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Date Submitted: 11/12/2012 07:45 AM
Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success
University of Phoenix
HCS/504
Graduate study provides knowledge in specific areas, which may advance career opportunities. Unlike undergraduate courses, graduate study consumes more time and energy. The decision to enroll in a graduate study program can be a challenging endeavor. Full-time employment, time constraints, and family situations, can hinder the graduation process. This paper will address three challenges and offer strategies for the graduate student’s success.
Most adults must maintain full-time work schedules to support their families. Traveling to college after a long day’s work is difficult. Waking up early in the morning and coming home late in the evening can cause physical and mental stress. Increasing knowledge and earning power should not be an unrealistic goal. Unfortunately, graduate courses are time consuming. Endless reading of articles, typing papers, and meeting deadlines uses valuable time. Weston-Kramer (2007) has found that online degree attainment may provide flexibility, without traveling to class. This advantage also entails learning at the student’s own pace without leaving home. Although online degree obtainment can save in traveling time, the student must be able to sacrifice, show diligence, and apply effort to be successful. Personally speaking, my family values online education. My housekeeping pressures are eliminated by studying online. I can be at home and in the classroom simultaneously while doing family chores.
Some students may have other responsibilities besides earning income. Taking care of children and elderly parents can take up most of the graduate’s time. To balance the busy graduate’s life schedule, the first priority must be time management. Setting specific priorities and remaining faithful to goals, enables the student to spend time with family members. According to Bishop,...