dh wants to go back to school

[HelenePA]

He's going down to our local penn st campus tonight for open house for the 30+ crowd.

Its been years since I was in school and even then I wasn't really "in" on the money part of it...

What can we expect? I know we'll have to fill out the fasa? What will we need to do this.. I've been telling him for years to go.. he never went out of HS. I did for a few years. I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up, when I do figure it out, I plan to go back. I gotta say though he only told me about going to school 3 days ago so I'm still in shock (in a good way) and haven't had time to really look around or let it sink in..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You can expect to be a single mom. Seriously. Time to find yourself a good babysitter so you can find your replacement for your dh if necessary.

When my brother did his Master's he was either at work or school or studying, plus trying to be involved in his 3 son's lives.

He was tired all the time. Now he did end up divorcing. His relationship with his ex was not the best anyway and this made it harder on them.

 

[C.Ann]

No advice, but good for him!

Hope everything goes smoothly for him..

 

[Tiggeroo]

I you make over 45000 it seemed to mr you don't get much more then loans. You need your tax return for the previous year. And it is very common and doable for a working adult to go back to school. He will need your support though. Some schools are more friendly to working adults with flexible schedules l, hybrid or online classes and professors who understand you have another life too.

 

[Mimi1965]

Honestly- with 4 kids he should be focused
on a trade - getting a general college degree
would not improve income- unless it's a specialty
. Is he really prepared to take literature, science
and history At his age?

 

[HelenePA]

he is gone for about 14-16 hrs a day working 2 jobs to make ends meet.. I'm already a "single" mom. Even if he goes for 2 yrs and gets ONE job that pays as much as both together its gotta be better than it is now.. I hardly see him, the kids hardly see him. We are too "rich" (and proud) for any help. When the youngest goes to school I can get a job but until then daycare would be as much or more than what I would make. Its a circle that needs to be broken.

 

[HelenePA]

Honestly- with 4 kids he should be focused
on a trade - getting a general college degree
would not improve income- unless it's a specialty
. Is he really prepared to take literature, science
and history At his age?

I think he want to go for an xray tech.. at first he was talking RN but he is not RN material.. he would hate it. He could do it ... but hate it. I would support him if that's what he chose but honestly I hope he goes for something else.. ETA how old do you think he is? lol he isn't THAT old..

 

[DrCavin]

he is gone for about 14-16 hrs a day working 2 jobs to make ends meet.

When would he even be able to go to class, let alone study/homework

 

[snowywhite89]

Good for him trying to better his family. One can only work 2 jobs for so long and eventually it wears you out. Good luck.

 

[HelenePA]

When would he even be able to go to class, let alone study/homework

Well he'd have to do all night classes and have this 2nd job (part time) work with him or only work weekends there.. honestly I dont know either.. but he (we) can't do this forever.. what are our choices? Like I said it was thrown at me 3 maybe 4 days ago. Open house is tonight to see what his options are... its not like I'm not going to support him.. its what he wants to do... lets give it a shot I'm a roll with the shots kind of person..

 

[Grand Duke]

School's no fun.

 

[SC Minnie]

That's awesome.

Also do an extensive search for scholarships and have him go for any that may apply to him. The small ones add up.

 

[doxdogy]

I think it is great that he wants to go back to school. My dad did 20+ years in the Navy. When he retired, he worked during the day and went to school at night. He first earned his Bachelor's Degree to become a teacher. After a few years of teaching, he returned to school and earned his Master's Degree. Dad was in his mid to late 30's when he retired from the Navy.

 

[tonilea]

I went to college this fall as a first time freshman. It is hard work! But, I enjoy it. I work very part time, volunteer at school and church and I really feel stretched thin sometimes! He needs to call and find out who / what dept. covers non-traditional students.

Because I didn't go straight out of HS, my ACT scholarship was still valid. (I took the ACT in 1986!) I was also able to get a state lottery scholarship and a Pell grant. Actually, the financial part of it was the easiest part for us. The making it work with a family is tough (and I only have one kid!)

 

[HelenePA]

Im pretty sure one if not both of his jobs has some sort of tuition assistance he was supposed to look into that as well we are damned if we do damned if we don't let's see what happens tonight cross your fingers for him!!

 

[ajk912]

Is there any way you could work to support the family while he goes to school, or work something out so he only has to work one job while going to school? I can't imagine him lasting working two jobs and going to school, unless he's only going a class at at time.

I am also an older student going back to school. I am going full time and I am the full time caregiver of my three kids and I am SPENT. I can't imagine putting a job or two in there as well. I am having a hard time juggling as it is. It's not too bad, I am sure he'd do the placement testing so he starts out at the right classes.

But DOOOOOOO work something out to lighten his load a bit. Or maybe he works and you go to school (online at home with the kids till preschool age, then go on campus) and then you flipflop when you graduate (you work 100% to support the family so he can focus on school) and he goes to school then. But working two jobs and going to school. Yikes. I know you say you don't have a choice, but I think that's just setting yourselves up to fail.

 

[tlmdisney]

My husband and I both went back to school after starting a family. We lived in Family housing at the University. It wasn't a great apartment but it worked for us. We had a lot of fun our neighbors were in the same situation of trying to better your life so we had some great friendships. It is hard to do and of course being poor sucks but you can say this is temporary and soon we will have nice new stuff. (that was my mantra) My husband got a degree six years ago in computer science it was the best thing he ever did. Before he went back he was in construction.

 

[mhsjax]

I think he want to go for an xray tech.. at first he was talking RN but he is not RN material.. he would hate it. He could do it ... but hate it. I would support him if that's what he chose but honestly I hope he goes for something else.. ETA how old do you think he is? lol he isn't THAT old..

I watch a 75 year old woman get her BA when my friend graduated with her masters. She had dropped out of high school to help her family, got married at around 18 and had kids. She always wanted to go to college. She got the biggest standing ovation I have ever seen. Everyone thought she was fantastic.

I know someone that did it and got her masters starting at age 30. She also took care of the kids and the house while her hubby ran his own business, but she didn't work outside of the home, but did everything in the home. they didn't get divorced and she is very proud of herself. She also graduated with high honors. Good luck to your hubby in whatever he decides.

 

[SC Minnie]

At our company they will not reimburse until after the class is completed. He needs to check into that so you can prepare.

 

[HelenePA]

He's home He was the only one there so they waived the application fee for him lol. So info on xray tech is this.. they accept 27 into the program every year and it wont open again til next fall.. they told him if he goes for spring and summer to just get some of the general ed stuff out of the way and transfer over to it. We have lots of stuff to go thru and lots of stuff we need to figure out. Honestly I wish I could make as much as he does but I can't. He as the top of his pay scale at work. He goes in for VERY strange hours with his full time job. Today went in for 4am then there are days he wont get out til 5. We NEED someone here to get them on the bus and off the bus. Then day care for the 2 yr old would just be more than what I would make.