Salute to Spouses Blog

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Are You Waiting for the Perfect Time to Go Back to School?

By Jenna Moede

 

A month has passed since people made new goals for the new year.  When I discussed resolutions with my friends, more than one put going to college on their list. 

 

So now, after a month has passed, I’ve talked to those same friends who said they wanted to go back to college. I’ve heard a laundry list of reasons why they have decided not to.

I want to examine a couple of the main reasons I’ve heard that cause spouses to hesitate before taking the leap to attend college.

I often hear that spouses don’t know how to choose a college or a major. Many women have some idea what field they would like to work in, but they have a hard time knowing what path will fit their needs the best.

I felt that way too when I studied for my undergrad degree. When I got married, I knew that I needed to transfer, but I had no idea how to choose an online college for my program. 

I ended up choosing one out of convenience. My university accepted most of my credits, and I didn’t have to backtrack very much in order to finish my degree. 

While I finished my degree quickly, I wish I’d had more information when I chose my school. 

If this issue troubles you, I advise you to not put it off and to do your own research.  Don’t rely solely on the opinions of your friends and family no matter how much you trust their ideas.

Reach out to the universities and colleges that interest you. Talk to the admissions staff at your potential schools because they have the best information on their programs.  

As far as choosing a major, if you know what field you would like to go into, you have an advantage over some students. However, if you don’t know your passion, you have a great opportunity to explore new things. 

I’ve talked quite a bit about general educational classes before. These types of classes can give you a great overview of many fields and can help in your decision making.

If you want to go back to school but you don’t know what school to choose or what major to choose, don’t stall. Talk to universities and colleges and do your research so you can make an informed decision and not put off your goals. 

Next I hear a lot about timing. Many spouses show an interest in going back to school, but they worry about making school a priority right now. 

I’ve heard every reason for why spouses have to wait to go back from moving to childcare, but if timing causes you to hesitate, consider that it might never work out perfectly. 

For me, after high school it felt natural to go right to college, but after getting married, it didn’t feel as easy.

Since most spouses will never have that perfect opportunity right out of high school, they have to make the timing feel perfect whenever they have to motivation to start classes.

I have never regretted making the timing work for me, and I always tell myself that I need to pursue my dreams now.

Along the same lines, frequent moves cause many spouses to suspend plans of pursuing a degree. Many worry that they might work hard to earn a degree that won’t help them in the long run. 

If this sounds familiar, I recommend looking into many degree options. If you have a field that interests you, do your research. 

Know what career options your degree offers and recognize whether or not you will learn a portable skill.

Be careful though. While some degrees move easily, other jobs have state requirements. Make sure you learn if your chosen degree has any state requirements to practice in that field. 

Also remember that once you have your degree, you have an edge. In many career fields having a degree helps gain opportunities for non-entry level jobs. 

Overall, don’t let the military define what career you can or cannot pursue. Look ahead, do your research and decide what you want. 

Additionally, spouses I know often worry about the time commitment of school. Even though it might look overwhelming at first, with all the classes and schedules, don’t let it intimidate you. 

Even if you always feel busy, you might still have the best opportunity to go to college right now. I always think that no matter what happens, I will always feel busy, so I don’t like to let time stop me. 

If you feel this way, take classes at your own pace.  As I’ve mentioned before, online classes really help with time management. 

With classes online, you will have more options than traditional campus classes. You will work under a deadline, but when you have time available. 

Additionally, work at a pace you’re comfortable with. I have studied both full time and part time and while I preferred full time, other students have found that part-time schoolwork has fit their needs better. 

You don’t have to do the same thing as your friends. Find which one fits your needs and work within the constraints of your own schedule. A time commitment doesn’t have to stop you.

Lastly, the financial commitment worries many spouses, and I completely understand. Knowing that I had a financial obligation caused me stress at first, too. But you can lessen the obligation if you know what to look for.  

I suggest scouring the internet for scholarships and grants open to military spouses. I didn’t even know those types of grants and scholarships existed when I got married, and I missed out on potential opportunities.

I also urge you to look for other scholarships and grants. While you have a plethora of scholarships open to only military spouses, you may qualify for others too. 

Give yourself time to do research and leave no stone unturned when it comes to looking financial options.  It might take a lot of time, but you might just earn one of the scholarships or qualify for a grant.

So, if you have one of these issues standing between you and college, remember that you can overcome it and earn your degree.  You can pursue the career you dream of even with the twists and turns of  military life.

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