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I'm a single mother. Is it really possible to have a full time job and go to college?

Everyone says I can but I can't afford to pay for college and diapers at the same time. On-line classes are too expensive.

Plus I want to spend time with my son when I can.

Any personal experiences?

7 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    if your a single mother you should be able to get a good amount of financial aid since your not married and you have a baby....what financial aid dont cover you can always get a student loan for and pay off when your done with college and working in your profession....go to www.fastweb.com it will ask tons of questions about everything but it will give you a list of scholarships and grants and stuff you can apply for....and you should be able to get a pell grant too...but for that you need to fill out the fasfa....and on fastweb do a search for "expected family contribution" it will give you a round about area of what you will have to pay for and what financial aid should pay for by how much you make and a few other factors....and if child care is an issue most colleges have a daycare on site for really low rates while your in class

  • 1 decade ago

    Well I'm not a mother but I can give my opinion. I bought a house at the age of 20 working for Bed Bath and Beyond (making hardly anything in SO CA. I take care of my foster sister who is 20 but mentally disabled so it is a challenge, I have been doing it since 18. I kept telling myself I would go back to college (I'm now 22) next semester...next semester, with work and being home with my sister just didn't have the time. Well this June I quit my job took a risk filed for financial aid and I will be starting school Aug 21. I took a huge risk but so far everything is fine. My mom is a RN so I'm going into the RN program. Just keep telling yourself you can do it. 2 years will go by very fast.... just think you could get your as in nursing and be making really good money with a degree behind it (BS would be about 4) I don't know what you want to do but I think you need to go to school. Financial aid and government grants are available so you can afford school... no doubt about it. As far as your son going f/t to college would be about 8 hours a week of being away (that's one full day of work) I think you would have more time. Study when he is playing, sleeping (if hes young) on the weekends. Its well worth it and I defiantly think you should go for it! Good Luck!!

    Source(s): Personal
  • 1 decade ago

    A lot of my students at university are adults, and most of them have families, children, and full time jobs. A few of them are single mothers. They say that it's hard to balance their family, their finances, and school, but they do it because they have a goal. They see that, by going to school, they'll be able to improve their own life, and thus the life of their family.

    It's really hard, but many schools offer special programs for adults returning to school. Some schools even offer accelerated programs that can help you get through more quickly. Others, like the one where my husband works, actually offer on-site childcare for the children of students! So schools do realise that adults require special help, and that their adult students have kids.

    I'd recommend that, if you work full time, you go to school part time. Doing both full time is next to impossible, and then adding in a family? Forget about it.

    Some schools are remarkably cheap. Check your local community colleges and your local state schools. You may be surprised at what they have to offer.

  • Nunya
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    You can do it but speaking from personal experience it is NOT WORTH it to lose all the time with your kids. Quit your job, get financial aid, and go to school. I have spent the last 17 years working 2 jobs so that I could stay off welfare and provide for my kids. If I had it all to do over, I would have accepted welfare, government housing, financial aid for school and spent a lot more time with my kids. The time will be gone before you know it and money doesn't make up for it!

  • 1 decade ago

    In my college they have a speacial program for mothers and they provide day care for the children while the mothers are in their classes. So you should find out if any college around where you live offer the same programs.

  • 1 decade ago

    It can be done, and is done by plenty of people. Check out the college in your area to find out about scholarships and bursaries for single parents.

    I wouldn't suggest taking full time school unless you can get plenty of financial support so that you can drop down to part time work, but part time school is definitely doable. Hard, but doable.

    Source(s): Two of my classmates are single moms, one works full time and goes to school part time, the other works part time and goes to school full time.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Sure you can. work during the day, and take night and weekend classes. it's a nightmare but it can be done. now it depends on the age of your child. might have to get a full time babysitter if they are young. if they are older and can take care of themselves then you should be able to do both.

    Source(s): People that I work with that are working full time and takeing college courses.
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