non-traditional college students

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education

How Low-income Adults Access Affordable Education

**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest post by Anica Oaks

In high school, teens are told that no matter where they come from, they can go to college. Unfortunately, many low-income adolescents don’t have the opportunity to even apply to universities, since they may not have the money for the application fee, funds for textbooks or enough money to cover the residual tuition not covered by FAFSA.

Many low-income adults began working while they were still in high school. After graduating, they are left struggling to make ends meet with a minimum wage job and wind up feeling suffocated and discouraged early on in life. Despite the fact that they may not be able to afford an Ivy League school, there are accessible education opportunities for low-income adults whether they graduated last summer or 30 years ago.

Free College Classes Online

Sites like Coursera and edX have teamed up with hundreds of renowned universities across the world to offer learners from all backgrounds access to a quality education free of charge. The courses that you can find range from introductory level English and math courses to digital marketing, science, languages, computer science and engineering, and more.

Each site gives students the option to purchase certificates of completion for less than $100 per course, and Coursera even offers financial aid for those who can’t afford the default price. Whether you just want to learn for personal benefit or to gain the knowledge necessary to pursue new career opportunities, getting started at Coursera and edX is an excellent way to do so for little to no cost.

Find a Vocational School

Many schools will teach you how to become a professional at a trade like cosmetology, electricity and HVAC installation and more for a very low cost. The Newgate School in Minneapolis turns donated trucks and cars from citizens into tools for low-income students to work on and learn how to become auto mechanics in under 2 years.

There are other many other vocational schools you can find that offer affordable financing options for low-income students and can provide you with the training you need to get a high-paying career in under 2 years.

Scholarships and Work Study Programs

Many low-income adults write off college before they fully explore all their options. Although it requires some extra research, many people can qualify for special scholarships that can be combined with federal student aid. In-state tuition for many colleges is less than $10,000 a year to residents. A scholarship can open the door to education, and a work-study program that provides you with some income as well as pays off your tuition while you work are all viable options for low-income adults looking to better themselves and expand their career options.

Even if you don’t have money for a traditional education, don’t give up! If you search hard enough, you can find opportunities for free or subsidized education.

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Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.

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Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education

4 tips for balancing an education and a full-time job

**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest column by Brooke Chaplan

According to a 2011 survey, 71% of college undergraduates retained a job while they focused on their degree. Of these, 2 out of 5 worked at least 20 hours a week, and 1 in 5 managed at least 35 hours.

Of course, these statistics don’t accurately portray the difficulty for maintaining both a career and education. Between the two, you have to spend time hitting the books and the showers, reading the latest essays and taking in your boss’ memos and emails.

At times, you may feel as though you never have time to eat or sleep, let alone socialize with friends and family. So what can you do meet all of your obligations, despite your busy schedule?

Save Time through Online Courses

While pursuing a degree often requires you spend at least a few hours in the classroom, many degrees allow you to take online courses at your convenience. With an online course, you can still acquire your necessary credits to graduate, but can do so in the early morning before your shift, or in the few minutes you have on your lunch break. There are also full-time options available like the New England College masters of public policy online, and criminal justice degrees from other institutions.

Apply for Financial Aid

You likely spend a lot of your time simply earning enough money for food and groceries. Any extra funds you have then go toward textbooks and tuition. But what if you could cut some of your tuition costs? Plenty of financial aid programs will cover the cost of your schooling, so you can spend more time reading textbooks than working to buy textbooks. If you need help paying for college, fill out a FAFSA application or talk to your school’s financial aid counselor for additional resources.

Cook Your Meals All at Once

When you have to get up early to drive to campus, and then drive across town to make it to your afternoon shift, you might not have a lot of time to cook your own meals. But don’t spend your hard-earned money on fast food! If you prepare all your meals at once, you can save money on meals and still enjoy healthy fruits and vegetables.

To start, wash and cut fruits and vegetables as soon as you come home from the grocery store. Separate your key ingredients into easy-to-grab bags that you can pop in the oven, or dump in the slow cooker after school or work. Make each meal large enough that you can use the leftovers for your lunch the following day or freeze them for quick heat ups during the week.

Don’t Procrastinate Your Assignments

When you find a gap in your schedule, you may want to use those few extra minutes to take a nap or play some video games, but don’t get too comfortable just yet! Any extra time you have should go toward finishing assignments early. Have an essay due in a month? Start gathering research. Don’t have to write that report until next week? Jot down a rough draft anyway. By working on your assignments long in advance, you give yourself an extra cushion of time should your work schedule shift and you have to take extra hours.

 

With these four tips and tricks, you’ll have an easier time juggling your education and your job without the hassle or added fuss.

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Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening.

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