You're crazy to study from home!
I heard these words from a lot of people when I first expressed an interest in completing my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology via Distance Education. Not only because I was in my mid-thirties and starting my degree, but also because I was (and still am) a stay-at-home Mom of two very active girls -- Jaimie (three and a half) and Jordhan (two).
I had a few hurdles ahead of me. First, my girls didn't sleep well at night or during the day, so I already knew finding time to study would be a challenge. Plus, I lived two provinces away from family so I had no extra help aside from my fiance, Steve. Still, I strongly felt it's a goal I could achieve. Already ahead of the game, I knew the field I wanted to get into. The question I faced after making this decision was: Where do I go from here?
Where To Start:
This depends on the level of education you already have. Most schools have an option to apply as a mature student. Upgrading or getting the GED first would be a very good idea. Not only do most higher-level schools require a high school diploma now but it also helps to prepare for independent study and to get back into the swing of being a student again.
Next, if you aren't sure what you'd like to "be when you grow up," researching what's out there is a good idea. You don't want to choose something just because it has a high earning potential. If you don't enjoy most of what your job will entail, you won't be doing it for very long. It's also a good idea to research what specialties there are, if any, in the profession you choose so you can narrow down your research. For example, I knew I was interested in psychology but there are Cognitive, Developmental, Forensic, Clinical and Research specialties, just to name a few.
One idea is to go to a website like www.livecareer.com and do an online assessment of what positions would be ideal for you. The problem with this choice is someone else will be telling you what your ideal job is, based on questions you answer, and that job may not even be something you'd enjoy.
An excellent distance university here in Canada is Athabasca University (www.athabascau.ca). Their website lists all the courses and programs they offer, including what you'd need to do to get into a specific program. They also have a career planner section to help you decide which you'd be most interested in. At the very least, this option can give you ideas you can research to decide if the career you're interested in is a good one for you.
Financing Your Education
This is something very important to consider before beginning a program. Before I had Jaimie, I worked full time and stashed away about $4,000.00 for school. This was enough to pay for two years. After my 'stash' ran out, I had a line of credit with an excellent interest rate.
If these aren't options in your situation, you may be entitled to receive Student Funding, even with distance education. Check with the school's Student Finance department for information on obtaining the monies you need. Depending on your financial situation, you could also qualify for bursaries or grants, which is money you don't have to pay back.
So Much Information, So Little Time
There are many schools out there calling themselves "schools," but not all of them care about the quality of education you receive as long as they get your money. Just like when you're making a huge purchase, like a house or a car, be skeptical and shop around.
Ask the school as many questions as it takes to get your answers. A good school doesn't mind addressing your concerns because they don't want you making a bad decision either.
Depending on your interests, the questions you'll prepare to ask will vary. I asked the following:
(a) What's offered in the course/program?
(b) What's included in tuition (texts, payment options, etc.)?
(c) What online resources are offered (e.g., library services, professor access, taking tests/quizzes online, etc.)?
(d) What will I have once I've completed (certificate/diploma/degree)?
(e) What will it qualify me to do?
If you choose an out of country school, you'll have to consider how long it takes to send/receive information in the mail, how much postage costs, as well as the exchange rate. For example, taking an American program from Canada can get quite costly with the fluctuating dollar and it can take two weeks or more just to receive/send assignments. Something I learned the hard way when I took an American Associate Science Degree in paralegal studies while living in Canada.
Other helpful tips:
1. I looked up every school I was interested in on the Better Business Bureau website (www.bbb.com). This site can tell you if there are complaints against the school and how/if they resolve them.
2. I compared tuition among different schools/universities to evaluate fairness.
3. I talked to a few former students to see what they thought of the school.
4. I contacted professionals in the field to see if they'd hire someone with an education from that particular school.
Getting the Work Done With Your Other Job
After I had Jaimie, I found studying quite easy. She had four naps a day so I was left with a lot of time to study. But when Jordhan came along, I had a toddler and a newborn -- neither of whom slept well and both on their own schedules.
Pick a time of day you are the most alert. For example, I do my best work early in the morning and later at night. So, I get up a bit earlier in the morning and stay up a bit later after my girls (finally) go to bed. Just make sure you are still getting enough rest because a tired and unhappy Mommy can't make her kids happy either.
It's also important to have a spot where you can spread out and study with as little distraction as possible. If you are lucky enough to have space where you can have your own office, that's most ideal. I have a little desk I set up in my bedroom. It's nice and quiet in there once everyone is sleeping and I can just leave my books there to go back to later if need be.
The most important thing I've learned with home study is: never be afraid to ask for help. On days when both girls refuse to take naps or they both want Mommy all day, Steve will entertain them for a bit before and after supper. If you have other family or friends who can help out, by all means, tap on your resources!
Perseverance is the Key!
Because studying was so easy with Jaimie, I foolishly believed I could handle a full-course load with a toddler and a newborn. I just became too tired to do school work or care for the girls. Now I don't overload myself. I have days where I get next to no studying done and feel discouraged to the point of wanting to give up. But the next day, the girls will both sleep at the same time and I get twice as much done.
It's taken me over three years to complete two years of university, but next to having my children, it's the accomplishment I'm most proud of. One thing I tell myself, even at my most frustrated, is to never give up. It is hard and it's even more of a challenge with children clinging to your legs. But it's not impossible. I just tell myself if I have to do it one course at a time, it's ok.
One course at a time gets me closer to being able to look down at my two girls -- my main sources of inspiration - from the graduation stage as I hold up my degree saying Mommy did it! And so can you.
Handy Links
Athabasca University - http://www.athabascau.ca/
British Columbia Open University - https://my.bcou.ca/home.html
Google - http://www.google.ca/ (in the U.S. you can just put .com instead of .ca)
Canadian Student Financing - http://canlearn.ca/index.cfm?langcanlearn=EN
U.S. Student Financing - http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Sites for searching about careers or ideas for careers:
http://www.careers.org/ - This site can help you look for careers all over the world, pay as well as what education you'd need for those jobs.
http://globecareers.workopolis.com/index.html - American Workopolis
http://www.workopolis.com/index.html - Canadian Workopolis
http://www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca/menu/alljobs_e.htm - This is the Canadian Federal Government job site. At the very least, you can see what education/experience you'd need for a specific field.
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ - US Federal Government job site
About the author:
http://www.lilywolfwords.ca/
Chynna is a freelance writer and completing a B.A. in Psychology at Athabasca University. She wants to specialize in Developmental Neuropsychology to help children and families with special needs. Her work can be found in Mothering, Angels On Earth, Pure Inspirations and, in September 2007, Chicken Soup for the Soul for Special Needs. She also has work published in various online publications.
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