Top 3 Concerns for Moms Going Back to College

In current times, college is not only for teenagers, but for motivated adults as well.  Students aged 25 and older are expected to increase in enrollment percentage by 14% according to statistics from the National Center for Education.  Mothers going back to school to gain or finish their college degrees are among this population. Here are three top considerations for moms going back to school to keep in mind while managing their busy lives.

Keeping a Flexible Schedule and Availability

It is good to evaluate how much your coursework can fit into the available time you have between work and other scheduling necessities.  It is considered normal for each credit hour to entail three hours of course study outside of classes.  This number can change depending on whether you enroll in standard 3-credit classes or harder ones of 5 credits.  With this in mind, make sure you do not take more classes than you can possibly maintain with your living needs.  Start with one course, perhaps, and then add on from there if you are lacking confidence in juggling these aspects.

Look Around You for a Helping Hand

Moms are very busy people before adding on the extra time and effort of getting an education!  Thus, it is important to look around for some help in trying to balance one’s responsibilities.  There are many options available for women wanting to go back to school and get a degree.  From finding help with reliable child care from a partner, group or someone else, or getting help with domestic duties such as cleaning up at home, laundry, and running errands, there are plenty of resources in your life as well as online to help.

One place that is convenient for finding an individual that suits your needs and budget is Care.com.  For help with watching kids to cleaning up around the home, there are plenty of people across many regions who are capable of assisting so that you can devote time toward your learning goals.

Be Wary of Financial Aid and Student Loan Scams

Today, there are many scholarships, grants, and financial aid options available for women, especially mothers, who are looking to complete their education.  The former two options are money that you would not have to pay back, which is even better!  However, it is important to find reputable sources for this information and for the scholarships themselves.  Some financial aid advisors and services can cost thousands of dollars and leave you owing more than the amount you received in scholarship “help”.  Do not find yourself paying for a service you could easily have done on your own or with the help of a campus advisor for free.

There are, unfortunately, unethical businesses as well out there that will attempt to steal your identity in the scheme of trying to help you find financial aid.  The majority of professional organizations will not ask for your personal financial information, such as a credit card or bank account number, and thus any institution asking for you to give this out should be a warning sign.  Some may, but these would be very clearly indicated as legitimate organizations that can be cross-checked before you provide that information.  For help in spotting potentially fraudulent organizations, check out our government’s Federal Student Aid site for more information.

If it has been a thought on your mind about going back to school and gaining an education to better your life and that of your family, visit Ohio University and check out Ohio University Online’s opportunities for women.  They have great resources for women of all backgrounds.