In current times, college is not only for
teenagers, but for motivated adults as well.
Students aged 25 and older are expected to increase in enrollment
percentage by 14% according to statistics from the National Center for
Education. Mothers going back to school
to gain or finish their college degrees are among this population. Here are
three top considerations for moms going back to school to keep in mind while
managing their busy lives.
Keeping
a Flexible Schedule and Availability
It is good to evaluate how much your coursework can fit into the
available time you have between work and other scheduling necessities. It is considered normal for each credit hour
to entail three hours of course study outside of classes. This number can change depending on whether
you enroll in standard 3-credit classes or harder ones of 5 credits. With this in mind, make sure you do not take
more classes than you can possibly maintain with your living needs. Start with one course, perhaps, and then add
on from there if you are lacking confidence in juggling these aspects.
Look Around You for a Helping Hand
Moms are very busy people before adding on the extra time and
effort of getting an education! Thus, it
is important to look around for some help in trying to balance one’s
responsibilities. There are many options
available for women wanting to go back to school and get a degree. From finding help with reliable child care
from a partner, group or someone else, or getting help with domestic duties
such as cleaning up at home, laundry, and running errands, there are plenty of
resources in your life as well as online to help.
One place that is convenient for finding an individual that suits
your needs and budget is Care.com. For help with watching kids to cleaning up
around the home, there are plenty of people across many regions who are capable
of assisting so that you can devote time toward your learning goals.
Be Wary of Financial Aid and Student Loan
Scams
Today, there are many scholarships, grants, and financial aid
options available for women, especially mothers, who are looking to complete
their education. The former two options
are money that you would not have to pay back, which is even better! However, it is important to find reputable
sources for this information and for the scholarships themselves. Some financial aid advisors and services can
cost thousands of dollars and leave you owing more than the amount you received
in scholarship “help”. Do not find
yourself paying for a service you could easily have done on your own or with
the help of a campus advisor for free.
There are, unfortunately, unethical businesses as well out there
that will attempt to steal your identity in the scheme of trying to help you
find financial aid. The majority of
professional organizations will not ask for your personal financial information,
such as a credit card or bank account number, and thus any institution asking
for you to give this out should be a warning sign. Some may, but these would be very clearly
indicated as legitimate organizations that can be cross-checked before you provide
that information. For help in spotting
potentially fraudulent organizations, check out our government’s Federal Student Aid site for more
information.
If it has been a thought on your mind about going back to school
and gaining an education to better your life and that of your family, visit Ohio
University and check out Ohio University Online’s opportunities for
women. They have great resources for
women of all backgrounds.
