How would a married mother attempt to begin college for the first time?

Question

In highschool (I graduated 12 years ago) I took all honors and college prep classes, fully intending to go to college. But, as a lot of you well know... life happens. I met a wonderful man, married him and had 3 kids. I'm blissfully happy in family, but not so much in career. I am at a place where I would like to further my education. My problem is... I don't really know where to start. Must I take my ACT or SAT all over again, or do the scores I got in highschool still "count"? How do I begin to take on the expense of college? Where do I find financial assistance, school loans, grants, scholorships, etc? Can I do all online classes and if so are any of those truely accredited schools that offer those. Can I get financial assistance while in school even though I'm married, if my husband does not make enough to support us on his own? Has anyone gone through this? Does anyone know the process and can advise me?

God Bless to all who read and answer this...only serious responses please.

Answer 1

Here's a site with some info for adults considering college: http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cf...

Also, keep in mind that some colleges may have different admissions requirements for adult ("nontraditional") students than high school seniors. They may not require the ACT or SAT, and they may give you credit for skills you already have.

Some good places to learn about your financial aid options are:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/

http://www.finaid.org/

Here's some info on evaluating online options:

http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cf...

Answer 2

Lots to cover... here goes.

1. You do not have to take the ACT or SAT.  Most schools have different admission standards for adults which includes taking a placement test (sometimes called a CPT or ACUPLACER)... usually free and you don't have to schedule an appointment to take it.  It will allow your advisor to determine what level you are at.  You will still have to get a copy of your high school transcript so call them and have one sent to you or to the college.

2.   Apply for federal financial aid at http://fafsa.ed.gov  I will attach a good publication about the types of grants and loans you are applying for.  Scholarships are offered far and wide from tons of different sources... I would recommend you go directly to the school you want to attend and ask what they have to offer.  Most of the time the website has great info.. if you belong to any civic, social, spiritual or other groups you might check into them as well.  Hubbys employer, your kids girl scout troop or any other place you might volunteer at.

3.  Most state universities and community colleges offer on line classes at very affordable rates... NEVER and I say NEVER go to one of those all online schools.  It will cost you a fortune and may or may not further your career or employability.

4.  Yes, you can get fin aid even if you are married.... you aren't going to get rich from it.. (the money is sent directly to your school to pay your tuition, fees, books) and if you have any amounts left over you get the difference.... but is usually isn't enough to replace the income from a full time job so I would not recommend quitting your job and assuming you can live off of fin aid.

Hope this helps!!  Email if you have any more questions.  Good luck.

Answer 3

First thing you need to do is find a school.  Some schools do offer all online classes, it depends on the type of degree you are seeking.  A good rule of thumb is any school that participates in Title IV financial aid, is a good accredited school.  If they do NOT participate with title IV financial aid, I would NOT attend.  

After you locate a few schools, you will then need to go through the admissions process for each school.  You shoulc not have to take the SAT/ACT again.  You will need to complete the admissions application at each school, pay the application fee if required and have your high school send the school your official transcript.  Once you get your initial application in, the admissions office at the schools will help you complete the process.  

For financial aid you MUST file a FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Remeber the application is FREE so do NOT pay anyone to do it for you.  Your FAFSA will determine what types of grans and students you are eligible for.  It is possible to receive enough aid to cover the costs of your tuition and fees and books, and maybe even extra to help with your living expenses.  

I think the most important steps are to determine what type of degree you want and find 2-3 schools you want to attend.  Once you decide on a school the admissions office and financial aid office will be able to help you through the rest.  Also, you can file your FAFSA and list several schools, so once you have decided on a few schools, you can go ahead and get your FAFSA filed, that way they can each offer you a financial aid package, and some of your decision to which school may come down to who can offer you the best financial aid award.

I would also advise you to contact a local community college, they may be able to direct you to other resources in your area.

Good luck

Answer 4

I understand how you feel. I also took lots of honors and college prep classes, only to decide that I hated college and proceeded to fail out of two different schools. I'm back in school now.

Before you do anything, decide what exactly you want to study. Have you always dreamed of being a nurse? How about an accountant? Deciding your major beforehand will help you choose a college that suits your needs.

At this point in your life, it may be a good idea to think about attending a community college. They usually have very flexible schedules, and they generally cost less money than a state or "traditional" college. You can search the Internet to find a properly-accredited school in your area that meets your needs. Also, many community colleges focus very heavily on career-oriented training, instead of all the worthless humanities and general education classes you'd have to take at a traditional school. Every college has a financial aid department; they can help you with getting money together. Banks offer private student loans, but federal loans have much lower interest rates.

Personally, I ended up going to Indiana Business College for their Medical Assisting program. I checked out the AAMA website to make sure that IBC is accredited properly, contacted their financial aid office, and got accepted pretty quickly (even with the two failures on my record). I'm six months into my associate's degree, and I'll be graduating next June (less than a year!) as a fully-qualified medical assistant.

It's always tough to return to school, but it's worth it! Good luck!

Answer 5

Hello-

Same happened to me, however, it was only 3 1/2 years that I took off. I was in a slump as far as my career went. I hated what I did (at the time worked for Callaway Golf Co.)

I was a good student in HS but I don't know how I got sight tracked that led me to miss a few years of schooling.

I started at a community college and then transferred to a 4 year institution. I did 2 1/2 yrs at the community college and 2 years at SDSU. (it's cheaper that way)

I'm pretty sure that your HS transcripts are still valid, however, I'm not sure about your ACT or SAT scores.

Re: financial assistance, visit the following site www.fafsa.ed.gov (this is the official site for school loans and grants) you can also visit www.fastweb.com(this site has tons of sites for scholarships)

Depending on your family size and income you may qualify for pell grants through FAFSA and/or scholarships.

Good Luck!