Working full time + grad school + a learning disability = is it possible?

Graduate School
1

Hello everyone,

I am currently going back and forth between whether I should attend graduate school or not, and I don’t have a lot of time to decide since I need to figure out loans and apply to the school.

To give a brief background on myself, I have ADHD, I got my undergraduate at William Paterson University and plan to get my MFA at William Paterson if I go to grad school, I graduated honors with English (GPA WAS 3.9), and I’m currently working full time at a temporary job. When I was at William Paterson for undergrad, I only worked about 8 hours a week and still felt a bit overwhelmed with the course work because everything was much harder for me due to my ADHD. I did get disability services which I don’t think will matter much in Grad school.

My question is, with all of the odds against me—working full time to save money to move out, my ADHD, and my growing age (I will be turning 25 this year. I graduated much later than everyone else) do you think I can overcome and make it through Grad school? My program is 41 credits and I really want to finish in about 3.5 years and maybe push it to 4 years if I have to which would mean that I would take 2 classes in the fall and spring semester and some online/in person classes during the summer. I think I can pull it off, but I’m paying out of pocket, so I’m also nervous I’m going to fail.

I know each college is different when it comes to the challenges of an MFA Program and how hard it is, but what are your thoughts? How hard is an MFA in professional writing? I understand this is a broad question, but I would like to hear your thoughts as I really would love to pursue an MFA in professional writing (the field I hope to go into is the publishing industry as an editor.)

2

@aymanderz - I hesitated to reply to you because I don’t have ADHD and I know exactly nothing about what’s required for an MFA. But I know what it feels like to post questions and nobody responds. (I now have three sons in three different colleges, with one heading for graduate school, so I have asked a lot of questions on CC.)

FWIW, I worked full time as an attorney while working on my MBA and was very successful in the long run. However, the MBA program that I was in (Michigan) offered enough evening classes that it was possible to take classes two nights a week – fall, winter, and spring – and graduate in four years, instead of the normal two. Even so, this was not easy and my social life was pretty much non-existent. I had to drive 40 miles to Ann Arbor and 60 miles home and there were a lot of times when I was driving home on I-94 at 10:00 pm in the winter that I questioned my sanity. But I did not have kids at that time, so at least that was not an issue.

A friend of mine got both her MBA and a law degree in ten years while working full time as an accountant and with two kids at home. That seems impossible to me, but she did it. I worked with two other attorneys who had worked full time while going to law school nights. So I wouldn’t rule out what you want to do. One advantage you will have is that you should be much better at allocating your time efficiently compared to students who went right to graduate school from college. And you definitely seem to have the brainpower, even if it processes words a little differently than other brains.

Whatever you decide, good fortune to you!

3

First, I think anyone going to graduate school needs to evaluate what their professional goals are first and foremost. Graduate school is a big commitment. Make sure you’re going to grad school with specific career goals in mind that are only achievable with the degree you’re seeking. Don’t just go to grad school because you don’t know what you want to do with your life. Sounds like you already have a goal in mind, but I just wanted to

Have you taken steps to manage your ADHD since you were in undergrad? (i.e. counseling, medication, etc). If you haven’t already tried these measures, it might be good to look into. I know someone who medication made a world of difference for! Also, I’m not sure if MFA programs require/recommend taking the GRE, but that might be a good way to gauge how your focus has come since undergrad, as typically most people study for the GRE. The person I mentioned earlier started on medication for ADHD after grad school and found studying for the GMAT much more feasible than trying to study in undergrad.

I’d hardly consider 25 “growing age”! I’m in graduate school now (biomedical sciences Ph.D. program). I started at 25 and was younger than many, many people in my program. Age is just a number :slight_smile:

Good luck!

4

Some people do work full-time and do a graduate degree full-time. I was never one of those people, but I wouldn’t recommend it. A full-time graduate degree - especially one like an MFA in professional writing - requires attention and some immersion aspects to it; it’s better to do it if you can either devote your energies to it almost fully (working part-time would be fine) or if you can complete it part-time. If you really can take 2 classes a semester, then that might be doable - but that depends a lot on you.

