How do single parents working full time get to go back to college?
436865
I was a single parent who went back to college while working full time. I did have a local support system. However, many colleges that offer night classes also offer child care. You can check with the college that you are considering to see if they offer this. \n\nAnother option, if you could locate others who want to return to college and don't have sitters, you could possibly provide child care for each other if your classes aren't on the same nights or at the same times. You could post a notice at the college.\n\nGetting my degree was the best thing I could have done. Good luck!
484819
Your parents will provide whatever you ACTUALLY require. So you should turn to full time study.
1066678
If you are financally disadvantaged or you are the first in your family to go to college(aka your parents didn't go to college) you can get major grants from public college's also some private colleges offer grants where u go to school for free and work on campus.
1165427
work and go to college
647016
File for the FAFSA.  One of the questions asks if you are a ward of the court or an orphan.  This gives you the same status as a single parent which (at least in my experience working with students) gives you an EFC- expected family contribution- of 0.  While this doesn't guarantee you a full ride, it does put you in line for all the school scholarships, grants, and great loans (as opposed to crappy bank loans.)  Visit fafsa.ed.gov to apply.  Also, I recommend fastweb.com for scholarship searches.  Hope this helps.
159776
My mother started college when she was 45 and finished with a graduate degree 4 years later.  She waited until we were all out of the house and then got out and took care of it.\n\nIf you go to a community college for the first couple of years you can ease back in, and even get credit for life experience.  You can take CLEP exams and almost get two years credit if you are an avid reader and have a good degree of general knowledge.  Go and see an admissions director at the local community college and see.  It isn't all that hard.  After you get your start and feel confident, you can transfer to a four year- accredited college as a sophomore or junior and finish up.  There are plenty of student loan programs you can qualify for if money is the issue.  Most in-state schools are affordable and accessible.  Since programs vary, pick the closest school to you and go in and talk to them.  You can do it!
405266
1-2. Go to college full time if you can. Working full-time and going to college part-time is the pits. It can be done, but you don't get as much out of your classes. \n\n3. There are lots of grants and scholarships for many different kind of students. I don't know of any that require six arms.\n\n4. People who live in dorms have so many friends compared to folks who live off campus. I even did it in grad school in my thirties, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I'd do it again if I didn't have four cats!\n\n5. Oo! So many! Great if you can learn from someone else's mistakes and not have to learn from your own!\n\na) Don't watch more than about an hour of TV a week. Use that time to sleep, study, or socialize.\n\nb) Don't avoid your professors. They are not the enemy. They want you to pass. They want to explain to you what you don't understand!\n\nc) Don't wait until the last minute to begin a research paper! When the paper is assigned, go to the library and dig around interesting topics until you find something that works. If you're stuck early on, your professors will be able to help you. If you're stuck the night before, no one can help you!\n\n6. This is what your faculty advisor is for. But I applaud your choice!
751762
If money is not a major factor, I would much rather go to university by all means!! \n\n1) You are going to be working the rest of your life anyway, so put it off as long as possible.\n\n2) full time jobs may average 40 hours a week or roughly 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. When I was in college, I spent approx. 8 hours for the entire week in class. This doesn't include the amount of outside of class time needed to do homework, study, etc. though.\n\n3) There's more fun things to do while in college. The parties, the like-minded, free thinking people willing to explore new experiences just like you are. No one to report to (unless your parents are paying the bill, then they feel that you owe them a status report)\n\n4) If you can get a full or partial scholarship, then its even better. There's tons of ways to cultivate your entrepenural spirit in school, selling used text books for a profit is one.\n\n5) University offers an experience that you cannot duplicate in any way whatsoever in a full time job\n\n6) if you are so determined to have a job, you can still do so on a part time basis while in college.
929277
Yes - first go to fafsa.ed.gov and fill out information for Financial Aid.  This is money you will have to pay back after you get your degree, but it will help you get it.  Depending on your EFC - expected family contribution - the school you want to attend may have programs for those in need.  The school will also be able to find out for you how much you can get from a Pell Grant.  Pell grants do not need to be paid back.  They vary in amount, and generally are enough to cover one to two course credits per year.\n\nFastweb.com is a site where you can apply for scholarships - some are essay's but worth the effort.\n\nAnother thought is by signing up yourself, your friends and family on UPromise.   You all can earn certain percentages for college  with purchases made....even some utility bills.\n\nFill out any and all forms for assistance that you can.  If you attend a college in your state, often the state has grant programs for single mothers.  Check your state's website.\n\nLook around the sites listed and you will get a better feel for what's out there for you.\n\nThere are links on the fafsa website that you can use for guides on obtaining funds to attend.\n\nSome student loans are available as well.  You can pay after you get your degree. National City, GM, Bank of America...etc.   Some offer full deferment, and some you can pay the interest while you attend.  \n\nGood Luck!!!!
