Should busy moms attend grad school? We think so!

Ad | Featured | Being a busy mom is challenging enough on its own, but it can get even more complicated when you have multiple kids or are juggling other responsibilities at the same time. Often, personal care and growth may fall on the wayside. However, being a busy mom should not get in the way of your personal development — especially if you have dreams that have been put on hold.

But as a busy mom precariously balancing multiple responsibilities, how exactly can you add another one without going off the deep end?

If you’ve been toying with the idea of going to grad school but keep talking yourself out of it for one reason or another, this article may help you make up your mind.

Consider what grad school can do for you

​Grad school isn’t a cakewalk — it is challenging for students no matter their life situation, and it can also be difficult for parents regardless of their sex or role. 

One of the first things that may come to your mind when you’re playing with the idea is how much work it will take to do everything all at once. As a busy mom, it may feel almost impossible! However, it might benefit you to consider what a graduate degree can do to help change your life for the better.

Grad school can bring along various great benefits, such as:

• May improve chances of your resume getting noticed
• May increase credibility in your chosen field
• Potential salary increases
• May help improve your chances of breaking into a new career
• More learning and personal growth

Tips for choosing a grad school

Having a child or children means that your resources are most likely going to them over anything else. With that being the case, how can you afford grad school if you aren’t financially comfortable or capable?

Another concern you may have is the fact that graduate school involves a lot of time commitments. Add to that the fact that it might be too challenging to move to a college or university’s area to attend in-person classes, and you may find yourself ready to scrap the idea of grad school altogether.

However, there are things you can do to make things easier or more possible for you. For example, you can look into online colleges that accept FAFSA.

Why an Online College?
Before the pandemic even hit, online colleges were already on the rise. There’s just something unbeatable about being able to acquire your education from the comfort of your own home and mostly on your own time (unless scheduled lectures are required). You also don’t even need to look for an online college — you can also simply look for an online program for the particular degree you want.

It’s worth noting that not all degrees and programs have online versions since many fields (such as medicine) may require you to be physically present. There are also some online programs that will require you to visit campus for a certain number of days per term, but most of the time, these required campus visits are manageable even for a busy mom.

Tips for a busy mom going to grad school

If you do decide to take the leap and go to graduate school, these tips might be helpful:

• When choosing your program and college/university, look into the financial aid available. There are programs and educational institutions that have financial assistance available in the form of grants and fellowships. Some programs may even cover your education’s cost practically in full!
• Identify and remember your motivation. One thing that can help get you through the most challenging days is remembering your “why.” Whatever your reason may be for going to grad school, whether it’s for your own sake or to help improve life for you and your children, keeping your motivation front-of-mind can help you keep chugging along.
• Embrace your imperfections and focus on your strengths. It’s easy to want to chase perfection, but doing so will do more harm than good. Instead, focus on your strengths and embrace your weaknesses with a promise to work on them continually.

Another thing that can help as you go through grad school is a solid support system that can help you along the way. Having help available, even if it’s just someone to vent to, can really make things a little more manageable.

Final thoughts: don't forget to look after yourself

It’s easy to forget yourself when there are so many things to do all at once. However, taking care of yourself is vital to keeping your mental (and physical) health in check during this time. Find some time to do something you enjoy or do something for yourself, even if it’s just half an hour each day!


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.