For future reference and planning, a good rule of thumb for time management:

1 hour of class may require 1-2 hours of outside prep.

So taking a single 3-unit class may require 3-6 hours of study time outside of class, or a total of 6-9 hours a week.

If you are working full time (40 hrs/wk), every 3-unit class you take can severely impact your weekly time schedule.

I suggest making a time management plan so you can see where all your time goes. No sense biting off more than you can chew. Use the time management plan to “stack the deck” in your favor so you set yourself up for success.

Use some graph paper to make a chart of the days of the week (these will be column headings), and then all 24 hours of the day (these will be row headings).

Fill in the matrix (boxes) for every hour of every day of the week to see where you are spending your time. Start with the “fixed” blocks of time…those things you don’t control when they happen…sort like class time and work.

Then fill in the “non-fixed” activities…..eating, sleeping,commuting, studying, washing, cooking, cleaning, etc (all the other things in your life). Don’t leave any empty boxes…you need to account for how you spend every hour of every day in a typical week.

Yours might go something like this:

1) there’s only 168 hours each week

2) most folks want 8 hrs of sleep/night, so -56 hrs / wk

3) work (full-time 40 hrs/wk) -40

4) class time (you have 9 semester credit hours) -9 hrs in class each week (if you drop the class, then -6)

4) say 1 hr of study outside class for each hr in class; -9 hr/wk (some folks need 2 hrs outside for each hr in class; that would be -18) (adjust as needed if you drop the class)

figure 1 hr / day for washing up; -7 hr / wk

figure 2-3 hrs/ day for eating; -14 or 21 hrs/wk

figure 1 hr/day to commute to school; -3 or -5hrs/wk

At this rate, you could have about 6-24 hours left to “spend” each week….but do you really?

then there’s driving, shopping, appointments, dates, relaxation, family…wow…where does the time go?

Well, that’s the point of the schedule and time budget. When you see it all laid out on paper…you literally see where the time goes…now you can also begin to adjust, flex, cut, add, set priorities….do whatever to “manage” and take control over how you use time. This is much like money…at the start of the week, you have money in your wallet. At the end of the week, most folks are surprised how little is left in their wallet because they don’t remember spending so much. Most folks don’t write down how much they spend for what…and memories being what they are….well, so where did all the money go?

Also consider you familiarity with the subjects / courses you take. If some are harder for you than others, don’t take a bunch of hard ones in the same semester. Same for the easy ones…not all in the same semester. Mix and match to balance the load.

Learning is a life time journey….it doesn’t end with your diploma or degree. So there is NO rush to get it done.

However, since you are working full time, is your job related to your major? If yes, that’s great. No matter when you graduate, you have job experience. When you graduate, you will have both the degree AND the experience. Most students have a degree and the killer question in the job interview is “So what kind of experience do you have?”

Also, find out if your company has an education plan that pays or reimburses you for relevant education costs….for taking courses that enable you to do your job better…which can also lead to promotions / pay raises in the company. So firms require you to continue working for them for a few years after supporting your education…but some don’t have that requirement.

And, if your course work does not qualify your for the job you already have and will NOT qualify you for another job…you may be able to deduct the educational expenses (e.g. tuition, books, supplies, etc). Learn more about this at http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/… and talk with a tax accountant. It helps if you have the job descriptions for your current job and the next step up if you were promoted.

Sure hope this helps you. Best wishes in your studies.