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A Teacher in Training


Doing It All Without Losing Your Mind: Tips For Adults Going Back To College

It's pretty common to see a wide range of ages in a college classroom these days, especially when more older adults are returning to the educational path after years spent working and raising families. While going back to school is a great way to further your career or start a new one, it can also put you in the center of a juggling act, trying to balance a job, taking care of your family, and keeping up with your coursework. Don't be put off by the thought of this balancing act; use these tips to help you do it all without losing your mind as an adult heading back to school.

Check to see if you can skip any classes

If you went to a college before "life happened," check to see if any of your former credits are still any good. You may also have the option of "testing out" of some general education classes. This could reduce the amount of time it takes to get your degree and save you money on tuition costs. A variety of test choices may be offered by the college you wish to attend. Some tests let you test for more advanced subjects and shorten the amount of time it takes to get your degree. This means you can skip some basic courses and get right to the more challenging ones from the start.

Talk to your employer about adjusting your schedule

If you're going back to school to work towards a job higher up on the food chain at your current employer, your employer may be willing to help create a more flexible schedule for you so that you can attend classes. They may even offer to reimburse you for the tuition you pay if the degree you wish to obtain will benefit your career with them. If your schedule can't be changed, online classes are a great way to get your degree even with a full-time job.

Take advantage of guidance counselors

Besides the fact that they know the college degree programs in great detail, guidance counselors see what works for other students and what doesn't. They can help you map out your degree so that you only take the classes that will get you to your goal in the shortest amount of time. Whether you're aiming for an accounting degree or looking to go pre-med, they can help you zero in on the most efficient path for you and offer advice on fitting the classes in around your work and family commitments. Think of counselors as free career advisors. They're a great resource for all students of every age and background.

Prepare your family for your new schedule

If you are responsible for taking care of your family's cooking, cleaning and care, you may need to ask them to step up and help out more. You'll have to carve out time in your day for your classwork, whether you attend a physical school or take online classes. Ask older kids and your spouse to help with family chores and explain that your study time is important because it will help you get a college degree so you can get a better job or make more money for your family.

You'll need to make sure you have a quiet place to study and do your work, too. If you have children, suggest that you all do your homework at the same time. This lets you show them how much you value your own education and hopefully it will inspire them to value their own education just as much.

Going back to school when you have a family and full-time job isn't always easy, but the challenges are worth it. Realize that there will be times that you'll get stressed out, but know that it will pass, and at the end of your struggle you'll have the college degree you've always wanted.

For more information and resources, talk with different colleges in your area, such as Interactive College of Technology

About Me

A Teacher in Training

Even though I'm not a teacher, teaching is where I feel most at home. I actually have quite a bit of experience teaching non-professionally. For example, I teach Bible class to the 14-year-olds in my church, and I have volunteered teaching English abroad in 2 different countries. Granted, it's nothing that anyone would pay me for. I've never really had any formal training. I just love helping others learn something new about the world! But I'm thinking about going back to school to get a teaching certificate. This blog is to help me decide if that's really what I want to do. So while it's mostly for my own personal use, I hope you can learn something new too.