Online Education: How Busy Parents Can Go Back to School

Picture being able to study and attend online classes based on your schedule.

Yes, it’s true. It is possible to go back to school without leaving your house.

Many parents would love to get re-trained or up-trained, but think they don’t have the time or the money. Raising a family and/or working a fulltime job doesn’t leave much time for rushing to classes, or studying for exams. That would have been true a few years ago, but online learning helps many parents jump the hurdles that have stood in their way in the past.

If you subtract the time and inconvenience of having to leave work/home to make a concrete class schedule, an education seems more attainable. Now take away the anxiety of being the oldest student on a campus that’s full of 20-somethings, and it seems even more attainable. Now, picture being able to study and attend online classes based on your schedule and you may wonder why you’ve never done this before.

Aside from “I don’t have the time,” here some more old-school excuses that new-school education can eliminate.

I don’t have the money: If you make sure you’re studying a fully accredited and recognized program, the chances are good there is financial aid available. Both the federal and provincial governments offer programs for adult learners to subsidize their expenses.

I’ll have less time for my family: Yes, studying online still requires a time commitment. But you will be amazed how understanding and encouraging your family can be when you tell them you want to go back to school. It also sets a great example for your kids, as they see you go after what you want.

I’m too old. Please. Too old for what? Too old to want a better job? Too old to want to better yourself, or your family’s life? That’s preposterous. You’re never too old to want more, and never too old to go after it.