It may be true, as a wise man once said that the world makes way for the man who knows where he is going. But did you know that for a woman who knows where she is going – especially if it’s back to school – the world finds a way.
Sociologists and economists, as well as family life experts, have noted that when a woman goes back to school – and especially if that woman is a wife and/or mother – she improves not only her life, but that of her family as well.
While definitely men who have more advanced education generally have better opportunities for employment, and are thus able to provide for a comparatively higher standard of living for their family, studies on gender differences with regard to educational attainment and outcomes tend to indicate that women who go back to school fare just as well, if not better.
The reason seems to be that women tend to want to go back to school because they want to start or advance in a career, earn better and give themselves and their families a brighter future. And because of a prevailing notion that it’s generally harder for women to get an education, the woman who does go back to school tends to be more determined not just to find a way to go back to school, but to stay in school.
And that’s why so many ways have been found to encourage more women to make the move back to school, and to help her stay the course until she graduates.
Making the Move to College
We’re talking here, of course, of going back to school from the perspective of an interrupted educational path, or as a simpler way of putting it, having taken time off after graduation from high school before moving on to college.
The number of American students who belong to this group is growing. U.S. Department of Education statistics showed that since 10 years ago 75% of American college students have been in the category known as “nontraditional.” This is defined as students who are older (above 25 years); took a break after secondary school or obtained a GED or some other non-traditional high school diploma; were married and/or had children; or worked full-time and attended school part-time.
The more interesting numbers, though, are those on women. Majority (around 60%) of college students older than 29 years were women. The figures further reveal that over a 30-year period (1970-2000), the women in undergraduate programs in the United States went from being a minority (42%) to a majority (56%). More and more women, it seems, dream of more than just a high school education – and appreciating the value of a dream realized, are determined to find the means to achieve it and hold fast with the will to see it through.
If you are such a woman, who has even just considered the idea of getting back into the student ranks, hitting the books and doing homework along with home chores, it helps to know that there are organizations and individuals who are willing to support you in this quest.
Deterrents
If you’re convinced in the idea of going back to school despite your very busy schedule as wife and mom, then the usual baggage that goes with making a decision to realign your priorities becomes lighter and less formidable. Everything else, from the care of the kids to funding your education, becomes more manageable for you and your family.
The cost of going back to college will no longer be the same as when you graduated from high school and decided to start a family instead of pursuing a degree. It will definitely be higher and costlier, and both you and your spouse are certainly not inclined to use your family budget to spend for education. If at all, you worry more about the education of your children.
It’s a good idea to engage in some research and some pencil pushing just so you’ll how much it would cost to pursue your dream. While going to college is not a cheap undertaking, it’s not as expensive as some people make them to be. An expense of $50,000 per year is true, to some extent, but it’s not the general rule. From a list of over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, not even 10 per cent of them charge that much.
Recent estimates place the annual average cost in public colleges and universities at $6000 to $7000, while private colleges and universities charge from $20000 to $50000 a year, depending on the private school and your course. But this is certainly not to say that $7000 is not a lot of money because it is. If you or your husband can’t afford it yet, there are hundreds of academic grants available not just to high school graduates and regular students, but also to nontraditional students like you.
You can ask for information from the financial aid office of the college of your choice, or you can check the website of the American Council of Education (ACE). There’s no shame in asking. A great majority of students, 70 percent according to a recent figure, seek financial assistance for college education.
Given this competition and considering your situation, you need to plan your moves ahead of time, like a head start of at least six months, not just for application purposes but to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally for the arduous tasks ahead. Yes, it’s arduous and you need the support and understanding of your family to succeed in your new endeavor.
FAFSA Application
Regardless of your source of grant, you will need to allot time to prepare and submit your FAFSA, an application form prepared by the U.S. Department of Education for purposes of determining your eligibility for financial assistance and the types of aid you can avail of.
As long as you’re a U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident, then you’re qualified to receive some form of financial assistance. If you want to receive a bigger grant, then you need to demonstrate your need for financial assistance using your family’s income statement and other proofs of neediness. A FAFSA examiner can readily estimate how much you can contribute to your college education within three weeks from your date of FAFSA submission, so it’s imperative that you submit your FAFSA form at the earliest time possible.
If you submit your application too close to the deadline, then some of the juicier grants may no longer be available for you, or you lose your chance to make an appeal in case your FAFSA examiner allots you an amount not enough to meet your financial needs for college.
Federal Pell Grants
One of the favorable grants you can receive through FAFSA is the Federal Pell Grants, an all-expense college grant based on your financial need. The Federal Pell Grant is considered one the juiciest, if not the juiciest, and most sought after non-merit based grants available from the federal government.
If you’re a housewife, and you can show proofs that your husband does not earn enough to support your education, mention it right in the beginning paragraph of your college essay to draw the attention of readers. Make the most of your story to convince your readers that you deserve to win a grant.
When applying for Pell Grants and other federally-funded grants, bear in mind that you’re up against other regular students applying for the same student aid. While it’s perfectly alright to take your chances to aspire for regular federal student assistance, it’s also a good idea to consider other options where competition is less fierce, specifically grants designed for women.
Some of them are the following:
- Philanthropic Educational Organization. This grant-giving body gives both merit and need based grants and loans to women of your circumstances, specifically those whose college education was interrupted.
- Talbot Scholarship Foundation. This foundation is even more specific, offering grants to women returning to college to complete some unfinished college units.
- Emerge Scholarship Fund. This is a merit-based grant for women who have contributed some service to her community and want to resume their college education.
- AARP Foundation. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to serving older women – 40 years and above – to pursue a college degree or technical/vocational education. It gives priority to women with low-paying jobs or were out of jobs for at least five years.
- Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund is for low-income women 35 and above, who wish to pursue a degree or vocational/technical training.
It’s never too late for women interrupted by family concerns and cash shortage to pursue their dream of a college education and improve their chances for a better life. Grant or “goodwill” money from the government, well-meaning individuals, and educational foundations is available to help them continue to pursue and achieve a stronger sense of purpose for her family and the community at large, while finding a whole new world for them to control and command to help improve the rest of humanity.
