They say that you’re never too old to learn and this is especially true if you are a mom that now wants to go back to school. While it may take more work than going to school fresh out of high school, it can still be done with equal parts planning, hard work, and dedication. Here are some things you’ll need to know before going back into the world of college.
Attend Online
If you are worried about trying to fit everything into your schedule because your home life is busy, you should think about online schooling. These days, you can actually get an entire degree while attending online classes, it is not like the hodge-podge of mixed classes that defined online school in the past. The best thing about going online is that you can attend class when it is convenient for you, no matter if it is the weekend, the middle of the night, or any other time.
Free Money
Depending on what the degree is that you are pursuing, you may qualify for grants or scholarships. These are usually contingent on maintaining a certain grade level. The best thing about these ways of paying for school is that they do not have to be repaid, so long as the money is used the way it is intended. If you drop out of school, the money will have to be repaid in most cases.
Employer Assistance
If you are going back to school to further your career, check with your employer to see if they have a tuition assistance program. Many employers will help employees with tuition reimbursement as long as the degree they are pursuing is relative to the company’s industry.
Private Student Loans
While not free money, taking out a private student loan is a great way to cover what is left after you have exhausted your free options and take the next step in your career. Private loans are just as easy to get as government-backed loans, but they have the added benefit of developing a positive relationship with a lender that you may be able to leverage in the future.
Study Space
Of course, with school comes studying. If you have a family at home, it can seem quite difficult to find the time you need to do a proper bit of studying. If you have a spare room, tell your family that there are certain hours where your time is off-limits and use that spare room as your study. If you have no extra space at your house, you can always use places like your local public library or a cafe to ensure you have plenty of quiet time to get your homework done.
Testing Out
The process of testing out of certain classes in which you already excel is a fantastic way to avoid paying for classes that you don’t really need to take. By testing out of specified classes, you receive credit for them without ever having to step foot in the classroom. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
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