Many students consider college tough due to the numerous academic and personal activities you have to balance. This becomes especially tough for students who are also parents. While most schools have special provisions for student-parents, there are some challenges you need to be mindful of. This article goes over 4 of the most common problems of being a parent in college, so you might want to continue reading.
Being a Parent in College: 4 Common Problems
College is great for furthering your education and opening you to new job opportunities. This is why many young people choose to go to college despite having children. However, making this decision without considering all the factors can lead to regret. Hence, to prevent this, here are 4 common problems with being a parent in college you might want to consider.
- Scheduling difficulties.
- Child expenses.
- Searching for affordable housing.
- Transportation.
Scheduling difficulties
If you ask most students, one of the most complex parts of school is making it for early morning classes. However, if you’re a parent, it can be so extra hard because of all the child-related morning activities. Different types of moms will tell you the same thing – caring for a child is full-time work. Kids can wake you up in the middle of the night for various reasons, and you need to be there for them. Hence, it can be challenging to plan and stick to your daily learning schedule with a child.
Child expenses
Raising a child is one of the most expensive things you can ever do. Depending on where you are in the US, it can cost an average of $272,000 till the child is 18. Now, combining this with the financial burden of education can leave a hole in your pocket. Many young parents that decide to go to college without considering this usually have to make sacrifices they didn’t plan.
You could always get a part-time job or start freelancing to get some extra income, but that will take an additional toll on you. When you combine that with an occasional need to get custom academic papers due to lack of time as a parent, you may start to doubt that you can afford both a child and higher education. If this is a question you have, you can browse Lets Grade It site and find some reasonably priced academic help. If you plan your expenses wisely and have a steady source of income, you will be able to manage your child expenses and your studies.
Searching for affordable housing
Most school dorms don’t allow students to stay with their kids. Even the ones that do have limited housing available. If you’re planning on bringing your kids along with you to college, you might want to have a plan B. Accommodation can get expensive when you start considering housing off-campus, and you might not have many options to choose from if you start your search early. You can look into smart apartments and modular homes if you are considering getting an affordable place to call your own.
Transportation
Even if you like walking to class, doing that as a parent may require extra time you might not have. Also, depending on how far your accommodation is from class, you might consider getting a car for convenience or want to start using public transportation.
In Conclusion
Children are a joy, and being a parent can be considered one of the most satisfying things in the world. However, combining school and parenting takes a lot of effort, and trying to do it without planning ahead is very risky. Hopefully, the problems in this article will guide you on how to best prepare for being a parent in college.