1165078
Its a tremendous responsibility, but well worth it.  You learn how to get yourself up in the mornings, pay your bills each month, meet lots of new people, etc.  You don't want to live with your parents forever, and going to college is a great place to "test your wings."  You can always transfer to a smaller college closer to home if you find you took on too much too soon.\n\nGood luck!
376317
Yes, there is tons of aid.  Do some research, you start with the school, do internet searches, local businesses in your area have scholarships, the Jobs. Etc. (state employment agency) has a program called Passport that is geared for single women parents.  Apply for all the financial scholarships you can, even if they are only $400 or $500-- get a few of those and they really add up.  Go to the library, they should have a reference book of scholarships.  Where there is a will there is a way!
1175112
Congratulations! I was in the same position when I was 22. I am now 28 and we are expecting our 2nd child in December as well.  Going to college with a family is hard, period. I had a crappy job and decided to continue college, I was able to take out some loans to make up the loss of income of my wife not working for 4months.\n It was HARD, to say the least, to keep up with a class schedule, a new baby, a new wife, and the pressure of running a household at a young age.But I was able to step up to the plate and work it thru, and trust me it was well worth it. \n\nMy wife and I graduated the same year and we never looked back.\nNo more crappy job, bright future, and a rewarding career.
183472
There are several manners in which an employed individual can secure financial aid.  First, complete your FAFSA as soon as possible so that you get the SAR back.  \n\nWhen you FAFSA is reviewed it considers all income and dependant status.  Many individuals who qualify for Pell Grants are working adults.  Also, you will be able to qualify for a federal student and, if your school participates, SEOG and Federal Work Study--both are free to the student and do NOT have to be re-paid.  Student loans do need to be re-paid however.  \n\nNext, as soon as you get the SAR (Student Aid Report) back in the mail or on-line, immediately look at private grants and scholarships that are available to you.  Many of them are NOT income dependant.  \n\nAnother option, since I do not know your financial situation, is that IF you get any type of state family aid, check with your social worker or case manager and ask what they have available.\n\nFinally, contact your state employment office (job service) and ask them about the WIA program in your area.  WIA is a federal program which assists individuals with employment, education, and training matters at no cost to them.  COMPLETELY FREE program!  There is a lot that they can do.
196721
I would look into local colleges even community colleges offer distant learning i am a mom too attending school full time and i go to school and take distant learning from the same college. The advisers can point you in right direction
563370
I went to College for a year and a half. I thought it was worthless. Recently I had to go back to work after being a sahm (stay at home mom) for 15 years, the best job i could get was a 9.00 an hour factory job. I am 43 years old, I am going to go back to school in Sept. and finish my education. Why? because 40 hours a week is 40 hours a week, and quite frankly I'd rather work smart not hard!!! and get paid more! On the flip side, I think if you enjoy what you do, be it work in a factory run a company, or dig ditches you should do the best job you can and enjoy it! After all the person who has to get up and go to work everyday is you! If you aren't interested in pusuing college at the moment take a year off or just attend one or two intersting classes per semester. Alot of my resistance was being told that I HAD to go! Good luck!
741463
1) get a part-time job to help pay for your education\n\n2) student loans (expensive! - but may be worth it if you get a legitimate education that qualifies you for a high wage career)\n\n3) attend a junior college or lower-cost public university/college\n\n4) all of the above!
787826
Most institutions (in the UK, at least) are very flexible when it comes to taking years out, but as others have said, you may return having forgotten everything you learned, or worse, a one year break can very quickly become permanent. I took a year out between college and university and suddenly four years had flown by. Scary.\n\nWhy not see if you can go part-time instead? This can have a lot of benefits: firstly the risk of dropping out is greatly reduced. Also, you get the time you need to spend with your family, but crucially, you also get time *away*, which can be very, very important when there are problems at home. And of course, the workload will be much easier. Then, as and when the troubles are dealt with, return to full time.