I want to have my job and go to school, too.

August 4, 2006 12:19 PM

What job should I get if I'm thinking about graduate school in mathematics but I still need to take some courses to prepare?

In order to be prepared to apply for most programs I've been investigating, I need to take abstract algebra and another semester of linear algebra. I'd like to support myself financially for a year while taking at least these two courses. My criteria for this hypothetical job:
- flexible hours (so I can take a course during the day)
- provides health insurance
- pays enough that I can afford the course and living expenses
- preferably in DC or Philadelphia (though I'm open to other options)

My qualifications:
- undergraduate degree from a good university in information systems and finance
- 4 years of economic research assistant work for PhD economists (mostly macroeconomics and monetary policy)
- extensive software development skills (specializing in Python, SQL, and C)

I'm set to leave my current position this week and I have a few weeks to arrange new employment. Any ideas? I'm pretty open to a lateral move or something completely off the wall. I really would just like to get this coursework done without taking out a loan and/or becoming a bum.

posted by stranger loop to Work & Money (5 answers total)

I'm not sure if you need to take an actual course for those--if you have the motivation and the discipline, I think what you could do is get a book or two (from Dover, or look at online syllabuses) and work through them at your own pace after work or whatever.

That would definitely be much cheaper than taking a course to get the necessary background material. If you need something to show for your efforts, a credential of sorts, or a more structured learning environment then perhaps taking a course might be a better idea.
posted by scalespace at 1:16 PM on August 4, 2006

It sounds like an academic library might be a good fit. Libraries are open late (or, in my case, 24 hours) and offer an educational environment. I've been able to work fulltime, take two courses a semester, get two courses paid for by a tuition waiver each year, and have the benefits of a state employee for the past three years.

I can't speak to which institutions in your region would be right for you, however.

Good luck!
posted by yamel at 1:17 PM on August 4, 2006

Get the job that will get you the most money that you can save and then you will have less debt later.
posted by k8t at 2:56 PM on August 4, 2006

Sounds like you should take the actuarial exams and work on a consulting basis
posted by ptm at 10:01 PM on August 4, 2006

If you plan to keep the job while in school, get one that's completely different from your school work. A writer friend tried advertising, but found that it used up the same intellectual and emotional energy she needed for school.

She changed to personnel management and went to bed at 8:00 pm and got up at 4:00 am, so she could give her best energy to what was most important to her. You can't do that with school classes, of course, but you can earn money with something that's easy yet remunerative (for example, as a legal secretary) so you'll have plenty left for your real work.
posted by KRS at 7:46 AM on August 6, 2006