Finding Time for College
How Adult Students Can Make Room in Their Schedules for Study
Working adults often have a hard time fitting school into their busy schedules, even if pursuing a degree is important to them.
Going back to college as an adult has always been a challenge. But in the past few years, colleges and universities have made it much easier for working adults to return to school. Still, every year thousands of adults put off their goals of achieving a degree because they feel they don't have time. They already work 40 (or more) hours a week and have family responsibilities.
This is a common concern, and certainly a legitimate one. It feels like you’re already stretched for time; how can you possibly fit school into your busy schedule?
Fortunately, the college scene has changed drastically in the past few years. When you think of a college class, do you imagine meeting two or three times a week for fifteen weeks in a row? Forget that image. Depending on which college you attend, you may only have to meet with your class once a week—sometimes less. The trick is finding a college or university that caters to the unique needs of adult students.
For example, Wilmington College in New Castle, Delaware, offers a variety of options for working adults to take classes. In addition to the tried-and-true method of meeting one night a week for an entire semester, Wilmington College also offers the option of “block” classes—compressed courses that meet once a week for eight weeks. Using this method, students can complete two courses in a semester (the standard for part-time students) while taking only one class at a time and giving up only one night a week.
Other options include online courses, “hybrid” courses—which are partly taught online as well as in the classroom—and “modular” classes, which are entire courses completed over two intensive weekends.
In Ohio, Columbus State University’s “global campus” offers associate degrees in art, business management, and nursing that can be completed entirely online, without ever stepping foot inside a classroom. The University of Massachusetts offers no less than 10 online bachelor degrees through UMassOnline, in subjects ranging from business administration to psychology.
How can you find out if your local college or university offers this sort of flexibility? Call and make an appointment to speak with an advisor. Explain that you’re an adult student who requires flexibility in your class schedule, and see what they have to offer you. Or you can check your school’s website—online courses and programs are usually listed under distance learning.
With all of these options for scheduling classes, it certainly is possible to find time for completing your college degree, even as a working adult. Just make sure you shop around until you find a school that’s willing to work with your limited time.
