However, I got here by way of the community college. I finished an associate’s degree there, and took the SAT afterwards. My GPA from the CC and SAT scores were then high enough to get me into the private college.

As far as finding time, most schools won’t give you much in the way of scholarships unless you’re a full time student, anyway. Are your children in school? I’ve managed to schedule most of my classes during the school day, and my mother babysits my youngest. It’s tough, but most of the work you’ll be doing is outside of class anyway – so you’ll be home with your kids, trying to work amid all the distractions.

It can be done, though; I’m graduating next May.

Good luck!

If you have childcare for during your classes, and if you have time to study (maybe while baby is sleeping), then you are golden. Literally, that’s usually the hardest part for a working parent to handle. If you know you have childcare, get excited, because this could work.

The easiest way to prep for the SAT/ACT is to take a prep class. (And… shh… know that some people find the ACT exam a bit easier than the SAT, so…). These are available via Kaplan, Princeton Review, other companies, and also via most university’s continuing education classes (and that option is often cheaper). You can also get books from the library or a bookstore that can help you prep. At a minimum, right now, go ahead and get a book or order online a full sample SAT exam. Take it, timed, in silence, as you would take the exam in real life. See how you score, then judge what sort of prep you need.

You can literally take just one class at the cc, if you want. You do it via continuing education. The class will count toward your transfer to Hendrix, if it’s one of the basic, intro classes that every freshman needs to take, such as English, Math, etc. It doesn’t have to be (and perhaps shouldn’t be) in your major. Just keep it to the general educational requirements that every student needs to fulfill. Do your major classes once you get to Hendrix. CC classes are also rather inexpensive, relatively speaking, so you may not need a loan for that.

Most students fund their education via a combination of student loans and, when they can get them, scholarships and grants, plus personal funds. Fill out the FAFSA – that’s the main form you use to find out what aid you qualify for. Also, talk to the school about scholarships, as well as to your church and any civic organisations to which you belong.

You can always go to college later, and college is not the only place to learn things.

Hopefully you get the picture 🙂