I've been kind of curious about part time graduate studies- maybe at the masters level.
I clowned around, partied in college. As a consequence I never made any lasting relationships with my professors, and had a fairly mediocre academic record.
I did have a lot of fun in the 'intro to math research' course I got to take.
So I've toyed with the idea of taking a class a semester, maybe as a non-degree student in an effort to shore up my now rusty mathematical skills and build rapport with professors whose work I find interesting.
Even if it doesn't pan out, I get to study stuff I like and still have a solid job.
EDIT- I guess I'm fishing for other people's experiences in part-time post-bacc studies.
Do it. My university has a path for this sort of thing. You usually have to pay the same tuition rate, but it's per unit, so it's less than a full time enrollment. I'm at UCSB, and it's called Extension here. I did this to help my grad application prior to enrolling. It really helped to a) show that I could do the work and b) get me excited about it and confirm my desire to enroll.
Do it. Your post sounds like me when I started. I have completed two MS degrees while working full time, and it is well known that I am neither brilliant nor a workaholic. I started as a non-degree student but promptly switched over after a class or two. By then the professors knew me and there was no issue getting admitted.
Some classes will be better than others but all provide great mental stimulation that I find lacking in the corporate world. Even now, after taking several MOOC classes, I am contemplating a 3rd MS.
PS: I wish I could do the PhD but part time programs are hard to come by. Also, it is much easier to get your employer to contribute towards your MS than a PhD.
Sounds like me, though I went for full-time. Took a 4 month leave of absence. Signed up as an open studies student for the minimum number of courses required to count as full-time. Got all prereqs waived based on work experience. Rocked all my courses. Asked one of the professors to supervise my master's degree. Quit my job. Am now nearing the end of a full-time master's.
(I will note that full-time study is expensive in terms of opportunity cost. In the end, I'll have spent a few years making a quarter of the income I otherwise would have.)
Go for it! However, make SURE that the class is worth taking. Get the contacts of students that went through the class to verify. Especially at the grad level, a lot of profs are only there for the research and the grad classes are even more of an afterthought than the undergrad ones.
I've been kind of curious about part time graduate studies- maybe at the masters level.
I clowned around, partied in college. As a consequence I never made any lasting relationships with my professors, and had a fairly mediocre academic record.
I did have a lot of fun in the 'intro to math research' course I got to take.
So I've toyed with the idea of taking a class a semester, maybe as a non-degree student in an effort to shore up my now rusty mathematical skills and build rapport with professors whose work I find interesting.
Even if it doesn't pan out, I get to study stuff I like and still have a solid job.
EDIT- I guess I'm fishing for other people's experiences in part-time post-bacc studies.