Donald C. Martin
Author and Enrollment Expert
There are pros and cons for full-time, part-time, and online graduate programs. Going full-time means finishing more quickly, but it also means a possible change in employment status and income. As for the student experience, full-time grad school students tend to develop more of a social network, translating into continued personal and professional relationships after graduation. Part-time grad students usually juggle the demands of their studies with employment obligations. This does not allow much time for socializing and developing networks. However, the benefits of employment tend to lessen the pressure on finances. Pursuing an online graduate degree program offers the greatest flexibility in terms of scheduling courses and degree completion, but it doesn’t offer the degree of networking or career service options usually afforded to full- and part-time students on campus.
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