Balancing College and Full Time Work

When I first went back to school after being out for 20 years, I didn't think I would be able to get financial aid because I worked full time.  I didn't make that much but I was sure it was enough to keep me from getting any assistance.  I decided to apply anyhow and to my utter shock, I qualified for all financial aid available as my EFC was zero!  I wanted to get it all over with as soon as I could possibly do it so I started out full time, taking 14 hours.  I still had two boys at home at the time so I found myself bouncing between school, work, and the kids.  School turned out to be pretty easy stuff even tho it had been so long since I'd been in a classroom.  I only took evening classes at first so I could stay after in the library and work on homework or projects.  I knew that once I got home, I wouldn't be able to do any of that.  My second semester, I discovered distance learning, aka online classes, television classes, and even classes that you could commit a weekend to two or three times for a month and come out with three credit hours!  I took an assortment of these kinds of classes, using lunch time at work to do homework for online classes, and recording television classes so I could watch them late into the night after the kids went to bed.

It all worked out because I continued that pace for 4 1/2 years and am about to get my bachelor of science degree from Emporia State.  Nothing has really changed but that my kids are older and I can stay at school without so much of the guilt now. 

Basically, take every opportunity you get to spend time with your kids, but keep in mind that the ultimate goal here is for you to be a prime example to them of the possibilities out there for them.  Three of my four boys are now going to college - something none of them had considered before.  It's been a big pain and a lot of hassle, but it's all worked out for the better.  I'll have a better opportunity to earn to my potential and my kids will have a better future because I found a way to make it all work out.  I wouldn't change anything.