YMIHere

In my first grad degree, I did school and work both full time. I had zero life. Every moment was spent on one or the other. Even lunch or 15 min work breaks I was frantically reading or writing out notes. I didn't have a job where I could use downtime for school work. I worked 2 early days in at 8am and 2 late nights out at 9pm and every other Saturday or Friday alternating. Apparently bosses felt I needed to suffer to get my education. It was really miserable. It all came down to the final semester. The program required master's thesis written and sit for comprehensive exams in the same semester. I floundered through the thesis but I broke down at comps. For the first time ever, I requested accommodation for mental illness. It was shockingly easy, once I got over being embarrassed to ask. I took comps the next semester and graduated only one semester off my plan. Best decision I ever made. In short, I don't recommend that path.

So about five years later, I am in grad school again. I quit my full time job. Everyone thought I was crazy. The head of the org even tried to talk me out of it. But I am doing much better. I am grad school full time and part time working for the Uni. I can actually sleep at night. I am going into debt but frankly it's worth it.