27/Stay @ Home Mommy Finally Ready to Start College???

Renae - posted on 12/17/2009

I used to work for a company that made Career Guidance software programs before I became a SAHM. But unfortunately our program is not available in the US. But there are other ones out there. You need to see a career counsellor. Check your phone book for career counsellors in your area. Check that they have a degree in psychology or education followed by a diploma in career counselling so that you get someone who knows what they are doing. There are over 1000 occupations to choose from and its impossible to choose on your own.

Emma - posted on 12/15/2009

Hi Beth! Just responding because I'm in the same boat! My kids are 4, 6, and 8, the youngest having just started Pre-K (3 hours a morning). Anyway, I'm hoping to return to school next year when the little guy starts full-time, or take online courses to get those pre-requisites done and enable myself to choose a path. I've been interested in the same fields, nursing, education, and maybe, just maybe, psychology. Anyway, I'm young like you and don't have many friends in the same place in life, married with kids I mean, so I'm excited to find a like-minded person. I'd love to hear anything more that you've learned about these online colleges, I don't know anyone personally that's taken their courses, but I receive e-mails constantly from different schools. Good luck with everything!

Good Day! - posted on 12/15/2009

No advice on colleges but I do have insights on nursing and education.

My husband is a nurse and loves it. I know many moms that are nurses. They only work 2-3 days a week so they still have plenty of time at home. You also have the option to work weekends (paid more) if you want to be home during the week.

I was a teacher before I became a SAHM. Its not conducive to having young children at home. You work 5 days a week and bring home tons of paperwork. However, I think its a great job for people with children in school. You have the same hours and days off which is very convenient. My mom was a teacher and I remember staying in her classroom for about an hour everyday after school while she finished paperwork. If you get certified for pre-school, you may be able to find a half day preschool to teach at. That would be excellent as you would have more time at home with your children when they come home from school.

Good for you! Going back to school is exciting and scary.

Jennifer - posted on 12/15/2009

I too am a stay at home mom. I recently finished my certification in Therapeutic Massage. All those classes are on site but well worth it! I also took all my prerequisites for the nursing program through the local community collage. Most of the classes had to be done on site because of anatomy and physiology and microbiology. All the core classes such as english and phsycology I was able to take online. I LOVE taking online classes because it does give you the flexibility you want and you can do you school work around your families lifestyle.

My suggestion is to talk with the counselor at the college you are interested in attending and get as much information on as many different careers you are interested in and start narrowing your choices down. A good idea is to find out the common classes between the selected programs and start with those. You might change your mind many times before you decide on the career that's best for you, but atleast you will have some credits towards your goal.

Beth - posted on 12/15/2009

How cool! :]

Carolee - posted on 12/15/2009

I used to live in Noblesville, then moved to Fishers, and now I'm in Indy on the East side!

Beth - posted on 12/14/2009

Quoting Carolee:

I did University of Phoenix. I HATED it!!!!!!! They gave us NO breaks when they promised them, and I found out after a year of going that it would take almost twice as long as what the lady had originally promised me when I signed up.

Here's the kicker... I went for Business Management. I quit because I was not about to get a degree in Business Management by a company/school that could not propperly manage it's own business!

And the financial aid "help" they have is rediculous (at least where I'm at)! And they didn't have a code for that school when I filed my taxes. I went to the campus (once a week) in Indianapolis, but it wouldn't let me claim my school unless I was a resident of Arizona!

Just letting you know what happened to me. Maybe you'll have better luck, but I would NOT recommend U of P! I don't mean to offend anyone who either works there, has worked there, or who has studied there. I just did not have a good experience with them.

Thanks for the advice.  One of my friends just signed up with them 3 weeks ago, and she was saying all these good things about it.  But I had this feeling about it...I'm in Noblesville, IN.  Where are you from?

Damaris - posted on 12/14/2009

Hey congrats on making the decision to go back to school. I too am a stay at home mom....only went back in the work force for two years part time so that my daughter could go to preschool with other kids....managed to get a job at the preschool she went to and got a great discount on the tution.....but I been staying home again since May....I started out taking online college courses from our local junior college. If you have never taken courses like this, I would recommend starting out with just one course and you save a LOT of money taking a course from a local college. My college had a payment plan for tution too...so that I didn't have to come up with all that money upfront....they split it into 3 or 4 monthly installments. I found that the smaller class was well worth it and stayed in contact with my instructor on a regular basis even had her cell number and could call or text her when she was out of town. I have taken two classes like this and have really enjoyed them. I encourage you to take one course in the beginning because you would be amazed at how much time it takes to do your course work on your own!!! My 5 year old started kindergarten this year and she is gone during the day but I also babysit a 18 month old and 4 month old.....lots of interruptions around here...so I did a lot of rereading to make sure I understood what I was studing. I don't say that to discourage....I made A's on both my courses....it is just a challenege....good luck!

Carolee - posted on 12/14/2009

Congratulations on getting back to school, though!!! That's exciting!

Carolee - posted on 12/14/2009

I did University of Phoenix. I HATED it!!!!!!! They gave us NO breaks when they promised them, and I found out after a year of going that it would take almost twice as long as what the lady had originally promised me when I signed up.



Here's the kicker... I went for Business Management. I quit because I was not about to get a degree in Business Management by a company/school that could not propperly manage it's own business!



And the financial aid "help" they have is rediculous (at least where I'm at)! And they didn't have a code for that school when I filed my taxes. I went to the campus (once a week) in Indianapolis, but it wouldn't let me claim my school unless I was a resident of Arizona!



Just letting you know what happened to me. Maybe you'll have better luck, but I would NOT recommend U of P! I don't mean to offend anyone who either works there, has worked there, or who has studied there. I just did not have a good experience with them.