How to Go to School as a Single Mom Without Working

How to Go to School as a Single Mom Without Working

Being a single mom isn’t easy, especially without anyone’s help. But it doesn’t mean you just accept it and mourn it over and over again. Getting up and feeling confident is something you have to do.

How could you not? Your children really need your dual role in everything, so you can give them the best version of you. Along the way, you may find it hard to get a job without a degree and work experience, but that’s not the only thing that can bury your dreams.

Well, it’s impossible for a single mom to get an education and pursue a degree, so that later, you can get the opportunity to get a better job. But the question is how a single mom can go to school, though there are so many factors to consider.

No worries! We’re here to give guidance, advice, and smart tips to those of you who’re single moms and want to go back to study. Okay, let’s discover them below!

Reasons a Single Mom Needs to Go Back to School

The most fundamental reason why a single mom should go back to school is the potential to increase income with a better job. In fact, most companies will hire employees who have a college degree.

In addition, children’s well-being underlies the decision of single moms to go back to school because they can more easily earn more money so that their children’s needs are met.

Other reasons will differ from person to person; some may consider education as self-actualization and self-achievement, which were previously hindered due to marriage. Plus, the desire to change their career is also a strong reason why a mom should go to school after being single.

The U.S. Department of Education reported that people with a college degree commonly earn 66% more than those with only a high school diploma.

Also, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found that people with a college degree can potentially earn approximately $1 million more than those who don’t pursue post-secondary education. They also reported that workers with a college degree can earn 84% more than people with a high school diploma and 32% more than people with an associate degree.

Given this fact, everyone, including single moms, deserves the same opportunity with a college degree to earn more income, right?

To make it easier for you to know the benefits of going back to school as a single mom, we’ll show them as follows:

  • Chance to earn higher average wages

The average salary in each industry sector is calculated annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2022, it was reported that workers with a bachelor’s degree earned $1,432 per week.

This figure is higher than those with an associate’s degree who earned $1,432 per week and those with a high school diploma who earned an average salary of $853 per week. From this data, it can be concluded that workers with a bachelor’s degree can earn higher incomes.

  • Get more job opportunities

Because a college degree means that you’re considered to have skills and abilities in a particular field, there are more job opportunities for those with a college degree.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that only 2.2% of people with a college degree and 3.8% of people with an associate’s degree are unemployed. Of course, this figure is lower than the unemployment rate for people with only a high school diploma, which is 4.5%.

  • Gain better job security

When you earn your college degree, your employer will provide you with health and safety insurance. If you are covered by this, then you can be sure that you will get better and more comfortable health care.

Sure, there are many other benefits you can get when you’re returning to school. Make sure to get one of them as your dream.

What is the Best School for a Single Mom?

The majority of schools generally create a full-time schedule for students. Sure, this type of school is not an appropriate option for single moms since they cannot fit their lives into its college schedule.

There’s no doubt that single moms have many other jobs outside of school, such as taking care of their children and house, or even working. So, a flexible study schedule is the main thing to consider when they decide to return to school.

Choosing a school with a non-traditional approach could be the best option for single moms. Why?

These types of schools will usually take a new and more lenient approach to time flexibility and financial aid—most of them offer online classes. Also, non-traditional schools typically serve adult learners, including military personnel, those in the workforce, and mothers returning to school.

Since classes in non-traditional schools are held online, it will be easier for single moms to still attend the class wherever they are without having to meet the educator face-to-face.

As a reference, National University of California is a great school option for a single mom. Reportedly, many have enrolled in this college due to the flexibility of time—one of them is Cassie Olinski, a single mom with a special needs son.

Cassie chose National University since it offers year-round admissions, so she can enroll and start her studies at any time. In addition, the university provides online classes that can be adjusted to the student’s schedule.

The good news is that Cassie can also choose the courses she wants. In one month, she was able to complete the entire class without the burden of attending classes, schedules, and assignment deadlines.

To learn more about National University California, you can visit its official website at www.nu.edu and figure out what they offer for a single mom.

Useful Tips to Go Back to School as a Single Mom

It could be said that going back to school as a single mom is pretty hard. But if you know the strategy well, it will be easier to do, and your goal will be achieved.

Based on some experiences, there are a few useful tips for those of you who are single moms and want to or are returning to school. Here they are:

1. Look for financial aid

Before deciding to go back to school, make sure that you have enough financial support. However, a single mom has a lot of expenses, so it will take more money if you go to college.

Start looking for financial aid for students from both the government and private sectors. The best way to start is to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that you can find on its official website.

If you’re eligible to receive it, you will get it in the form of federal financial aid. But opportunities and times can change, so make sure to always check the site regularly.

In addition to FAFSA, there are several organizations that provide financial aid for students, such as the Executive Women International (EWI) Scholarship, the Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant, or the C2C Grant.

2. Be sure to choose a degree for the long term

Doing something in accordance with your passion is the best, but make sure it is realistic. If you want the best investment in your education, you should choose a degree that is useful for the long term. If you only pursue goals with your passion, chances are the degree will only provide short-term benefits.

3. Determine realistic goals

You may have a burning desire for your education, but don’t let it backfire on you. If left unchecked, your ambition may overpower the goals you’ve set.

Since being a single mom means limited time, be sure to set realistic goals that you can easily achieve. Don’t let yourself go beyond your capacity and end up never reaching your goals.

4. Choose online classes

Time flexibility is the most important thing a single mom should consider. When you’re looking for universities, choose the ones that offer online classes.

There are many benefits that you can get from online learning programs, such as the convenience of learning because it can be done anywhere, the flexibility to manage time and speed of learning, saving money because you don’t need to spend on transportation, cutting down on commuting time, freeing up your study schedule, etc.

5. Consider transferring credit for work experience

If you have completed some courses in the past but got married and were put off, you can find out if your new courses will accept transfer credit from past courses. If so, you should consider it.

Of course, this will give them a little bit of an advantage in getting a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field you have been studying for years.

6. Establish a support system

You can ask your closest family to help you supervise your children while you study. If they cannot, you can hire a professional to take care of the children if you have enough money, so you can focus on studying. Of course, don’t be shy about asking for help, and be sure to be proactive when asking for it.

7. Manage your time in balance

Deciding to go back to school means that you are ready to divide your time between taking care of your children and education. You can still balance both through good time management.

When you have free time, you can make a weekly food menu schedule. After all, you still want to provide the best nutrition for your child, right?

If you have weekly food preparation, you won’t be overwhelmed when you have to provide food for your children.

8. Use tools to make everything well-organized

With so many activities you have to do, sometimes you miss some, even though they are important. To prevent it, you can take advantage of digital organizing tools that can help you regulate your daily activities.

You can use digital organizing apps that you can download on your smartphone. These usually provide dashboards to make grocery lists, set reminders for online class times, track important dates, and many others. Now, you can start to look for any apps that can be used to divide your time.

Okay, those are several useful and helpful tips that you can take to balance everything as a single mom and go back to school.

Tired? Of course. Rest is okay, but don’t give up.

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