by Starr Sheets

Created on: October 04, 2007   Last Updated: November 08, 2007

Being a single mother and attending any educational establishment can be challenging for time, money, and ability to focus. Before you enroll in a college or university either brick and mortar or online you should consider what issues will arise during the years it will take to achieve your educational goals.

1) Send for information on the various programs and options in a field of study you would like to work in. Maybe attend a career planning seminar to get a better feel for how to evaluate your needs to perform well in a certain industry. Almost all campuses offer an open house or have an outreach director to help you decide if the school is the correct format for you.

2) Check with your chamber of commerce, small business administration, and library for any information on how to get scholarships or any other reimbursement programs available to you as a single mother. Not to sound racist but if there is a program for a specific race, age, or marital status and you fit that detail take advantage of it. There are literally thousands of companies and government funded organizations that assist various people based on race, sex, age, or marital status. An example might be the Daughter's of the Revolution. It is designed for women who are able to trace their heritage back to the revolutionary period. They also have great scholarships for members.

3) If daycare costs will hurt you check on daycare assistance from Department of Human Services. Another option is find a local in home daycare that might be willing to trade you some services. Maybe you could work as a volunteer during certain hours in trade for a discount or for a few free days of care. If you have a specialty they can use such as if you have bookkeeping experience you might offer to do their books in trade for some free hours of care. You can also consider getting your earned income credit as advanced EIC on your paycheck to help cover the cost. Have a friend in school too? Exchange babysitting if possible. Schedule courses at different times to make this possible.

4) Once you get into the school of your choice then participate in as many activities as you can it will pay off. Make friends while you are there. Look for events that you can take your children with you and still get some extra credit. Take all the extra credit you can to buffer for what you might score low on when kids are sick or emergencies arise.

5) Join like minded clubs for your study or for some interest you have. For example where

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