Weigh the pros and cons of full-time versus part-time enrollment to create the course schedule that fits your lifestyle.
As a student, you have a variety of unique decisions to make as you proceed down the pathway toward higher education. Aside from the typical decisions of where to go to school and what you want to study, you will also have to decide if you want to be a full-time or part-time student.
These options align with the needs of different types of students, and each comes with a specific set of advantages and disadvantages. The Excellence Academy can help you to explore some of the similarities and differences in order to help you choose the best option for your lifestyle.
Commitment
Part-time courses and degree programs have a very different level of commitment than do full-time programs. Full-time students are expected to treat their studies as the main focus in their lives. Full-time students commit at least 12 hours weekly to online coursework alone, which doesn’t take into account the necessary time to complete assignments and study for tests. Part-time students might take one class a week, requiring only a few hours of off-line study time.
Depending on how many classes you take, part-time programs can take up to five years to complete. Full-time programs, on the other hand, can take three to four years to finish.
Adult Learners
Many adult learners decide to ease into their new educations by taking one or two classes to start. This can help make the transition from full-time work to school a bit easier. Others find it beneficial to jump straight into full-time coursework, in hopes that they can finish their degree in less time. The decision between full-time and part-time often comes down to two factors: time and money.
Time
Depending on how many classes you take, part-time programs can take up to five years to complete. Full-time programs, on the other hand, may be completed in fewer than four years. The decision between the two options often depends on a student’s goals and future plans. If you simply don’t have the time it takes to complete a program, then a full-time or a more strenuous part-time schedule might be more beneficial for you.
Weekly time commitment is also a factor in the decision between full-time and part-time studies. Students who work full-time, or have family or social commitments that require a significant amount of their days usually opt for part-time studies. A student who doesn’t have a lot of weekly responsibilities often finds that they can handle full-time student status as well.