It’s hard enough surviving grad school when school is the only thing that’s on your mind. For working women, the challenge is even harder.
It can seem like there are five thousand things constantly demanding your attention, especially if you have a family. But many women still choose to go back to school for the benefits that postgrad education can offer. People with master’s degrees have salaries thirty percent higher on average than people with a bachelor’s.
You can balance both school and work with these top tips for surviving grad school as a working woman. Read on to learn more!
1. Choose A Flexible Program
Going back to school doesn’t mean you have to be on campus all the time. Find a program that’s flexible enough to meet your schedule.
If you need to be at work from nine to five, find a graduate program that will let you take classes at night or on the weekends. If your schedule is always changing, maybe an online program is best — you can learn more here about online programs.
Work whenever is best for you and your schedule.
2. Prioritize
As women, we sometimes feel the pressure to do it all. It’s not enough to just have a good job and be in school. It has to be a great job, we have to be acing all of our classes, and we have to keep everything held down at home — all while looking flawless.
The fact is, we can’t do everything. Prioritizing is key to surviving grad school. What is most important and what can you do after a good night’s sleep? Try making a to-do list with the most important things at the top. If it’s towards the bottom of your list, save it for later.
3. Take Care Of Yourself
If you’re trying to juggle too many things at once, all the areas of your life will suffer. It’s easy to spread yourself too thin.
As busy as you might be while balancing work and school, remember to always take care of yourself. For some people, that might mean taking a few moments out of the day to meditate. For others, it could be a glass of wine with a significant other or friends.
Whatever helps you recharge, make time for it in your schedule.
4. Make Sure You Have A Support System
Grad school is hard to get through alone. You should have a support system to turn to when times get tough.
Building connections with other people in your program is especially helpful since they’re more likely to understand how hard it is surviving grad school. They also could be great connections after graduation.
It’s also great to have people like your family and friends to vent to when you’re frustrated. Grad school will take up a lot of your time, so having a supportive network will make it less stressful.
Make Surviving Grad School Easier
Whether you’re in school for your MBA or Ph.D., use these tips today to start taking charge of your grad school experience. Surviving grad school doesn’t have to be a struggle!
Looking for more advice for women on the go? Check out our lifestyle tips.
