It’s tough being a working parent. It seems like you’re always racing to get your kids to school before work, and then after working a full day, you’re running errands or chauffeuring your kids to sports practice. And somehow, you have to get it all done before you can even think about starting your homework.
For most adults, balancing family and work is a challenge. Adding the stress of returning to school on top of that can be completely overwhelming. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone!
Every year, millions of adults over the age of 25 enroll in college, and many of these individuals have kids. According to Bestcolleges.com, during the fall of 2023, 3.9 million adults were considered undergraduate adult learners, of which 62% were women. In spring 2020, half (48%) of enrolled adult learners reported having dependent children compared to just 3% of traditionally-aged students (aged 18-24).
With an increasing number of adults – many working parents – seeking their degree, schools nationwide have begun working to accommodate the needs of students whose schedules do not allow them to attend traditional college classes. Competency-based degree programs can be an ideal way to earn a degree for parents on an already hectic timeframe.
Shannon Fitzgerald, a student in the online UW-Parkside Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program, works full-time while raising a family. He’s also frequently on the road for his job. UW Flexible Option makes it possible for him to get an education while being there for his family.
A day in life includes work, school, and time for his family. Shannon spends the majority of his time visiting customers, and when he’s not, he’s working remotely or in the regional office. Typically, he’s in front of the computer by 7 a.m., finishing around 4 p.m. when his girlfriend gets home from work and the kids return from school. They eat dinner together, and then he reads and works on assignments. “It depends on what other things I have going on at home, but usually I try to put two to three hours aside for schoolwork.”
For Fitzgerald, flexibility is more than just a “nice to have”–it’s a “must-have.”
“Our house is full of pets and kids, and with [traveling so much], I didn’t want to have to worry about having to take night classes,” he said. “I’ve literally done assignments in Pennsylvania and overseas. I had to speak at a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, and I was doing coursework over there to finish up.”
In addition to finding a program that revolves around your schedule, here are some tips to make going to school as a working adult much easier:
Set a schedule and stick to it.
When you enroll in UW Flexible Option, you’ll be assigned an Academic Success Coach. Your coach can work with you to come up with ways to manage your time so that you can study and manage your responsibilities. When creating your study schedule, ask yourself: When will it be easiest for me to work? Maybe you prefer to study when everyone is asleep at night. Maybe you have a long lunch break or can carve out some time after work or on the weekend. Be realistic, though—can you really wake up at 4 a.m. and be productive? Will you be able to work in the house if your kids are running around in another room?
And, don’t forget to give yourself some grace at times. For Mellissa Shilts, a graduate of the UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences: Health Sciences program, it took her about two subscription periods to hit her stride after making a schedule. Mellissa has three boys and works two jobs, which means she couldn’t take any spare time for granted.
“I looked at how many things I was required to submit,” she says. “I made sure I still had time to breathe and focus on my kids. There were weeks where it was tough. But if you want it, it’s worth working for. I always try to remember that.”
And, with a competency-based education, you’ll be rewarded for knowledge and skills you already have, whether from prior coursework or work experiences. Students’ progress is measured by their mastery of concepts, rather than how much time they have spent in a course. The more you know, the faster you can go through your program!
Include your family in your routine.
If your kids are a little older, set aside an hour when you all do homework together in one room. If they don’t have homework, they can work quietly on another project, like reading, drawing, or writing a letter. Not only will you get your homework done, but you’ll be helping your children develop their own study skills. If your children see how important school is to you, there’s a good chance they’ll carry those values with them as they progress in their own education.
And remember, with an online degree program, you can create a flexible schedule that works around your family obligations if doing homework or studying together doesn’t work in your situation.
Don’t be afraid to seek out support.
Even if you’re working on your own schedule, you’ll need to find some quiet time to study, and this might require you to lean on others for help.
Sonia, a graduate of the UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences: Health Sciences program, completed her degree while raising children. When her husband was home on Saturday and Sunday from work, he took the children outside and did errands like grocery shopping so that she could stay home and study. Having this arrangement gave her the ability to focus on her courses without being interrupted.
If this isn’t an option, perhaps a family member can take your kids once in a while to give you time to study, or consider using a babysitter. Older kids may be able to help with chores to free up some of your time. If you have a system in place before your subscription period begins, you’ll have some peace of mind knowing that you can focus on school when a deadline is approaching.
Be adaptable and ready to pivot with whatever life throws your way.
While it’s important to stick to your schedule, it’s also impossible to predict what might happen day to day.
“Try to start early,” Sonia advises. “Do not wait until three weeks have passed because you only have 12 weeks [in your subscription period]. When I start early, it’s less stressful. Life happens. Kids get sick, we get sick, or there’s an emergency.”
And if something does come up, don’t get discouraged! Know that your work toward a degree will help your career, ultimately improving your family’s life in the long run. And if you do need some time off, UW Flexible Option allows you to take breaks between subscription periods.
Although making time to earn your degree might seem difficult at first, competency-based degree programs like UW Flexible Option make it possible to fit an education into your schedule—not the other way around.
To find out more about UW Flexible Option and whether a competency-based education option is a good fit for you, call an enrollment adviser today at 1-877-895-3276.