Balancing Family and School – When You’ve Waited to Get That Degree

Balancing Family and School – When You’ve Waited to Get That Degree

There is something to be said for waiting until you’ve finished your college degree before getting married and having children, but in the real world, that doesn’t always happen. Yes, some couples are very practical and wait to get married or start a family until they’ve completed their degree but others choose not to wait because they are anxious to start a life together complete with children.

If you have decided that being married is the path for you but you still want to pursue your education, there is no reason not to. You can attend an online nursing program from Arizona State University, for example while staying at home. It may take some juggling but it can be done. Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Taking Turns Getting Your Degree

Sometimes both parents have opted to get married before finishing their degree. It is suggested that even though you can take a 100% online nursing program, for example, someone still needs to pay the bills. Here is where mom and dad put their heads together to decide who should finish their degree first. Some parents have even been known to draw straws to choose who gets to study (and stay home with the kids) while the other one works to pay the bills.

In fact, the best part about studying from home is that online degrees are usually much quicker than on-campus courses simply because you can go at your own pace and typically complete your degree in so much less time.

Are Scholarships and Student Loans Available?

There is a good possibility that the college you apply to can help you discover ways to fund your education. Sometimes it is in the form of scholarships that don’t need to be repaid and other times you may need to take out a student loan. Even so, the cost of an online education can be much less than attending classes online since the only thing you need to pay is tuition and a few random application fees but you won’t need to pay traveling expenses and other types of expenditures that are part and parcel of going to school. You won’t even need a suitable wardrobe because no one will know if you are studying in an online RN program in your pajamas. It’s so much cheaper this way – and fun as well!

You really can balance a family and school if you are serious about wanting that degree. It may take a bit of hard work and a lot of coordination with your spouse / partner but it can be done. There is nothing in the rule book that says mom or dad can’t go to school while raising a family so don’t lose the opportunity while you’re young. A career means a better paying job and a job with a future at that, so study hard and work together as a cohesive unit. It can be done.