Plenty of single parents end up deciding at some point that they'd like to continue their education. For some, this is the result of having children at a young age and electing to put schooling on the back burner until the kids are old enough to enroll in school themselves.
Others want to set a good example for their children and prove that anyone can obtain a college degree. And many are looking for ways to improve their lot in life and secure a higher-paying job in order to support their family. Whatever the reasons, attending college as a single parent is commendable. However, it's no walk in the park. Trying to juggle kids, work, and schooling can be a very tough undertaking. But there are some options that can make the journey a little easier, and starting at community college is a great one.
In many ways, 2 year community colleges seem to have been designed with the working adult in mind. And this can also benefit single parents looking to continue their education even though they have little ones at home.
The first thing that most single parents will appreciate is that 2 year colleges tend to have a far more flexible class schedule than other institutions of higher learning. Since the vast majority of students are working to obtain their general education credits in order to earn an associate's degree and/or transfer to a four-year school to complete a bachelors degree program, or transfer to Ivy League universities, there are usually several sections offered for applicable courses.
In addition to standard morning and afternoon classes, attendees will also find nighttime and even weekend class times. And there are a number of certification preparation courses that will help single parents to start a career (like nursing or IT, for example) without having to tackle another two years of schooling at a much less flexible institution.
Of course, the cost is also something to consider. Whereas tuition at even state schools is bound to number in the thousands each semester, students taking just a couple of classes at a 2 year community college programĀ may be able to get away with paying just a few hundred dollars each year for attendance (although there will be extra expenses by way of fees, books, transportation, and so on).
And just like other college students, those at community college degree programs can apply for financial aid, scholarships, grants, and other types of funding and assistance, which could help to cover the costs of schooling and perhaps even living expenses.
Those who need help finding money for school can simply ask a campus counselor, search for community college scholarship tips online, or check out scholarship websites like FastWeb, Zinch, or Cappex.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly for single parents, community colleges are local. They are meant to act as a resource for small communities that allows students to stay at home, save some money, and adjust to the demands of the collegiate path before heading off to a state school or university.
For single parents this means staying close to an established support network of family and friends during the first couple years of schooling. And with kids to consider, this is a major boon.
Although single parents will eventually have to decide whether they want to continue their journey by transferring to an Ivy League university, community college can get them on the right track with less hassle in the meantime.