How to Succeed in College While Raising a Family

Studying with fellow classmates
increases understanding.

That’s the catch, isn’t it?  Attending college while your children are growing up.  College study, and all it entails, is not easy—even without children.  But once you add family obligations into the mix, it can become downright difficult.  The answer?  Discover methods to study on the go, include the children into class projects when you can, and use your resources on campus.

Course work requires time.  Try toting books to work to read assignments at lunch or to the children’s games to read sections between active play.  Tape study notes and listen to them while performing household chores or watching soccer matches and swim meets.  Use earphones whenever you leave the house.  

Some college students and mothers get up an hour earlier to work on projects or clock out at work and remain there to do class work in an empty conference room or office away from the distractions of home.  And sometimes, you simply need to accomplish class work on the weekends.  

  

Understanding course material is crucial.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions during class or afterwards.  I, for one, peppered my professors with questions to obtain a better understanding of the material.  Networking with fellow classmates can aid in understanding too.  Form study groups; get together when you can to work on projects together. 

Most colleges offer free tutors for numerous courses.  Check the hours for the Tutoring Center on campus.  Many universities have writing centers where students can obtain critiques of their academic papers. 

Starting college or completing a degree for a non-traditional student, usually a student over 30, is a challenge.  But it can be accomplished.  This, ladies and gentlemen, is what my memoir is about.         

Go Ahead and Apply to College

Begin your college journey today!

Hopefully you’ve found some money to help pay for college tuition. 

While I understand that some scholarships and/or grants may require you to apply to a college first, now is the time to seek out a particular college and apply.  Most colleges have websites with a link from their homepage to an application form.  Please note that some colleges have application fees that need to be submitted before your application will be considered for acceptance.  

 

Community colleges, or junior colleges as they are sometimes called, allow potential students to attend 3 or 4 non-pre-requisite courses [about 12 credits] before needing to take the free Placement Test.  A non-pre-requisite course is like Art Appreciation or Psychology.  It’s a course that requires no math or science.

Without S.A.T. scores [Scholastic Assessment Tests], the Placement Test is necessary to be sure potential students have the background knowledge to handle college level courses.  This test is made up of three parts:  reading/comprehension, writing, and math.  The Placement Test is free—the first time you take it.  However, you may take it a second time, or a third, but there is a fee each time.  This is a pass/fail test.  You only take it again if you feel you can do better and pass a particular section.  Basic skills courses are offered at all colleges to assist potential students in achieving college level math and writing.  Yes, you need to pay for these basic skills courses, too.  You may transfer in to college with prior course credit in math or science courses from another college and not need to take the Placement Test. 

 

Once you are admitted to a college, or even before, you should consider a major, a course of study.  Students may begin attending college without being matriculated, which means being enrolled in a particular course of study.

You can register for classes online.  The courses listed on the web inform potential students if a requirement [another course] is necessary before taking that particular course. 

 

Some colleges offer both Saturday and Sunday classes from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in addition to weekday early morning [starting at 7 a.m.] and evening courses.  Of course, online courses abound at colleges.  Summer courses available at colleges are usually fifteen week courses compressed into about five to eight weeks, meeting approximately four times per week, day or evening.  Compressed weekend courses can be found as well.  There are non-compressed summer courses, too, usually about 12 weeks.  I’ve attended both the compressed and the non-compressed versions of summer courses in my ten-year college journey.

 

            So stick a pencil into the college pool of non-pre-requisite courses first if you’d like, and then get matriculated into a course of study and begin your own college journey to a bachelor’s degree.  You’ll be glad you did. 

Scholarships: Where to find Money for Returning to or Beginning College

Money for College Education

Attending college is expensive.  Money was another reason I attended a community college.  Seven people.  One paycheck.  Community colleges are less expensive than four-year institutions.  But as I continued in my college journey, I discovered that I could receive money to help pay for college.  I became determined not to pay for the next leg of my college journey.
 

It’s helpful to see if you qualify for any scholarships being offered.  For non-traditional students [usually students over 30 years of age] the task can seem daunting. 

If you work outside the home, check with Human Resources to see if your company offers tuition reimbursement for college courses or for an undergrad degree.  Notice this is usually reimbursement.  You may need to lay out the money first and then show your passing grades to be reimbursed after the semester. 

Outside of any scholarships or reimbursement offered at your personal work, I would try the Financial Aid Office of the educational institution you wish to attend. 

If you were in the United States military or fought in one of the conflicts, under the G.I. bill the military may pay for your college education. 

These three places are always best to try first as the competition will be far less than blanket scholarships found on the web.  Always try local first.  There are groups and professions that offer smaller scholarships for attending college, but you need to check the age requirements.  Also, many scholarships are financial needs based. 

All financial aid requests require that you complete a FAFSA form and file it.  FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

 

Another good thing to know is the difference between a grant and a student loan.  Grants are financial aid usually based on financial need.  They do not need to be repaid unless you withdraw from school.  Then you may owe a refund.  Federal, state, and college grants are available if you meet the requirements.

Student loans accrue interest, sometimes while you are attending college, and need to be paid back to the institution giving the money within a set time frame.  

Grants and scholarships abound online when I googled scholarship for women, but I don’t pretend to know all.  I received a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania as I prepared to graduate from my community college.  This scholarship was based on academic standing, awards achieved, and volunteer work performed during my community college years.  In other words, now I had the proof needed for four-year colleges to offer me money to attend their institutions.  

How about you?  Did you win or receive any scholarships or grants to go to college?  Please share any information you may have to help others afford the expense of a college education.  Thank you.