Fulltime or parttime? Nontraditional Forum

[sarahd]

Stating the obvious...thinking outloud and hoping other nontraditionals can offer perspective...

I have been accepted to GSU and can choose fulltime or parttime. I am older(almost 40) and do work fulltime with a family. I do NOT have to work, my money from work is my fun money/spending money, but I enjoy my job. After looking at my schedule potential as a fulltime student versus parttime student and pairing it against my volunteer obligations and work schedule, I found that I would be occupied by work or school for more hours per week as a parttime student than as a fulltime student. I will be more available as a mom/volunteer if I go fulltime. I can not see any reason to go parttime if I don't need to work for the money...is there something I am missing??

[FreshPrince]

Non-traditional here also.

I would say if you don't need the money, don't work. There are a lot of advantages to going full-time. Usually, part-time programs are set up for 4 years instead of 3 years full-time. You'll miss out on a lot of programs held for students during the day if you have a 9-5 job. Also, from the research I've done comparing the two options, you will have more of a community feel and form lasting relationships with professors, classmates and future colleagues in a full-time program whereas the part-time community is often disjointed.

In addition, there is somewhat of a negative stereotype among the corporate world when evaluating part-time law students compared to full-time students from the same schools or even similar ranked schools. I've talked to a lot of lawyers in my workplace and around my community about a part-time and a full-time program in my locale and how they are viewed. I've been outright told that full-time students are preferred candidates unless you have a really good reason for not giving up your day job or you did exceptionally well in your part-time program.

[Connelly]

I attend GSU PT. If you work full-time and go to school part-time, you will have little to no time for volunteering or your family. It is a brutal schedule, and it leaves little time for anything else. If it is any indication, I know of very few, if any, PT students that started with me who could switch to FT that did not. Many students just find a way to go FT.

We have very few people in the PT program who don't work full-time. If anyone used the PT program as a back door into the school, they are hiding it well. In fact, the school jumped 12 spots in the rankings this year even though the PT students were included in the rankings. Also, the reputation of GSU PT students seems to be very good within Atlanta. Depending on the employer, it can be an advantage. For the most part, it is a wash at GSU, as it really comes down to grades and what else you can offer.

The PT students are a very tight-knit group, although it is a smaller group than FT students. You also might find yourself more comfortable with us "non-traditional" students in the PT program who [strike]are older[/strike] have more work experience.

My suggestion would be to go FT if you can swing it. You're out a year earlier and should still be able to see your family some (including summers, which most of us PT students don't take off). And it's likely after the first year of PT that you'd be trying to find a way to switch to FT if you could make it work.

[PolySuyGuy]

Stating the obvious...thinking outloud and hoping other nontraditionals can offer perspective...

I have been accepted to GSU and can choose fulltime or parttime. I am older(almost 40) and do work fulltime with a family. I do NOT have to work, my money from work is my fun money/spending money, but I enjoy my job. After looking at my schedule potential as a fulltime student versus parttime student and pairing it against my volunteer obligations and work schedule, I found that I would be occupied by work or school for more hours per week as a parttime student than as a fulltime student. I will be more available as a mom/volunteer if I go fulltime. I can not see any reason to go parttime if I don't need to work for the money...is there something I am missing??

Generally speaking. Part-time for non-traditional. Especially in this economy.

[PolySuyGuy]

What did you decide?