(My LSUS Experience) Balancing Full-Time Work, Life, and an MBA: My Journey as a Non-Business Major

I’m sharing my experience getting an MBA at LSU Shreveport while working full-time. I’m a nontraditional MBA student with a background in chemistry, workforce development, project management, and medical education. I put off getting my MBA for years. As of right now, I’m in the middle of my ninth class with only one more to go until I graduate. If you are considering balancing a full-time job, a personal life, and an MBA program, I want to share my experience and what has worked for me.

There are so many people considering going back to school who either face real barriers or are simply holding themselves back. I used to be just like that, but now I’m almost done. If you need a bit of encouragement to take the leap, this post is for you.

Also check out: Is an Online MBA from Chandigarh University Worth It? Fees, Admissions, Discounts, and Placement Reality

My Background: From Chemistry to Business

My educational and professional background isn’t in business. My undergraduate degree is in chemistry. Shortly after graduating, I entered a PhD program in chemistry, but I left after a year because I wasn’t happy and it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

During COVID-19, I took some remote business classes at a community college for a semester. That experience helped acclimate me to fully remote learning and gave me my first taste of business coursework. Professionally, after leaving my PhD program, I worked in retail, transitioned into project management, and now work in medical education.

Even without a formal business background, I am doing very well in the program—holding straight A’s. My path has built a lot of transferable skills, and my long-term goals aren’t one-dimensional.

Why I Decided to Pursue an MBA

Getting an MBA was something I always wanted to do. For a long time, I kept trying other paths, but everything kept leading me back to this degree. I always wanted to pursue business; I just never felt confident enough to do it.

Financial Breakdown & Affordability

The cost of an MBA will be different for everyone, but in my situation, the program has been virtually free:

Tuition: Covered completely by my employer’s tuition exemption benefit.
Fees: Covered by a college savings account my parents had set up for their kids years ago and recently remembered.

While my path relies on employer benefits and savings, many of my classmates utilize the GI Bill, financial aid, or pay out of pocket. Most of my classmates live outside of Louisiana, and when asked why they chose this specific institution from options across the country, they consistently point to affordability. Compared to other institutions, it is a fantastic investment. Knowing cost was not going to hold me back, I realized I had to take the opportunity.

Navigating the Accelerated MBA Structure

I officially started the program in January 2025. Today is August 3, 2026, and I am on track to finish by mid-October 2026 (Fall 2026).

The program consists of 10 classes (30 credits total). Here is how the structure works and how I manage it:

One Class at a Time: The program is accelerated, with each course lasting only 7 weeks. Taking one class at a time helps maintain a manageable rhythm.
Asynchronous Format: There are no set weekly meeting times. Each week, the professor opens up a new module on Moodle.

Mindset & Strategies for Success

1. Rigorous Organization

Working full-time while maintaining a personal life means keeping stress to a minimum.

At the start of each semester, I thoroughly read the syllabus and map out the schedule of assignments, exams, and expectations. Breaking the course down into weekly steps stops it from feeling like an overwhelming mountain.
Every week, I write down what needs to be done and schedule specific days to complete the work. Organization makes me more efficient, reduces stress, and allows me to actually enjoy the learning process.

2. Treating the Degree Like a Game

You are here to learn, but you are also here to earn a degree.

Some weeks require focusing heavily on completing assignments to professor specs rather than doing endless deep dives into the reading.
Learn the “game” of the course: figure out what the professor wants, how they want it done, and when it’s due.
If a topic sparks extra interest but time is tight, bookmark it to explore during your free time.

3. Real-World Application

The program becomes significantly more meaningful when you apply the concepts to everyday life. Bridging the gap between the textbook and real-world scenarios makes the material stick and allows you to share actionable knowledge with others.

Key Tools & Resources

If you are entering an online MBA program, finding community and feedback channels is essential:

Facebook Groups: The LSUS MBA Facebook Group is invaluable for communicating with classmates, getting course feedback, and researching professor teaching styles.
GroupMe: Class-specific GroupMe group chats help you stay connected with peers. It’s comforting to realize other students have the exact same questions and experiences as you.
RateMyProfessors: Checking RateMyProfessors before enrolling helps you understand what to expect from different instructors and choose the right fit.

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend pursuing your degree if it’s something you’ve been putting off. This program has strengthened my self-discipline, improved my organization, and boosted my overall confidence while providing a solid foundation in business. Graduation isn’t the end of the road—learning doesn’t stop once the degree is handed over.