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It’s that time of year again. You’re looking at your children and seeing them getting antsy and restless in the backseat as you drive past their school in the afternoon.
It might be a sign for some parents to start thinking about going back to school themselves – but what should they consider? If you are considering going back to school as a parent, this blog post is for you!
It highlights the top things that should be on your mind before making any big decisions or commitments.
The Time Needed
For some parents, the time commitment is too much. If you’re working full-time and already have many responsibilities at home, going back to school can be just another thing on your plate.
Some colleges offer part-time programs or evening classes that might work better for someone who only has so many hours in their day. For instance, if you want to study for an MBA, you can look into business school admissions consultants to identify part-time or online classes. Knowing what options you have would be an excellent start!
The Financial Aid Available
The financial aid available to parents is often limited. It is best to apply for all scholarships and grants offered before deciding on a school. Also, check with your company’s HR department, as they might offer benefits like tuition reimbursement or child care stipends.
If you are already a parent, know that many grants and scholarships for parents require the student or spouse to have little-to-no income. Some schools offer child care stipends, but these often come with restrictions such as only being available during certain hours or on designated days of the week– which might not work for your schedule.
What Are Your Priorities?
Your priorities are an essential thing to consider before going back to school as a parent.
Think about what you value and how much time you have available for studies, work, parenting, and other obligations.
What is your budget? How flexible can you be with scheduling classes around childcare needs? How important is it to you that your children have a parent present for relatively equal amounts of time?
What about the possibility of taking classes at night or on weekends? These are all things to consider when deciding whether going back to school as a parent will work. Of course, the choice is up to you and what you value most, but there are other ways to study and learn if it doesn’t work out.
As a parent, you need to consider the time and financial aid available before deciding whether or not it’s worth going back to school. It would help if you also researched your options. Maybe there are other ways for you to study that don’t involve returning to an on-campus college experience. Your priorities will help guide this decision if getting that degree or job is more important?
Finally, don’t forget to think about the other people in your life that this change will impact. Talk with them and hear their thoughts before deciding whether you want to go back to school as a parent.
