Comments on: 17, bout to have baby, and want to further education, whats a good online college?

By: Supermommy!!!

Supermommy!!! — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:45:59 +0000

I’m in my senior year (well it was suppose to be I have 8 classes left to take but one isn’t offered until next Spring ’10 don’t you hate that). Personally I would consider going to actual classes. I really wished my school offered more online classes when I first had my son because I ended up only being able to get into one and I had to go back to school when he was 3 weeks old. However it was VERY hard to do the one online class I did have. Think about it. First off you have to teach yourself everything because there isn’t a teacher to go up to after class and ask questions to, even though you can email it’s not the same and sometimes the response is limited or hard to understand. Plus you can’t really focus with your baby right there. Every time they cry or come to you you can’t ignore them even if someone else is there to watch them. When you are in an actual classroom it’s different. There is no baby there for you to worry about, the teacher is right there to ask questions to and you can focus just on school. If I were you I would look into a community college. Maybe start out just going part-time. Find a good sitter (my son’s grandma watches him but not everyone has that same opportunity). I drop my son off an hour to two hours before I have class this gives me the chance to drive 20mins, park, and do a little homework before class starts. Sometimes after class I do a little more before I go and get him. With my son being there is takes me twice as long to do my assignments especially if I have research to do so I usually wait until he is asleep to work on it and I have to have everything planned out so I can get as much done as possible before he wakes back up. I can’t just stick him in his play-pen when I have work to do. He hates it and cries and I can’t focus with him crying. The “good” thing about my apartment is it’s fairly small so I can keep an eye on him while I’m working. Good luck. Oh and I personally think SIUE is a great school. They have family housing, daycare on campus and family resources. The family housing is nice I actually lived there before I had a family lol, I was an RA and those were my buildings. The resident I admired the most was a single mother to a 2 year old. She came from East St. louis which if you don’t know is VERY rough. She struggled but she made her way through with no help from her family. You can do it too if you put your mind to it.
References :
Landon’s Mommy.

By: storyinthephoto

storyinthephoto — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:29:59 +0000

no actually, i wasnt a teen mom, how ashamed I wouldve been ! I had mine at 31 and 32 after I finished school , got married and had a career
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By: katerbecker

katerbecker — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:45:59 +0000

Your best place to start is at your local community college or state college. Talk to the financial aid people there too, and fill out a FAFSA form; there may be some scholarship options for someone in your situation. Most of those schools will offer online classes (not necessarily degree programs) but the price will be more reasonable, always, for in-state Some of the online programs are incredibly expensive and not accredited.
If I had it to do over again (college education, that is) I would have done community college, either for a certificate program or to get the first two years of a degree out of the way. Online education isn’t necessarily as impressive to potential employers as brick and mortar programs, but there may always be some aspects of any program that can be handled online. A technical education, such as one for any medical technical field, can’t be taught entirely with online classes. You have to get hands on experience.
I think it would be best to do some online pre-requisites for classes that you need to get out of the way right now, and as your baby gets a little older, you can go to the classroom. The community college here in our community has many competitive programs in medical assisting and technology fields as well as nursing. There are so many people who want to get into them (they are good paying positions, many of which don’t require a degree.) Because they are so competitive, you have to have outstanding grades to get in.
If you can get away for some hours a week, you could also consider doing a cosmetology program. There are some that accept Pell grants, which is something you need to look into if you are on your own at 17 with a baby. Another option is to complete a nursing assistant program which is relatively quick, then get hired at a hospital, they may have tuition reimbursement if you want to go into a high demand field, and they will almost always have very good benefits.

Best of luck to you and your baby!
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By: iamkarrame

iamkarrame — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:06:59 +0000

actually your local college should offer a set of online classes. i went through the same exact thing that you're going through, i was 18 and and about to have a baby but i didn't want that to get my way of having an education. i wouldn't make take too many classes though. the burden of a newborn baby and school can sometimes be a little overwhelming. good luck^_^
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By: christina j

christina j — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:42:59 +0000

most local colleges offer online courses. i go to WVU and go to class everyday, im due in feb so next semester im taking online classes. most colleges offer online classes, they may be limited but you can always go to regular classes later, most also have daycares and clubs for student parents
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By: sgtozzyswife

sgtozzyswife — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:09:59 +0000

I have heard pheonix online is a good one but the main reason i answered this was to say congratulations!!!! That is a wonderful way to do it you are an example to young mothers! its hard making it out there even with an education and so many young mothers find it easier to play the poor me i need to stay home take care of my baby and be on welfare. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you hear this from others around you but I dont even know you and I am proud of you!
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By: me4 President

me4 President — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:37:59 +0000

Maybe you should hunt a school down with a continuing education program were you can take aq cours in a month and graduate
with phebotomy or ekg tech, or na aid, or computer cours some schools
have them depending on what state unless you want a 4 yr college
References :
continuing ed advertisements from tech schools

By: lolisa47

lolisa47 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:25:59 +0000

university of toledo. or owens is cheaper and good
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