A Guide to Studying for a Masters in Applied Statistics while Working Full-time

February 3, 2021

Deciding to go into a career in applied statistics after receiving your master’s degree means that you will soon have an endless amount of opportunity awaiting. On the other hand, you also need to prepare to switch into high gear, as your life is about to change drastically. This is never truer than when you already have a full-time job. While your major in is applied statistics, your everyday life is going to feel like you are running new equations and making calculations at every turn. Your schedule will be a lot busier, and you will be challenged academically, but working while going to college is very manageable. Just look at the statistics. Use this guide to studying for a master’s in applied statistics while working full-time to keep your life in order.

Know What Your Long-Term Goals Are and Commit to Them

So, you are preparing to get your master’s in applied statistics while you continue to work at your job full-time. Depending on when you are required to show up at work, you could end up taking your classes only at night and on weekends. With enrollment at an online college, you could potentially have a much more adaptable and flexible schedule. Go here to get the latest on exceling in applied statistics. With an understanding of what will be expected of you as an applied statistics master’s student, you can evaluate what your long-term goals will be. Are you going to take classes part-time until you earn your degree? Will you study every single day in order to keep your GPA up? Decide on what your goals are, commit, and then fulfil them.

Set a Schedule Immediately

You don’t have any time for playing around, so create a schedule that you can stick to while you study. Know when you are to be at work, when you are expected in school, and always do your best to show up on time. As such, you will need a routine schedule for every other aspect of your life. You are going to end up going to bed at set times, and you won’t be able to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock too many times either. Once you set that schedule, you simply have to stick to it if your goal is to graduate with a master’s in applied statistics.

Prepare for Work and School in Advance

Having a schedule is great, but you also need to take measures if you are fully dedicated to doing excellent in school. In particular, you need to organize and prepare for pretty much everything. This could mean ironing all of your clothes for the week, doing meal preparation in advance, and even having your car packed, turned on, and ready well before work. You could end up taking a new route to your place of employment because you are certain there will be no traffic jams, even if it takes a little longer. You may also need to stop watching certain TV shows because they simply come on too late at night. It can seem somewhat restrictive, but you really will be better for it if you are hoping to get your degree.

Know How to Practice Restraint

There are just going to be times that you are going to have to tell your friends and family, ‘no’, without feeling like you need to explain yourself. As long as your loved ones are aware of the fact that you work full-time and are currently studying for a master’s in applied statistics, there should not even be a need for you to come up with an excuse for why you haven’t been more social. Those last-minute invitations to parties and impromptu meet-ups after work are just going to have to wait for now. If a social event can’t be planned in advance and fit seamlessly into your schedule, go ahead and take a rain check so that you can focus on school.

Take on a Reasonable Course-Load

The easiest way to ensure that you do well in your studies is to ease into things. As much as you may want to take on as many classes as you can, at first you want to see how going to college is going to fit into the other parts of your life. Think about taking no more than two or three classes a semester so that you can feel things out. If it feels manageable, then you can fill up your schedule and attend several more classes. There are various ways that you can still complete a good number of classes each year so that you are not in college for many years. However, overwhelming yourself by leaving little time for anything besides work and school will lead you to underperform and burnout.

Use Your College Breaks Wisely

While you attend college, you will have a couple of lengthy breaks that can be used to regroup, refresh, and prepare for the next step. Graduate school isn’t required to go out into the working world; however, those with higher-level credentials do often earn larger salaries and have better job security. So, consider your future when you have your college breaks. During semester breaks, there is often the opportunity to earn even more credits. So, during the summer break, you could continue to take classes and potentially be able to graduate with a master’s in applied statistics faster. If you take classes part-time all year long, then you would graduate after two years, as normal. Even if you just use your semester breaks to catch up on your sleep and rest your body and mind, that would be the wisest thing to do if you really need it.

Keep Your Employer Informed

As you remain gainfully employed and work towards your master’s degree, you should keep in communication with your employer for several reasons. First, many employers are happy to learn that their workers want to further their studies. There could be tuition reimbursement options and other benefits available to you that would make it easier to get through school. If you keep your employer informed, they can help to make accommodations for you. It might be possible for you to have your schedule changed, or even just for your boss to be a little more understanding in general. Don’t keep your educational goals a secret and remember to keep your employer fully informed.

If You Need to, Ask for Help

At some point while you are attending college, you will probably need help from someone. You may need more one-on-one time with a professor. You might need help from someone in the financial aid department. You could even need help from your family for emotional purposes. Going to college and working full-time is not an easy feat. You may feel overwhelmed from time to time, or even question if you can reach your goal. Don’t get caught up in the moment. Ask for help whenever you need it, even if you feel like you need a lot of help at times. No one can offer support if they don’t know what you are going through.

Don’t Isolate Yourself

In your effort to get through college and receive your master’s degree, you may forget that graduation will mark a very special time in your life. College tuition is expensive, some courses can be harder than others, and keeping up with a full-time schedule requires a lot of adjustment if you also have a job. You will have to work hard to keep all of life’s distractions at bay as you study, but you also do not want to isolate yourself. You still need to have fun in your off-time, keep up with your friends and family, and treat yourself to much needed relaxation when you feel stressed. So, be sure to answer those unread text messages and emails, at least at some point.

Get to Know Your College Peers

Whether you are going to college online or get to shoot the breeze with fellow students as you go to and from class, it is helpful to do more than just introduce yourself. You will be studying the same material, working on the same projects, and hopefully, passing the same courses. Working together with fellow students in the form of study groups can not only help you to perform better, but it can also give you the support that you will need to get through school. Having peers that you can vent to, laugh with, and share tips with will make studying for a master’s in applied statistics all the better. Don’t forget that the same people you are taking individual courses with are also likely working towards a degree.

Even if you were studying for a master’s in applied statistics while working part-time, this would still be a challenging degree program to complete. And for good reason, as experts on statistics are in high demand. Use this guide to stay focused on your ultimate goal, learn what kind of challenges you will face, and give yourself even more reason to look forward to entering this amazing new chapter.

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