Education is not just for the young, and every year, more and more parents are signing up to go back to college, or even to go to college and get their degree for the first time. Many parents who may not have quite known what they wanted to do for a career in their younger years finally decide when they become a mom or dad, whilst others make the decision to invest in their education so that they can provide better for their family and give their little ones a more comfortable life. But, returning to college as a parent can be difficult, especially if your little ones are still quite young. We’ve put together some top tips to help you juggle a college degree with parenthood.
Going Back to College with Kids
Study Online
One of the main reasons why online study has grown so rapidly in popularity over the last few years is because more parents are seeing its potential. With a huge range of programs available, including degrees in business, nursing, engineering, counseling, the arts, social sciences, law, and social work, including these online MSW programs, it’s easier than ever for parents to find their perfect degree program online, offering them the flexibility to fit study around their family life and save money on their tuition fees.
Get Extra Support
With so many parents deciding to go back to college, the education industry has had to adapt in order to cater for these students. Your college may have special plans in place for students with children, for example, a crèche service at the college where you can leave your little one during class, or even financial help with childcare. If everything gets too much for you to handle, then it’s important to get in touch with your college counsellor, who’ll be able to help you get things back under control.
Plan Carefully
As a parent, you’ll know that life is unpredictable, and sometimes unexpected things happen which can throw you off track. In order to ensure that your degree studies go smoothly, it’s important to plan carefully. Have backup plans in place in case anything goes wrong. You can work with your college in order to design a student support plan for yourself that takes into account the fact that you are responsible for children.
Consider Financial Aid
As a parent, you may be able to get financial aid to help during your time at college, depending on your income. Financial aid is available from a range of organizations and is designed to help with tuition fee costs or even the cost of living whilst you are studying for your MSW online degree. Alternatively, if your education is likely to benefit your employer, for example by qualifying you for a promotion at work, then you could consider asking your employer to help fund all or part of your education.
With more parents going back to college than ever before, there’s never been a better time to study for a degree and improve your family life.
Disclosure: This is a featured post
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