Also, are you sure you need an MFA in professional writing to be an editor?

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It is not required to have an MFA in writing as of right now, but from what I hear about graduate programs is that it will enhance how you look, how much you get paid in the long run, etc. A lot of jobs in writing pay squat, so if I were to get an MFA and work my way up, the MFA could potentially get me into a high position at a publishing business or a magazine business because I have an MFA and many people in publishing only have a BA. Really, the purpose of the MFA would be for the long term, but it’s not necessarily needed in my industry… I would just be a step ahead of most applicants. Also, I have to be honest, I feel like I hardly learned anything in my BA for the editing industry. I know it’s a learning process and you have to get experience, but I feel really really unprepared. The MFA would provide me with a more in depth teaching of it. Lastly, one of my long term goals is to teach at a university, if possible. I don’t plan on ever getting a PHD, but most colleges offer positions for writers to teach with an MFA, so that’s another goal of mine. Anyway, that’s why I’ve been thinking about an MFA. It seems like a Bachelors degree is not enough anymore and I’m nervous that an MFA will become a requirement eventually, but if I already have it, I don’t have to worry. Does that reasoning make sense?

6

Thank you. That made me feel a bit better. I guess I’m just nervous about committing and failing because of my ADHD. Everything is a bit harder for me, but I’m very dedicated to academia when I’m in it, so I feel like I could do it if I really committed.

7

An issue is that the MFA from WP will not be super marketable. Try and look at programs from top schools, and save in the meanwhile. In the publishing industry, connections are paramount and grad school prestige really matters.
In my opinion, you’re better off working and saving for now, and looking into what it’d take for you together into a stronger program.

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I mainly wanted to go to willyp because I did my undergrad there and for this particular program they don’t require the GRE. But you’re right. You all pose a lot of points and I truly appreciate it. I guess I was just nervous about going to grad school later because I’m turning 25 this year. I didn’t want to take it too late, but I see what you are all saying

9

Average age is something like 27-28 in many professional school programs. Don’t worry about your age. Find strong programs, regardless of where they are (NYC or Iowa!)

10

I worked as an editor in college textbook publishing for 20 years and didn’t have an MFA in writing–I had a graduate degree in a totally unrelated field. I fell into the job; it was totally unplanned. As you probably know, the publishing industry is extremely competative. I’m not sure that an MFA will give you much of a boost over other applicants. That being said, if you really want to pursue an MFA, I would do it full-time and try to get into the highest ranked program.

Here’s a ranking of MFA Writing programs in the US with information about funding and post-grad placement. (http://www.pw.org/content/2011_mfa_rankings_the_top_fifty_0?cmnt_all=1) If I were in your position, I’d apply for one of these programs that offers funding and where the cost of living is low. You will probably have to take the GRE and will definitely need to provide writing samples.

Since your goal isn’t to be a writer, but to work in publishing, you might want to look into non-degree programs that focus on publishing. The publishing industry (both trade and academic) is primarily in NYC. If you went to a program in New York you would probably have more opportunities for networking after you finished. The Columbia School of Journalism has a 6-week publishing course (https://journalism.columbia.edu/columbia-publishing-course) and NYU has options as well (http://www.scps.nyu.edu/academics/departments/publishing.html). At the last company I worked for, we hired a woman who had a graduate degree in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College in Boston (9http://www.emerson.edu/writing-literature-publishing/publishing-writing). Boston doesn’t have as many job opportunities as NY, but it’s got more than many other cities.

Finally, 25 is not old for graduate school. Good luck!

11

Who is telling you this information? I am not in publishing or editing, so I defer to the experience of people who are. But I do want to say that you should just make sure that the advice you are getting is coming from professionals in that field OR from professionals who are well-connected and knowledgeable about that field. Graduate programs are always going to encourage you to get a graduate degree. And it’s a common misconception to believe that a master’s degree in general puts you ahead of BA-level applicants, but that’s not always the case. In fact, many employers would take a BA-holding applicant with 3 years of experience over an MFA-holding applicant, depending on the field. Another common misconception is that having a graduate degree means you can start at a higher level than people without one, but that’s not always true either - experience is usually valued over education.

