Some thoughts on returning to school
I’ve always dreamed of going back to school. I don’t really know if this will ever become a reality. It seems that when I have the money, I don’t have the time–and vice versa. My brain really needs it, though. I seem to be atrophying. Seriously.
I was reading an article on The Ticker about a 26 year old single mother who made it work, and was struck by this statistic the article offered in passing: “Almost 29 percent of females enrolled in an institute of higher learning have dependents and about half of those women are single mothers according to the American Council on Higher Education.”
Combine that with the fact that over half of us live below the poverty line and I’m wondering… how do we do it?
- Consider colleges that offer child care or other incentives. There are some incredible programs out there if you’re willing to relocate for a few years.
- Check out this page on FastWeb for success stories from ‘non-traditional’ college students… and then take a look at the other services FastWeb offers for those of us considering hitting the books again.
- Talk to your employer. Do they offer some tuition support, flexible hours, any sort of accommodation to help their employees improve?
- If you can’t handle full college, for time or money, check out community college and online degrees.
Scholarship.com has a page dedicated to scholarships for single mothers - Talk to your local universities about college credit for life experience. You might find yourself closer to graduation than you’d thought.
I hope these short ideas might inspire some of you to find a way to go back. I know that not having a degree undermines my confidence sometimes, even though I’m very good at what I do. I’d love to go back and learn for the sheer joy of learning.
Maybe someday.
Tags: back to school, college, non-traditional student, single mother scholarship, single-mom, single-mother
11 opinions for Some thoughts on returning to school
JP
Jul 13, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Dunno about returning to school, if this issue is mental atrophy. Most of the work I’ve done toward a degree was required stuff through which I gained gateway knowledge, but did not expand or exercise my mind, thereby — caging it is a more apt metaphor.
A more reasonable option would be only to take what used to be called learning annex courses in stuff you want to study. A super-cheap way to go is to find friends who are taking classes, glance at their syllabi, and ask if you can tag along to a class now and again when the topic seems interesting.
Then again, maybe I’m just an iconoclast.
christina
Jul 13, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I’m tired of being an iconoclast. It’s really counterproductive to do EVERYTHING the hard way.
Yaknow?
Kelly
Jul 14, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I got my bachelors degree as a single mom. It took several years of only taking one or two courses at a time (and working full time. and parenting), my parents pitching in to babysit when I couldn’t get online courses (which was most of the time), and a scholarship and tuition reimbursement from work. But I did it, and I’m glad. Like you, I did it mostly for the joy of learning and the opportunity to stimulate my brain. I haven’t gotten more than that out of it, as I’m still in the same job I was in before the degree. But it was a good experience, and I’m proud I did it. I hope you find the resources to go back soon too!
ratphooey
Jul 14, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I’m not a single mother (though I sometimes feel like one!), but I have two children and have gone back to school. It’s for an MBA, so it’s probably more practical than something I’m doing for the joy of it. Though even in a rigorous program like that, there are moments when I am able to just enjoy being a student. Because I’m not 22, and because I have children, I have a much different perspective on everything than I did as an undergrad. It’s better now.
Suzanne B. (Crunchy Green Mom)
Jul 15, 2008 at 12:28 am
Great tips hon! I am still around reading you every day! You are such a wonderful Mama and single woman!
*hugs*
Ike
Jul 15, 2008 at 9:15 pm
What a great post. I think that if we single moms can make it work, it is more important than ever to try to go back. I did my undergrad and grad degrees before kids, but recently went to school for a professional certification. When I passed the exam, it meant more to me than any other program had …. it jump started some of the confidence I had lost in the divorce. My daughters also got to see Mom being successful that way.
Thanks again for a great post.
butrflymom
Jul 18, 2008 at 8:30 am
I’ve been back in school for the past two years and am a single mom to an almost 15-year-old. It’s not always easy and you have to be creative in time and money but will be worth the effort in the end. We should graduate at the same time and when she goes off to college I will be ready to start a new career. maybe it will help with the empty nest syndrome. it does keep me too busy to date, good or bad I don’t know, but that is the reality.
if you really want it you will find something.
Brie
Jul 19, 2008 at 10:55 am
Going back to college at an older age takes a lot of work and commitment. I went back at 32 years old three years ago.
Jeff
Jul 19, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Great post that will hopefully be encouraging to others looking to reimagine their careers.
navi
Sep 13, 2008 at 9:28 pm
http://fafsa.ed.gov
Perryt
May 16, 2009 at 12:43 am
I have been a single mom since my now 20 year old and 17 year old were 5 and 3 (good Lord, that’s a long time!). I had dropped out of college to support my ex-husband while he was in school (bad idea- don’t say it) and I made the decision that I needed to finish. So I got Pell grants and numerous other forms of funding and finished that undergraduate degree……..then I was offered full funding- with a stipend- to get my master’s degree, so I did. And now, I’m getting my PhD! I am fully funded and I get a stipend! It can be done.
And best yet, my area is sociology and I study single mothers. My master’s thesis was on single mothers, and my dissertation will be an examination of women in college.
If any of you are reading this and are trying to return to school or have returned to school or did return to school and stopped, or graduated, I would really like to hear about your experiences for my research. Please feel free to contact me at pthrelf1@yahoo.com
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