Full-time work while PhD. student

[jackhw]

After having conversations with several accomplished social science academics (several of whom graduated from leading Sociology PhD. programs) and having conversated with my employer who would give me some leeway/time-off, I've concluded it wouldn't be completely out of the question to be accepted into a PhD. program and while working full-time. I'm wondering if anyone who was accepted to a Sociology PhD. program in recent years is also working alongside their course and research load? I'm not naive and know it sounds very ambitions and that is why I'm nervous. I want to go straight into graduate school without sacrificing the experience time because I do not want to be funneled into academia right away. Because my area of interest would be crime/deviance and family & life course development, the majority of masters programs I've found are not worth the relocation and they tend to be a cash cow if I'm eventually going to get my PhD. anyway. I'm an undergrad set to graduate in May, start a law enforcement career with a highly credible department in August, and apply with the support of my agency to a PhD. program of a local university that happens to be a direct research interest match for Fall 2016 (seems to have fallen into place too conveniently). I would be given time off of shift work to make the quick drive over to classes when they overlap and reassigned to desk work where I could primarily work on my research after passing the masters mark. My current academic accomplishments, research and field experience, and projected GRE scores after taking a Kaplan practice test exceed the average accepted student background for the program. 

 

I often feel as though I'm crazy for thinking this is could be possible, yet no one has definitively told me it would be an unmanageable stretch. Thoughts? Thanks for your time and look forward to hearing your suggestions and/or backgrounds. 

Edited March 3, 2015 by jackhw

[seekingsun]

After having conversations with several accomplished social science academics (several of whom graduated from leading Sociology PhD. programs) and having conversated with my employer who would give me some leeway/time-off, I've concluded it wouldn't be completely out of the question to be accepted into a PhD. program and while working full-time. I'm wondering if anyone who was accepted to a Sociology PhD. program in recent years is also working alongside their course and research load? I'm not naive and know it sounds very ambitions and that is why I'm nervous. I want to go straight into graduate school without sacrificing the experience time because I do not want to be funneled into academia right away. Because my area of interest would be crime/deviance and family & life course development, the majority of masters programs I've found are not worth the relocation and they tend to be a cash cow if I'm eventually going to get my PhD. anyway. I'm an undergrad set to graduate in May, start a law enforcement career with a highly credible department in August, and apply with the support of my agency to a PhD. program of a local university that happens to be a direct research interest match for Fall 2016 (seems to have fallen into place too conveniently). I would be given time off of shift work to make the quick drive over to classes when they overlap and reassigned to desk work where I could primarily work on my research after passing the masters mark. My current academic accomplishments, research and field experience, and projected GRE scores after taking a Kaplan practice test exceed the average accepted student background for the program. 

 

I often feel as though I'm crazy for thinking this is could be possible, yet no one has definitively told me it would be an unmanageable stretch. Thoughts? Thanks for your time and look forward to hearing your suggestions and/or backgrounds. 

 

That is insane.  Absolutely not.  The MAX I would work is 50% (this is about the same effort for a TA position at my school).  You are setting yourself up for failure.   Seriously.  The expectation is that students are doing coursework and research work all year and throughout the summer (even if unfunded).  Even teaching can be construed as part of the professional training program.  

 

You've got to decide what your goal is for a profession.  If you want it to be Sociology - you need to jump in with both feet.  If you want to continue your law enforcement career - AWESOME! - but don't bother with a Ph.D. it's too difficult a journey if you aren't fully committed.

[MaxWeberHasAPosse]

All of the programs that are worth going to won't let you work. Either way, you *would not* be able to be successful in a PhD program while working full time. Do you think you can read 100-300 pages a week, writings papers, doing stats/theory, while working?. I doubt it.

Edited March 3, 2015 by MaxWeberHasAPosse

[Darth.Vegan]

100-300 pages a week? That would be an incredibly light reading week. Many times we're expected to read upwards of 500-600 pages, sometimes more. 

Working a separate full-time job while in a PhD program is a terrible idea. 

[seekingsun]

All of the programs that are worth going to won't let you work. Either way, you *would not* be able to be successful in a PhD program while working full time. Do you think you can read 100-300 pages a week, writings papers, doing stats/theory, while working?. I doubt it.

 

reading load = book a week/seminar.

[victorydance]

100-300 pages a week? That would be an incredibly light reading week. Many times we're expected to read upwards of 500-600 pages, sometimes more. 

Working a separate full-time job while in a PhD program is a terrible idea. 

 

Yeah, but let's be serious here...no one actually reads every page that is assigned in their courses.