If you are a single mother, you are going to have a harder time going to school while trying to raise your child. Single mothers who also have a job have one more obstacle in front of them as it relates to getting their degree. However, getting an online degree can make it so much easier for a single mother to get her degree without having to sacrifice her job or duties as a parent.
Study Wherever You Want
The best part about getting an online degree is that you can study wherever you want. This means that you can take a test while your baby sleeps next to you. If you need a little peace and quiet, you can leave the baby with grandma while you complete a quiz.
If you have a job, you can study at work if you would like. All you need is access to a device with an Internet connection. Your phone, tablet or a company computer would suffice. Just make sure that you have the consent of your employer before you use a company computer to do coursework.
Some employers may even encourage you to do your work while you work. This is because your employer may be the one asking you to take classes online. An understanding boss knows that getting your work done outside of the house may make it easier for you to succeed. This allows you to focus solely on taking care of your kids when you get home.
Take Your Books Wherever You Go
Most professors who run online classes don’t require a physical book to read while you take the class. Everything is posted online for consumption at your convenience. This means that you will never be without anything that you would need to study.
Not having to go back home to get your books gives you more time to devote to studying when you are at the library or when you only have an hour before the baby wakes up. Having your materials available to you at all times also allows you to get to bed earlier each night. You will be more productive when you are not sleep deprived.
If you don’t have an Internet connection at home, you don’t have to worry. You can save the material to a flash drive for use on your personal computer. This means that you are able to study even if you are not able to get online to do so.
Get Your Degree In Just About Anything
Many single mothers simply want to get a job that pays enough to take care of their child. When you study online, there are a plethora of degree programs available to you. Criminal justice, nursing, accounting and other degrees can be yours within two years.
Getting your degree doesn’t take as long because the classes are accelerated. This means that you won’t have to spend an entire semester to finish a course. Instead, you will finish each course in 10 weeks or less in some cases. For single mothers who just want to get a basic certification, you could be done in much less than two years.
You Can Take As Long As You Would Like To Get Your Degree
Just because you can get your degree in as little as two years doesn’t mean you are obligated to take that long. Online degree programs can be completed in whatever amount of time you need. If you can’t make time for your coursework, you don’t have to take classes.
When you are ready to go back to school, you can take your next class without falling behind in your studies. Classes are offered throughout the year to add to the convenience of taking classes whenever you want. This may help out those who work in industries that may have a slow time during the year. The extra downtime can be used to take an extra class or two.
Meet Other People Who Are In A Similar Situation
There are plenty of single mothers who are trying to get their degree while also trying to take care of their child. Knowing that others are in the same boat that you are creates a sense of community. You can join forces with the other mothers to form a support group that will benefit everyone.
When you are having a bad day, you know that there are other people who know what you are going through. If your child is having a bad day, there are other mothers who can give you advice and tips to get you in a better mood. It is nice to know that you have people who can lend you their ear when you need it the most.
Financial Assistance Is Available
The good news is that your degree is most likely going to come from an accredited institution. That allows you to get financial aid from the federal government. For a single parent, financial assistance can be very beneficial. Make sure that you are enrolling in a school that is properly accredited.
If you do not, you will have to hope that your school offers private loans. Even if your school did offer private loans, those loans would have a much higher interest rate. It may also be harder to become eligible for those loans. If you do need money for school, you should ask your employer for help. There may be an employee tuition assistance program that can help you afford your tuition.
Single mothers may be eligible for federal programs that make certain online courses free or offer reimbursement for qualifying educational expenses. This means that you could significantly reduce your debt load upon graduation. That money would be much better spent on diapers, food and shelter for your child.
Single moms should not feel as if getting a degree is an unattainable goal. Financial aid takes care of the money issue, flexible scheduling allows for working while going to school and a multitude of degree programs are available. This means that a mother does not have to choose between feeding their child and trying to make a better life for her child.