If you’re a part-time student, I’m sure you’ve heard the adage that “the best time to start your degree is right now.” This is great advice because it’s true—if you can manage it. As a part-time student myself (and someone who was once an avid full-time student), I wanted to share some tips with my fellow part-timers about how we can make our lives as students easier and more fulfilling.
Life as a part-time student
As a part-time student, you have to be organized. You’ll have to find time for classes and studying that works with your schedule. You also need to do your best not to feel overwhelmed by all the other things happening in your life–family, friends, and other interests.
If you’re lucky enough to have flexible hours at work or school (or both), it’s important not only that you’re willing to ask for help when necessary but also that others know how much work goes into being a part-time student and will respect this commitment when making plans with friends or family members who are also students.
Section: what are the pros of being a part-time student?
The pros of being a part-time student are:
- You can take a break from your studies if you need to.
- You can work part-time to earn money while studying, which will make it easier for you to pay for your course fees and living expenses.
- Studying on your own time and at your own pace means that you can fit your studies around other commitments like family or work.
What are the cons of being a part-time student?
The cons of being a part-time student are as follows:
- You may be working full-time and have other responsibilities. If this is the case, then it will be difficult for you to find time for studying. Your study time will be limited because of all your other commitments.
- You may need to sacrifice other activities in order to fit everything in (e.g., work or family). This can be frustrating if you were hoping that becoming a part-time student would give you more flexibility in your life!
- In some cases, students take extra courses just so they can get their required credits quicker and finish their degree sooner than expected. However, this means spending even more money on tuition fees without gaining any real benefit from it (unless those extra courses count towards something else later on).
A part-time study can be very rewarding
The first thing to know about being a part-time student is that it requires careful planning and prioritizing. If you’re working full time and raising kids, it’s hard to find time for schoolwork–especially if the classes are at night or on weekends. You have to be organized and flexible enough to rearrange your schedule as needed.
Being a part-time student also means asking for help from others: your spouse, other family members, friends who can drive your kids around after school until yours come home from work (and vice versa), and even neighbors who might be willing to watch them so that both parents can work during the day instead of paying for daycare services every week.
Time is the biggest factor in fitting everything in
- Time is the biggest factor in fitting everything in. You will have to learn to prioritize your tasks and plan your day and week accordingly.
- Prioritize your tasks by importance, not urgency: Urgent things are often not important, but if you have time for them (and if they’re urgent), then do them! But don’t let yourself get caught up in doing things that aren’t important just because they seem urgent or easy–you’ll end up wasting a lot of time on these things instead of working on what’s truly important to you.
- Learn how to say “no”: Saying no isn’t weak; it’s an essential skill for managing your time effectively so that you can focus on what matters most at any given moment in life–and especially as a student who has many competing demands on her attention each day! Saying no allows us all the opportunity we need when making decisions about how best use our limited resources such as money & energy both physically & mentally.”
Set priorities and stick to them
If you’re going to be a part-time student, it’s important to set priorities and stick with them. For example, if you have a job that requires you to work during the day (or at night), make sure that your schedule allows for adequate time to study and complete assignments. If necessary, take advantage of online resources like Coursera or Khan Academy so that you can take courses from home instead of attending classes on campus.
If possible, try not to procrastinate–and don’t be afraid of asking for help! Your peers may have already taken some of these classes before; they might even be able to offer some great advice about getting through them successfully!
Don’t neglect your family, friends, and other interests
You’ll want to make sure you’re not neglecting any important parts of your life. You may be tempted to put all of your energy into school and forget about everything else, but this won’t help you in the long run.
Here are some things that can get neglected:
- Family and friends. Make time for them! It’s easy to become so busy with work and classes that you don’t see them as often as you should, but you mustn’t ignore them entirely–and even if it takes longer than usual for a visit or phone call because of schoolwork obligations, try not to let too much time go by without communicating with loved ones. They’ll understand if they know why! And if they don’t understand right away (or ever), then just do what works best for everyone involved until there is more understanding available later on down the road.
Create your support network
- Create your support network by asking for help from others and letting them know what they can do to help you succeed.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice, or assistance when it comes to studying or finding a job while in school. You will be surprised by how willing people are to give their time and energy if they know how much it means to you!
Part-time students can succeed if they are organized
As a part-time student, you have the freedom to pursue your interests and passions. You don’t have to be perfect; in fact, there is no such thing as perfection! Instead of comparing yourself with others or feeling guilty about not accomplishing everything on your list, focus on what matters most and make time for it.
If you need help along the way–and we all do at some point–don’t be afraid or embarrassed about asking for it. Asking for help doesn’t mean that you are weak but rather shows strength in knowing when someone else has skills or knowledge that could benefit your work or studies.
In conclusion, part-time study is a great way to get the most out of your time at university. It allows you to focus on what matters most and gives you more flexibility when it comes to balancing work and study commitments. However, it does require careful planning as well as a willingness to ask for help from others when necessary!
