As a parent, your top priority is providing for your family and making sure that you are all comfortable. For many parents around the world, this often means going to college in order to earn a degree or similar qualification so that you can maximize your earning potential and open up better opportunities for future employment. But, studying for a degree when you have little ones around isn’t always easy, which is why we’ve put together some top tips for parents who are hoping to embark on a new academic journey.
Online Study
For parents who are hoping to return to advanced study with a health law degree from Hofstra Law, for example, it’s a good idea to consider online study. Studying online is a much more flexible option than studying on campus in a traditional classroom setting, allowing you to say goodbye to set timetables and instead completely tailor your studies to suit your individual needs. This is just one of the main reasons why online degree programs have become so popular with parents, who can easily earn their degree whilst being able to uphold their previous family and other commitments with little disruption.
Get Support
Whether you are a single parent or have a partner who’s willing to help you whenever they can, getting as much support as possible is vital as a parent who’s returning to university to take a masters in health policy, for example. Turning to your friends and family members to help with childcare or having somebody to talk to when the going gets tough can often make all the difference when it comes to being successful with your chosen degree.
Financial Aid
As a parent, you will probably already have a job or another means of bringing in an income, however, studying can often cause this to change as you may need to cut down your working hours or even go part-time in order to make sure that you have enough time to dedicate to your degree along with your family. However, this doesn’t mean that parents who are considering a return to college will need to struggle, as financial aid is available for many situations.
Plan Ahead
Being a parent is all about planning, and when you’re returning to college when you have little ones in tow, it’s important to do as much advance preparation as possible. Not only will this ensure that you are prepared in the case of any emergencies, you will also find it much easier to keep on top of your college work and fit your studies around your busy life. Along with having a study schedule laid out at times of the day and week that suit you the best, you should also plan further ahead, for example around exam periods or for the weeks that you have important work deadlines.
Studying at college as a parent is no easy task, with so many different things to juggle in your life. But, with these tips, more parents are succeeding at college than ever before.
