How do you do more than one grad class a semester?

[soliloquy]

I completed my master's degree in 16 months by going full time (3 courses per traditional semester). I have a family (husband, son, a foster child). I work full time and volunteer as a guardian ad litem and sit on several professional association boards. I'm also POA and HCPOA for a family member who suffered a stroke a few years ago and there is a lot to do there as well. So you can see I have a lot of obligations vying for my attention.

For me, it took careful planning - mapping out my day-to-day so that there was no wasted time. It also takes your support system agreeing to make those sacrifices with you. I never would have pushed through at that pace if my family wouldn't have agreed to "suffer" with me while I worked towards this goal.

I think it can be done but it's difficult and you have to be willing to sacrifice a social life in order to stick with your schedule. Some people are willing to do that, some people aren't. I'm introverted so not going out as frequently with friends didn't hurt my feelings any. I really wanted to get it done as quickly as possible by any means necessary. I suppose you have to weigh whether it's more important for you to finish quickly while making sacrifices or more important for you not to have to make those sacrifices.

[SweetSecret]

There is a website where students upload syllabi. You can also ask a professor or chair of a department if they will send you syllabi. Some colleges may even have all the syllabi on their website. If there are multiple online reviews complaining about excessive work, then it's probably true.

Can you share the name of the website on this thread, or PM me with it? Thanks!

[doctormommy]

I'm currently taking one grad class a semester at Amberton.
There is SO much writing.
I have no idea how anyone takes more than one grad class a semester - especially people who have more work hours and family obligations than I do.

I want to take 2 classes next semester but I'm worried I won't have the time or energy.

Where do you find the time and the motivation?

I guess I could work some more on the weekends, but I'm usually house-cleaning and doing chores and family stuff.

How do you manage? Do you buy more time from the time-Gods? If so, how much they charging these days?

If I can do it... YOU CAN DO IT!! I am over 40. I am EXHAUSTED. I have held a job every year since I was old enough to work (14). I've worked through all of my schooling... undergrad, masters, and now doc. I now have two kids... a 4 year old and an 8 month old... I have taken 2 courses every semester for the past four years and I also work full-time. It is extremely difficult to do this with a full-time job but I have to admit doing it with kids is TOUGH and nearly impossible... because lets face it - something's got to give... it might be my time with kids or my sanity or a combo of both... and that sucks... but its short term and I'm keeping my eye on the prize. I am HIGHLY motivated. I am also strung out on caffeine and very sleep deprived... I also question my life choices at some points lol. But I have a very loving and supportive husband and two beautiful children that I am so grateful for and I am doing this to get the doctorate so that I can get a full-time teaching / research gig (HA! because they are so easy to combe by - not). At any rate... you can do it. And tho prospects for a full time tenure track faculty positoin look very slim for me.... I'm still doing it. I'm still going for it.

I even did it the semster I was gigantically and uncomfortably pregnant and the semester I gave birth in! I am now still doing it... into the summer as I get ready to complete my dissertation proposal defense. I usually take the summers off to recoup but this summer is full speed ahead ...so I am really beaten down from the Fall 15 the Spring 16 and now Summer 16 going into Fall 16 without a break....

Unlike children- two courses isn't that different from one... WIth kids- there is a HUGE difference between caring for one kid (not too bad) and caring for two (insane amounts of work... I hear the move from two to three or more kids is not that big of a change... haha).

But seriously.. if you are doing one class - you can handle two. I have had to write insane (to me) amounts of work for two classes... at least 5-6 25 page papers a semester for each one... but ... I like writing.. it comes easily to me...when I have the time to do it. I feel I have a lot to say and bring new perspective to my field. But I do require a lot of down time to think and ruminate and ponder... and that is something I am short on because of the kiddos. So I need to steal moments of time... early in the morning... and very late at night... and my physical and mental health suffers for it... to get it all done... lots of coffee very little sleep... very little exercise time... crappy diet... etc... I pay for it in numerous ways.

My problem isn't motivation to write... it's stealing moments to write... like trying to watch two little kids and one of which is an extremely needy breastfed 8 month old who just won't ever stop crying untiless he his held constantly.. he's so beautiful though... but exhausting... and the other is a very active 4 year old who is very demanding as well... no day care here.. just me and hubs both working split shifts to make it work...

Now for my soap box moment - I do think working women... and especially those with children face different obstacles to time management as we tend to bear the burden of most of the childrearing and housework (this is support by research not just a flippant claim) and if work full-time like many of us.. it becomes a bit much but we get it done.

So do it. Take the two courses... YOU CAN DO THIS. If you have kids, if you dont, if you work full time or part time or not at all... or if you do both and then some more ... do it... come on. You got this.

I don't know if you are doing MA or PHD/EDD/DBA... but I will say that a masters is quite different from a doctorate...both in expectations of time management and output of papers and research... the two *can not* be compared. I wouldn't have known otherwise until I started my own doctorate journey... it's world's different... not at all comparable in terms of stress and productivity.

[sanantone]

Can you share the name of the website on this thread, or PM me with it? Thanks!