I also agree with the advice that a degree from William Paterson isn’t necessarily going to be super marketable…reputation and prestige of program matters a lot more for graduate school.

IMO, avoiding the GRE is never a good reason to apply to, or not apply to, a specific program. Think about it this way: The GRE is 3-4 hours of your time on a random day. Even if you include studying, that’s what, an additional 10-20 hours? Where you get your graduate degree can affect the whole trajectory of your career. Do you want to base your long-term career decisions on trying to avoid one exam that at most affects 25 hours of your life?

That’s normal. A BA isn’t supposed to prepare you for a specific industry; you learn that stuff on the job. I would be cautious in assuming that any MFA program will teach you how to navigate the publishing industry, though; MFA programs usually are academic writing programs.

[qupte]Lastly, one of my long term goals is to teach at a university, if possible. I don’t plan on ever getting a PHD, but most colleges offer positions for writers to teach with an MFA, so that’s another goal of mine.

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AH, here are some issues. First of all, you should now that the academic job market is terrible. It’s especially terrible in the humanities and writing. Competition for jobs teaching writing and literature is super steep. You’ll also be competing with people who have both an MFA and a PhD (yes, people do it!) Because of that, if you wanted to teach at a college/university, it’s imperative for you to get your MFA at the best-reputed program you can. WPU, unfortunately, is not the kind of MFA that will make you competitive at many departments of writing/English.

12

OP I know everyone here is telling you about how difficult it would be but no one seems to relate to you. I don’t have ADHD but I can relate. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Now, I don’t know much about ADHD but my disorder I know it very well. It’s hard I am not going to lie but completely possible. Sometimes I study all day before a test and when I have to take the test my anxiety kicks in and is like a mental block. It’s frustrating knowing that the information is in your brain but you can’t access it. It also very hard to explain. But therapy has helped a lot. Now, I’m not in grad school but I am a mechanical engineering major an currently have a 4.0 gpa. Many people in engineering (without mental disorders) don’t have that gpa. My goal by saying this is not to boast but to tell you that everything is possible if you set your mind to it. Get the medical help you need and go for it.

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I also work full time like you :slight_smile:

14

First of all, forget about the age thing and take your time with this decision.

If you have a diagnosis from a professional that has fairly recent documentation, you can probably get some extra time on the GRE. Look into that.

Do you any experience with “professional writing”? Many internships, including many at non-profits in cultural or service areas, need interns who can write. There are also jobs to be had, that require good writing. I wonder if you would consider doing an unpaid or paid internship first, whether in the publishing industry or elsewhere.

If you really want to do a master’s, I can understand why you would want to continue where you are, since it’s comfy, doesn’t require a GRE, and you may know faculty. And it may be convenient in terms of location and continuing your life. If WP works for you, don’t let anyone dissuade you.

I think it is important, even at the grad level, to make sure the education you are getting is worthwhile, rather than focusing only on employability. Amy grad school, if it funds you, offers a sort of laboratory for development, and that can be valuable regardless of outcome. If that is available at WP, that’s fine.

I know there are some online and low-residency writing programs as well. Look at Goddard, and Lesley.

Now, about the ADHD. I have a daughter in her 20’s with ADHD and completely understand. You have done magnificently. Don’t know if you use medication or meditation or what your strategies are. Clearly it is good to keep the number of classes down. Leave time for yourself so don’t work full-time if possible. Register with the disabilities office even for grad work. You may find things more flexible than undergrad, depends.

My daughter recently tried lessening work and increasing classes and it didn’t work out. She lost some money- this once- the cost of one class. I think it was good information. She now knows how much work plus school she can handle. You may need to experiment a bit.

I will tell you that in both paid and unpaid work I have done a lot of writing and never finished college at all. I sometimes started kind of low in an organization and worked myself up, sometimes quickly. I often wrote newsletters, brochures, donor letters and info sheets. In a varied job, this kind of thing was challenging and fun. So consider the various ways in which writing can be used at work: every company and organization needs writers.

You can also work as a tutor or coach.

Finally, why publishing?