{"id":16826,"date":"2025-06-13T13:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T17:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/?p=16826"},"modified":"2025-06-13T13:59:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T17:59:57","slug":"how-to-balance-work-and-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/blog\/how-to-balance-work-and-school\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Balance Work and School: Strategies and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Young<\/figure>\n\n\n

As a working professional, you are already busy \u2014 likely dedicating 40-plus hours every week to your job. Combine this with family responsibilities, health, and hobbies, and there doesn’t seem to be much time left over. Despite time constraints, many mid-career professionals choose to return to school and become  students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earning an advanced degree can accelerate your professional and personal development and help you accelerate your career. Even if it might not seem like you have the time, it is possible to achieve a healthy school-life balance while pursuing an education. Consider the following strategies and tips for how to balance work and graduate school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicate With Your Employer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are considering enrolling in a graduate program, talk with your employer about your plans and any potential work schedule adjustments or accommodations you anticipate needing. The development of your professional skills will benefit not only you but also your company. You might even be surprised to find out just how supportive your employer will be of your goals. In fact, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management<\/a>, about 78% of employers pay for skill development opportunities, and 48% offer tuition assistance as an employee benefit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider an Online Program<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although many programs accommodate working professionals with night and weekend classes, the demands of attending in-person sessions can still make it difficult to maintain a steady work-school-life balance. Online graduate programs \u2014 like the Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)<\/a> here at Boston University (BU) \u2014 enable students to enroll, attend, and complete coursework from almost anywhere in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online classes are typically offered in two formats: synchronous and asynchronous<\/a>. Synchronous courses occur at a scheduled time, and everyone simultaneously attends live classroom sessions<\/a> remotely. Asynchronous classes offer more flexibility, with lectures available to watch at your leisure and discussions taking place in online classroom forums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pursuing a degree online provides flexible learning options that busy professionals can work into their schedules. While students attend classes and complete coursework online, these programs still offer quality education, opportunities for developing skills, networking opportunities, and real-world, hands-on lessons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a Schedule<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you have a lot to accomplish in a day, every minute counts. Thus, effective scheduling is key to managing your time while still keeping up with your professional work and your schoolwork. An effective schedule accomplishes two goals: prioritizing tasks and allotting enough time to complete them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When prioritizing tasks, make a list of everything you need to accomplish, and then order them from most to least urgent based on the deadline and importance. This will ensure you accomplish the tasks that must be done right away first and maximize any extra time to get ahead on less-urgent to-dos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, block out your time based on how long you think certain activities will take. Be realistic about how much time you will need and be sure to leave some room for unexpected events, breaks, and some downtime so you don’t burn out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While creating your schedule, reference copies of your course syllabi and make note of important dates (e.g., project deadlines and exams) on your calendar. Additionally, knowing what will be expected of you in a class will help you balance your schedule and priorities between upcoming work, school, and personal obligations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manage Your Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The efficient and productive use of time characterizes effective time management. When it comes to how to balance work and school, creating an optimal schedule provides you with a strategy for getting everything done, and practicing good time management enables you to execute the plan. To manage your time effectively:<\/p>\n\n\n\n