Now, I can't remember the website or how I found it. If I can remember or find the name in my old emails, I will post it here. I remember I had to post a syllabus in order to get access to other syllabi.

Edit: I found it, but I don't think the website is up anymore. It was called Syllabus Central.

[dfrecore]

If I can do it... YOU CAN DO IT!! I am over 40. I am EXHAUSTED.

Whew! Reading this just made me tired. But I am lazy...and I value a relaxed lifestyle more than just about anything else on the planet. When my kids were little, the thought of going 90mph or taking college classes to me would have been torture.

But, I think for everyone, it's just different. I would not be a happy camper doing life this way, and neither would my family (apparently they are lazy too!). But some people's families and lives just run at different speeds. You can't compare yourself to anyone else. Between doctormommy and myself, there's a middle ground where most other people are, and you just have to determine what's important to you and adjust to whatever that is.

I'm definitely considering the ENMU MBA program specifically because I do not want to do the WGU/Patten thing. I am not in a huge rush to get my MBA. I have time. So, actually being limited to 2 courses per semester is what I LIKE about the program. I may even just do 1 course the first semester or two (or maybe all of them). I'm even willing to spend more money on the MBA to do it this way (rather than 1 or even 2 terms at WGU).

[Hunter91]

I'm currently taking two classes per semester at Amberton. It's my second semester so far, and my workload averages to about 17-20 written pages a week. The first 3 weeks of this semester I was working 50 hours a week and had no free time. I also really started feeling burned out before even hitting the halfway mark. Because of this, I reduced my hours at my second job so I could take more time to sleep, relax, not get burned out, and not stress myself.

I remember reading a thread on here before I started at Amberton where someone finished an MS at Amberton in 7 months. This person took 3 courses per semester, and ended up taking 4 (if my memory serves me right) for their last semester. I wanted to finish fast like this person, so I signed up for 3 classes my first semester. I was working part-time back then, and it was simply all too overwhelming for me, so I dropped one course. I ultimately decided I'll stick with two classes per semester. I was trying too much to act like someone else without being someone else. I'd recommend to find your best balance and go from there. After this semester you can try to take two classes for next semester, and if you feel it is overwhelming you can either drop one course, or you can suck it up and realize your life will be nil for the next 10 weeks, but you will have learned more about your personal work threshold, and will probably not repeat that mistake again. Your true limits only reveal themselves if you push past them. With that said, you can only do the best that YOU can do.

At this pace I'll have started and finished my master's within a year. I keep telling myself, "It's a marathon, not a sprint" and I'd recommend you tell yourself that as well. Each of us has a different tolerance to work and stress, so while we can look at others for guidance and motivation, it is our own personal qualities and limitations that will determine how much we can handle. I would also say that the work doesn't get easier, but you do become more efficient at completing it over time, so hopefully you will find some comfort in that.

[dfrecore]

I'm currently taking two classes per semester at Amberton. It's my second semester so far, and my workload averages to about 17-20 written pages a week. The first 3 weeks of this semester I was working 50 hours a week and had no free time. I also really started feeling burned out before even hitting the halfway mark. Because of this, I reduced my hours at my second job so I could take more time to sleep, relax, not get burned out, and not stress myself.

I remember reading a thread on here before I started at Amberton where someone finished an MS at Amberton in 7 months. This person took 3 courses per semester, and ended up taking 4 (if my memory serves me right) for their last semester. I wanted to finish fast like this person, so I signed up for 3 classes my first semester. I was working part-time back then, and it was simply all too overwhelming for me, so I dropped one course. I ultimately decided I'll stick with two classes per semester. I was trying too much to act like someone else without being someone else. I'd recommend to find your best balance and go from there. After this semester you can try to take two classes for next semester, and if you feel it is overwhelming you can either drop one course, or you can suck it up and realize your life will be nil for the next 10 weeks, but you will have learned more about your personal work threshold, and will probably not repeat that mistake again. Your true limits only reveal themselves if you push past them. With that said, you can only do the best that YOU can do.

At this pace I'll have started and finished my master's within a year. I keep telling myself, "It's a marathon, not a sprint" and I'd recommend you tell yourself that as well. Each of us has a different tolerance to work and stress, so while we can look at others for guidance and motivation, it is our own personal qualities and limitations that will determine how much we can handle. I would also say that the work doesn't get easier, but you do become more efficient at completing it over time, so hopefully you will find some comfort in that.

Ah...that's what we forget sometimes; that if what we're doing isn't working for us, we can change it!

I think that you sign up for 1 class the first term and see how it goes. If you think it's a piece of cake, take 2 classes the next term. If 1 class is what works for you, stick with that.

Whatever we decide to do with this school thing, nothing is set in stone. You get to change your mind!

[kevinmane]

I'm currently taking two classes per semester at Amberton. It's my second semester so far, and my workload averages to about 17-20 written pages a week. The first 3 weeks of this semester I was working 50 hours a week and had no free time. I also really started feeling burned out before even hitting the halfway mark. Because of this, I reduced my hours at my second job so I could take more time to sleep, relax, not get burned out, and not stress myself.

