead. I am always hearing stories about the one in every class.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Whether you go back for a total career change or not -- working F/T and going to school is hard. BUT - being an older more "mature" student makes a WORLD of difference. You treat your studies in a way you can't believe compared to how you might've been 10-15 years ago. It's YOUR dime and YOUR time that is being used up that is so valuable, you find a way.

I decided in 2010 to go to school because I wanted to become an accountant. I only had maybe 6 credits from when I was younger so I essentially was starting from scratch. Found out I was pregnant the first 2 wks of my first semester back and it has been quite a roller coaster. Some nights I wanted to give up but honestly if you want it bad enough, you will work it out.

Next month I will be attending my graduation for my Bachelor's degree and I'm already half way to my MBA in accounting due to an accelerated program. I'm dog tired every day since I also wound up landing an accounting job at a firm right after my final undergrad semester last December, but I'm not stopping and will keep moving forward. You can do it! Just go for it and don't look back.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

My friend got her MBA while working long hours for an unreasonable boss.

She chose a school that was close & affordable--she did end up having to go back to work after her classes some nights ( when they were busy she got out of work anywhere from 9-12, ) and I think she did have to take an incomplete because she missed her final ( I think she was able to make it up later.) I'm not sure if she had to re-do any classes entirely, but it was an option because she went to a city school.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Also, while first semester is getting your feet wet, make sure you get recs for good professors. I also wouldn't stay away from someone who has a rep of "being hard". I had a lady once who was very controversial, argumentative and in your face. A lot of people were intimidated by her. In the end, she is the one person I ended up learning the most from and she actually gave me a couple of extensions when I was feeling stressed, but was able to spin it into a good life lesson at the same time if that makes sense. I was sad to learn from a former student that she is now teaching abroad. She was a good example of what it was like to work in my field.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

I made a career change and did a second bachelor's degree. Aside from maybe one humanities class a semester, I basically startred from scratch because I didn't have the background from my other undergrad degree to get a master's instead of a second bachelor's. I did it part time for a LONG time and always had at least 2 part time jobs that worked around my schedule (I couldn't get my classes at night). It was definitely tough and took way longer than I had hoped, but I don't regret it for a second. I also did it when I was single and before I had my son, so my time was my own to schedule. I found professors were willing to accommodate older, working students because most of us in that category were more serious about school and if we were having trouble meeting a deadline, it wasn't because we were blowing off the schoolwork or out too late partying, KWIM?

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

can you say what you would like to go back to school for?

i went back for a nursing degree from a business degree. i was told in my first semester of nursing to quit work, if i worked.

for my prerequisites i worked per diem at my old job and part time at other jobs. i saved up enough money for a long time to go back to school.

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Message edited 4/9/2014 2:14:38 PM.

Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?

Just want to wish you the best of luck!

Re: Going Back to School for a Complete Career Change: How do you do it?