A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors.

How to Balance Applying to Grad School with a Full-Time Job

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Khanh Le-Principe

CoBalancing a full-time job while applying to graduate school feels like reading a book with the chapters all out of order – you’re often left wondering if you’re on the right track! You’re eager to discover how the story unfolds, hoping it ends with an acceptance offer, but how do you get there when the middle feels so confusing?

When I began exploring the optometry field in 2022, I had already signed my teaching contract for the following school year. I quickly realized the importance of managing my responsibilities as a middle school English educator alongside my remaining pre-optometry requirements.

At that time, I had four prerequisite courses left to complete. To optimize my schedule, I enrolled in two courses during the fall, when my teaching workload was lighter, and planned for only one course in the spring, which I anticipated to be busier as I prepared my students for their transition out of middle school. The last course would have to wait until after the school year ended. Even with a maximum of six units per semester, juggling both school and work proved to be very difficult. As a career changer, I had not thought about many of these subjects in over five years. My biology and chemistry notes were gathering dust in my parents’ garage! I needed all the time I could get at home to re-learn this material. As such, I took full advantage of the planning and grading time built into my contract, ensuring I left work at work.

Although I structured my schedule to maximize study time, I always made a conscious effort to be present at work. I did not want to become so fixated on the future I was chasing that I overlooked the present. From prior experience, I knew how easy it is to burn out and lose stamina when I forget to maintain a healthy balance. Diving headfirst into my responsibilities just to check items off my to-do list would only leave me exhausted and unable to be the best version of myself. Therefore, I continued fostering strong relationships with my school community and savored every moment with my students and colleagues. I looked forward to weekly coffee runs with my coworkers and all the interesting stories that came with, “Ms. Le, guess what!” By absorbing the joy I felt at work, I retained the energy needed after work to watch lectures, study for exams, and shadow optometrists. Of course, I also made time outside of school and work commitments to engage in my hobbies and connect with friends and family. All these activities collectively helped “fill my cup,” allowing me to feel rejuvenated and inspiring me to persevere on the hard days.

As efficiently as I could learn to manage my time, there inevitably came moments when I had to recognize my limits. When I had a mid-year teaching evaluation the following morning, I tucked away my Biochemistry notes early in the evening to prioritize getting a full eight hours of rest. Conversely, as my Anatomy midterm approached, I reminded myself that it was perfectly find if my slide deck on MLA citations was not as aesthetically pleasing as I would have liked it to be. The key was that my students could still learn from it, while I carved out enough time to prepare for my exam

Ultimately, being a full-time teacher while applying to optometry school felt a lot like reading that strange book where Chapter 1 seemingly blends into Chapter 4. After I figured out how to navigate this challenge, however, it became a very rewarding experience! If you find yourself in a similar situation, start by practicing effective time management skills to ensure you can thoroughly complete each task. But remember, this does not mean you must utilize every spare minute to work or study. Stay present, spend time with your community, preserve your joy, and build rest into your routine. This way, you can present your best self both at work and on your application. In the same way, don’t forget to acknowledge your limits!

These strategies helped me sustain myself and maintain my overall well-being leading up to and throughout the application cycle. And unlike that tricky book with the mixed-up chapters, these tips don’t need to follow a specific order! You can implement and adapt them in any way that suits you.

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