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Working Parents Returning to School: Tips for Successfully Completing your Degree

May 27th, 2009

You just never seem to have any spare time to do all the things that need to get done. Everything is a priority. You don’t know where the time does. Now, you are also thinking of going back to school!

Cost has also been an issue and adding a tuition payment to the monthly budget is not always feasible. What then are your options? The United States U.S. Census Bureau reports that about 20% of families in the country are headed by a single parent and in a majority of these cases, the parent is the mother. In addition only 5% of single parents earn over $75,000 a year. Therefore, without financial aid, it becomes increasingly difficult to realize the hope of completing their education.

According to a United States Department of Labor report, in addition to working full time, the average mom spends another ten hours a day running house hold activities, taking care of family members, cleaning, cooking, washing, buying groceries, playing with the children, running car pools and many other tasks and responsibilities.

Good news for working parents! There is a variety of programs available for working parents to support them financially. There are several accredited colleges and universities with online and distance learning options for parents who need to be flexible. In addition there are many financial resources available for working moms. Many government and private organization also have fund specifically reserved for working parents.

The first step is to determine what you to study. Next find out what financial options the school has. You can get this information from the colleges financial aid office. A thorough Internet search can also yield some results. Also, visit the library and look at the annual listings of scholarships and grants available. One key point to remember is to make a note of the application deadlines, required information you need to submit and the specifics of each individual scholarship. For example some scholarships might be just for those who are studying in a certain area such as business or education or nursing.

The next step is time management. Given all the things on your plate, adding school to the list can be overwhelming. Create a routine and try and stick to it. For instance, ensure that the kids are in bed by a certain time so that you can study without interruptions. Make lunches the evening before rather than trying to rush in the morning. Also, delegate tasks to the family members so that you do not have to do it all alone. This will create less stress and allow you to be able to concentrate better in your studies. Keep a planner or calendar so that you always have an idea of activities that are coming up to avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed.

To succeed in your classes you could apply several strategies throughout the semester. For each of your classes read the syllabus in depth and ask your instructor to clarify what will be expected from you during the semester. Next, note the deadlines, milestones, due dates, exam dates and add them to your calendar.

Do not wait for the end of the semester or the night before an assignment is due to start working on an assignment. Create self-deadlines and milestones and work incrementally on projects and papers. Also ensure that you prioritize your school, work, and home activities noting which ones must be attended to first. Pace yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help. In addition, be self-confident – tell yourself you can do it, because you can!

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