I remember reading a thread on here before I started at Amberton where someone finished an MS at Amberton in 7 months. This person took 3 courses per semester, and ended up taking 4 (if my memory serves me right) for their last semester. I wanted to finish fast like this person, so I signed up for 3 classes my first semester. I was working part-time back then, and it was simply all too overwhelming for me, so I dropped one course. I ultimately decided I'll stick with two classes per semester. I was trying too much to act like someone else without being someone else. I'd recommend to find your best balance and go from there. After this semester you can try to take two classes for next semester, and if you feel it is overwhelming you can either drop one course, or you can suck it up and realize your life will be nil for the next 10 weeks, but you will have learned more about your personal work threshold, and will probably not repeat that mistake again. Your true limits only reveal themselves if you push past them. With that said, you can only do the best that YOU can do.

At this pace I'll have started and finished my master's within a year. I keep telling myself, "It's a marathon, not a sprint" and I'd recommend you tell yourself that as well. Each of us has a different tolerance to work and stress, so while we can look at others for guidance and motivation, it is our own personal qualities and limitations that will determine how much we can handle. I would also say that the work doesn't get easier, but you do become more efficient at completing it over time, so hopefully you will find some comfort in that.

I appreciate everyone's advice. I definitely agree with Hunter here. You're right; I should just try doing 2 classes next semester. If it's too much, I'll just suffer through it for 10 weeks, git 'er done, and then go back to just doing 1 a semester again.

Like others have mentioned, I'd like to finish as quickly as possible. The sooner I finish the MA, the sooner I can start applying for higher-paying positions at my work; but I guess that won't mean much if I don't get good enough grades to eventually graduate in the long run. So it's better to play it safe, test out the waters before diving in, and then keeping a good pace to subsequently have no problems in graduating, whether it be in 6 months or 12.

[cookderosa]

I'm currently taking two classes per semester at Amberton. It's my second semester so far, and my workload averages to about 17-20 written pages a week. The first 3 weeks of this semester I was working 50 hours a week and had no free time. I also really started feeling burned out before even hitting the halfway mark. Because of this, I reduced my hours at my second job so I could take more time to sleep, relax, not get burned out, and not stress myself.

I remember reading a thread on here before I started at Amberton where someone finished an MS at Amberton in 7 months. This person took 3 courses per semester, and ended up taking 4 (if my memory serves me right) for their last semester. I wanted to finish fast like this person, so I signed up for 3 classes my first semester. I was working part-time back then, and it was simply all too overwhelming for me, so I dropped one course. I ultimately decided I'll stick with two classes per semester. I was trying too much to act like someone else without being someone else. I'd recommend to find your best balance and go from there. After this semester you can try to take two classes for next semester, and if you feel it is overwhelming you can either drop one course, or you can suck it up and realize your life will be nil for the next 10 weeks, but you will have learned more about your personal work threshold, and will probably not repeat that mistake again. Your true limits only reveal themselves if you push past them. With that said, you can only do the best that YOU can do.

At this pace I'll have started and finished my master's within a year. I keep telling myself, "It's a marathon, not a sprint" and I'd recommend you tell yourself that as well. Each of us has a different tolerance to work and stress, so while we can look at others for guidance and motivation, it is our own personal qualities and limitations that will determine how much we can handle. I would also say that the work doesn't get easier, but you do become more efficient at completing it over time, so hopefully you will find some comfort in that.

And you know what? A masters in 1 year IS FAST. I think if you live on this board, it's easy to get caught up in speed.

[sanantone]

I'm currently taking two classes per semester at Amberton. It's my second semester so far, and my workload averages to about 17-20 written pages a week. The first 3 weeks of this semester I was working 50 hours a week and had no free time. I also really started feeling burned out before even hitting the halfway mark. Because of this, I reduced my hours at my second job so I could take more time to sleep, relax, not get burned out, and not stress myself.

I remember reading a thread on here before I started at Amberton where someone finished an MS at Amberton in 7 months. This person took 3 courses per semester, and ended up taking 4 (if my memory serves me right) for their last semester. I wanted to finish fast like this person, so I signed up for 3 classes my first semester. I was working part-time back then, and it was simply all too overwhelming for me, so I dropped one course. I ultimately decided I'll stick with two classes per semester. I was trying too much to act like someone else without being someone else. I'd recommend to find your best balance and go from there. After this semester you can try to take two classes for next semester, and if you feel it is overwhelming you can either drop one course, or you can suck it up and realize your life will be nil for the next 10 weeks, but you will have learned more about your personal work threshold, and will probably not repeat that mistake again. Your true limits only reveal themselves if you push past them. With that said, you can only do the best that YOU can do.

At this pace I'll have started and finished my master's within a year. I keep telling myself, "It's a marathon, not a sprint" and I'd recommend you tell yourself that as well. Each of us has a different tolerance to work and stress, so while we can look at others for guidance and motivation, it is our own personal qualities and limitations that will determine how much we can handle. I would also say that the work doesn't get easier, but you do become more efficient at completing it over time, so hopefully you will find some comfort in that.

17-20 pages per week for two courses? Let me put Amberton on a list of schools to never attend.