The readjustment to academic learning may be difficult even for well-respected professionals. Professors, typically experts in the field, may introduce concepts that the student never encountered at work. Research and reports are also significantly different in a classroom setting. Reports are mainly for functional purposes in a company, whereas in academia, proper form is vital. Students may also have forgotten how to write in an academic style, a skill that is expected of graduate students.
Professors are usually sympathetic to students who are working while studying at the same time. Despite this, students may find the time requirements overwhelming. Students can talk to professors to make arrangements on a case-by-case basis, but success depend on the professor's willingness to bend the academic schedule for the student.
A typical reason for pursuing a graduate degree is career advancement. But most graduate degrees take two to seven years to earn. Companies may not let an employee return after a long absence or transition into part-time work. Also, career advancement is not automatic. An MBA student, for example, may end up in the same job after graduation because of company cost-cutting. Prospective students should consider the risks of losing employment entirely against their potential for advancement.
Most graduate degrees cost as much as undergraduate degrees, if not more. Returning students may have to take out education loans. Though workers with graduate degrees typically earn more than other workers, these benefits may not be immediate. Consider the costs of earning a graduate degree and measure them against the average salaries of graduate degree holders in your field.