What does your significant other think about your DL studies?

What does your significant other think about you spending so much time and money on your online degree program?

Does she/he think it is wise? Does she/he care?

Is she/he bothered by how much time you put in that could be spent together?

 

What does your significant other think about you spending so much time and money on your online degree program?

- My schooling has been primarily paid for by my employer and the GI Bill so money hasn't been a huge factor. The time investment was not fun but we both knew that it was something that needed to be done.

- I was very pro her getting her master's degree but in some ways, she wishes that she had either stopped with her bachelor's or received a different master's due to not seeing tangible employment benefits from her M.S.

Does she/he think it is wise? Does she/he care?

- Yes and yes.

Is she/he bothered by how much time you put in that could be spent together?

- No. She was working on an in-residence master's while I was doing mine through DL. With our undergrads (a mix of in-residence and DL), I knocked mine out first and then she did her program. Effective time management and making "us" time has always been a priority.

 

She sees it as necessary and wishes I would get "done".

Phillip

 

She's happy that I've been able to find my niche as far as what I like to study, and it gives her added reading time... But she's made me promise to never make her read anything I write regarding Biopsychology and threatened that I'll be sleeping on the couch if I ever attempt to do so in the future. It'll be interesting when I get around to taking the Masters level biopsych course here in the next year or so...

 

1. I think "apprehensive yet optimistic" is the best answer for me. In my case, one of my unfinished stints was for about 2 years in a private school, and I racked up a lot of student loans there. The concept of burrowing deeper is a little intimidating (for both of us). The career field I am going into should take care of this in a very palatable manner, but it is still disconcerting.

2. She trusts that I am making the right decision for the family. Yes, she absolutely cares.

3. Yes. Understandably so. I have young children at home. I could be spending time with all of them when I am studying, writing, researching, etc. We try to strike a balance here, and I have learned that I have to be very receptive to any concerns voiced by my family. I don't always have to make an A+ on everything, and I have to sacrifice some study time to spend with the family. I have washed out twice, and both times have been because I was unable or unwilling to find this balance. It looks now like we've hit our stride, and the finish line is in sight.

Great questions, and very relevant to me. I look forward to hearing other input.

 

I'll let you know after I tell him tonight that I'm going back to school! I'm sure he'll be very supportive and willing to make any adjustments needed in order to see me achieve my goal.

Of course, I won't even think about mentioning that I want to do an ALM at Harvard once I finish the first degree--something about that residency period in Cambridge might give him pause...

 

My wife is supportive, but she'll be happy when I'm done taking two-three class a semester. I'm using employer tuition assistance so it's no hit on the personal finances, but it takes up a lot of my time. She is hopeful like I am that it will be worth it in the long run, but I'm sure how I apply what I learn will have a larger influence than the degree itself. Hopefully she stays supportive because I don't want to stop after this degree, but her opinion will definitely have an influence in how I proceed. I may slow down to one or two classes a year, but as long as the boss is footing the bill I don't mind taking advantage of it. I'd still like to tackle an engineering or math-related masters degree after I finish this one, but I won't mind if I take 5+ years to finish it. But who knows, I might change my tune as work and life happens...

 

Over the past six years there has been ups and downs. In the beginning of my studies the spouse felt I was doing "this" for nothing. After a couple of years we had adjusted and found a routine that satisfied us both. After I finished my master's degree, which made me eligible for a promotion that almost doubled my salary; the spouse is thrilled I completed my education! The funny thing is I still don't have anymore money in my poocket then I did before the promotion. So, we know who is spending it?

 

Well I am at UNISA working on my PhD ( ok D. Litt Phil...LOL) in History and she is at Walden working on her PhD in Psychology. She is ABD and I think might defend either late 2011 or early 2012. I am defending ( I hope) late 2012. She totally understands time management, exercise and making time for each other and our child. It has been rough at times, but weekends...she get 2-3 hours to work on her dissertation and I get alot of mine done during down time at work.

 

When I discussed it with my husband last night he did express some concern about the time needed for school--would I be able to balance it with all of my other responsibilities. (I am one of the administrators at a child care center and I do political research for various consultants around the country.) I think he thought I was going to be going to school full-time rather than just taking one course a semester. It's a valid concern, I'll admit, because when I have a major research project things around the house tend to slide.

But we discussed it, and as I predicted, he's supporting me in the decision. Certainly the finances would have been a concern (and might have already been of concern to him) if I was going to be carrying a full class load, but we can squeeze tuition for one class a semester out of our budget without too much trouble.

It's a good thing he felt that way because I had mailed out my application to Excelsior and my transcript requests yesterday morning!

 

As the old saying goes; it's easier to apologize later than it is to get permission now. :smile:

 

She understands and completely supports the idea of returning to school for my bachelor's and upcoming MBA. She does think it is wise as she sees many employers being more stringent in their job qualification requirements. She believes that it is necessary to keep up and, in some cases, stay ahead of the pack in one's field. In terms of being bothered by how much time could be spent together, at first, she thought finishing up one degree and starting the other right after that would take a very long time. Now, with less than three weeks left for completion of my MBA, she comments on how fast the time went by from back when I started.

 

My wife is the same way. She wants me to shutup and finish.

 

He he he!

Abner

 

She loved it due to the positive affect it had on me. My studies kept me highly focused (keep your eyes on the prize), and my degrees have boosted my confidence level GREATLY! She didn't mind at all. The nice thing about DL is you could go out to the movies, get home at midnight, and still work on lesson plans whenever you feel like it.

Abner

 

Sorry, off-topic, but where do you study biopsychology by DL?

 

Mine just wants me to shut up.