Should I Go Back to School While Raising a Family?

In today's dynamic job market, finishing your degree is increasingly necessary for career advancement and personal development. For many adults, the goal to complete or further their education is balanced with life responsibilities like family, community, and finances. The decision to go back to college as an adult brings a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Is now the best time? How will you manage it all? We have expert tips for going back to school while raising a family and a few program options designed just for you.

Tips for Balancing Family, Work, and Education

Tip 1: Time Management and Setting Priorities

One of the cornerstones of balancing going back to school with family and work responsibilities is mastering the art of time management. Allocating specific times for study, work, and family activities requires meticulous planning and prioritization. 

Adults finishing their bachelor’s degree can leverage modern tools such as digital planners and scheduling applications to help you stay on schedule. Programs offering flexible learning modes, including online and hybrid courses, cater specifically to the needs of non-traditional students, enabling them to tailor their educational pursuits around their existing commitments. Look for programs that offer virtual or night courses to help fit into a degree your schedule.  

Tip 2: Build a Support System

The journey back to the classroom often involves more than just yourself. Your family members, friends, academic advisors, and fellow learners are all part of the journey. Join study groups and virtual communities tailored to adult learners that provide motivational support and practical tips and resources. 

Tip 3: Financial Planning

Many adults who want to complete their degrees worry about how they can pay for school. They have to think about many costs, from paying for classes to maybe having to work less. Scholarships, grants, and special financial aid for adults going back to school are helpful. These can greatly reduce the cost and make it easier to afford to get a degree.

If you’re curious about what an adult degree completion costs, we have an Affordability Calculator to see what you can expect to pay to finish your degree.

Tip 4: Embrace the Journey with a Positive Mindset

Seeing your education as a chance for both personal and professional growth can greatly improve your experience. To make the most of this opportunity to broaden your knowledge and skills, it's important to maintain a positive attitude. Acknowledging and celebrating each achievement along the way helps keep your motivation high.

As you progress, you'll develop stronger thinking skills and become more competitive in the job market, which goes to show how valuable and rewarding going back to school can be. 

What is an Adult Degree Completion Program?

Adult Degree Completion Programs offer a tailored solution specifically designed for individuals who began their college journey but never reached the finish line. Recognizing the unique challenges and responsibilities that adult students face, these programs are crafted to accommodate their life experiences and circumstances, providing a high degree of flexibility.

This flexibility is evident in varied learning schedules that can fit around other commitments and coursework that are not only academic but also practical and geared towards enhancing career prospects. This combination effectively supports a smooth re-entry into the academic world, making the goal of completing a degree more accessible and achievable for you. 

Degree Completion Success Story

Tatiana Silveira, a Southern Adventist University adult degree completion student, shares her story of pursuing a degree in psychology, driven by a calling for faith-based therapy in her community. Balancing work, life, and school has been manageable thanks to the program's structure and the support system provided by Southern, from attentive advisors to academic resources.

“Balancing all my obligations is, at times, a lot. I truly feel supported and equipped to balance everything. I have a six-year-old daughter and she likes to sit by my desk and draw while I do homework. She says she’s also doing homework. While I cook and clean, I listen to the week’s readings. When I go to work, I chip away at assignments between tasks.” 

Should You Go Back to School as an Adult?

Going back to school as an adult is a big decision that can pay off in both personal and professional ways. Thanks to special programs designed for adult students and plenty of help available, it's definitely possible to go back to school and do well. 

It's important to do your work, talk to advisors, and look into financial help to make a solid plan for restarting your degree. Starting this journey takes bravery and hard work, but it can lead to great benefits, like better job opportunities and personal growth. In today's fast-changing world, getting more education is a powerful way to improve your life and career. For anyone thinking about it, investing time in education now can lead to a brighter and more rewarding future.

Explore the value of a degree designed just for you.