Hey everyone,
I might be starting a Day 1 CPT program soon, and there’s a chance I’ll have a full-time job lined up too. Just being real—I’m a little worried about how manageable that combo actually is.
I know you have to stay enrolled and follow the program’s rules to keep your status, but juggling that with a full-time job sounds kinda overwhelming.
Anyone here doing both right now? How are you handling it? Would love to hear what it’s really like.
Hey! I totally get where you’re coming from. I felt the same way at first. 
I’m currently doing Day 1 CPT at Westcliff University and working full-time, and honestly? It’s been super manageable. The coursework is pretty straightforward, and classes are usually scheduled in a way that doesn’t interfere with your work hours. Most of it is online too, which really helps.
As long as you stay organized and check in on your assignments regularly, you’ll be fine. It’s not like you’re drowning in papers every week or anything.
So don’t stress too much, you’ve got this! 
Feel free to DM me if you have questions about Westcliff specifically.
I went to CIAM and I think their workload is pretty manageable: 6 hours per week at most. But I heard that Trine University requires heavy coursework. My friend went there and now she regrets very much lol.
are you working in person? see if you can get a remote or hybrid job to cut down on your commute time
I’m gearing up for a Day 1 CPT program as well. As long as my job isn’t insanely busy and overtime is manageable, I think I can balance both 
I’m currently at the last stages of interviewing for a job that is on-site in Chicago 
Hopefully we got this! Are you still deciding which program?
I’ve already picked my school and now I’m just waiting for classes to start 
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’m in a Day 1 CPT program now with a full-time job, and yeah… it’s a lot.
Classes are usually designed to be flexible (like weekends or online), but you still need to show up, participate, and submit stuff on time.
Balancing deadlines from both work and school can get messy—time management is everything.
Some people treat school like a “compliance checkbox,” but that’s risky. USCIS or the school can crack down if you’re not actually attending or making academic progress.
If you’re organized and pick the right school with reasonable workload, it’s doable. Just don’t underestimate the mental load.
Thanks so much for the detailed insight!
At first for sure, if you are not in luck with course load, you might need to squeeze 10+ hours in a week for assignments and classes. However, you will get better at it and pick up time to study from day-to-day. Now I make sure I do some assignments every day or every other day and classes are recorded so manageable.
Hey! Thanks for bringing this up—it’s definitely something a lot of us have thought about (or are actively navigating).
I’m currently on Day 1 CPT and working full-time, so I can share what it’s been like. To be honest, it is a lot at first. The biggest challenge is time management, especially if your program has synchronous classes or assignments with strict deadlines. You really have to stay on top of your coursework to stay compliant and not let anything slip through the cracks.
A few things that have helped me:
The good news? Once you settle into a routine, it gets more manageable. You just have to be clear with yourself about priorities and make peace with saying “no” to some social stuff now and then.
Hope this helps! And good luck—having a full-time job and working on your degree is a big accomplishment in itself