Can a SAHM of 3 manage taking 12 credits?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

hey, kimberly! if you have never taken a college class before i would very strongly recommend that you cut this list down to one class to get your feet wet. most colleges will tell you that for every credit hour of the class you need to be spending 2 to 4 hours of study time a week. so, for a 3 credit class you are looking at 6 to 12 hours of study time a week; 18 to 36 hours a week for 3 classes. after taking just one class then you should be able to have a good idea of what you will be able to manage. what was your best subject in high school? i'd go with that. your children are very young and will require a lot of your time. chemistry requires a lot of memorization and possibly math. if you don't get a good start with memorizing the first 40 elements on the periodic chart and a few facts about them you will sink and drown as the class goes on. english will require you to read essays or even a book and write about them and other subjects. in my early college days (back in the late 1960's) english composition was considered a flunk-out course, meaning that if you failed it you were automatically booted out of the college. that's not true today, but it is still an extremely important class that all students have to take and pass. if you've never had algebra before, the homework for it alone will tie you up for some hours. you have to put in the time to do the homework.

here are a couple of websites you should check out with information on how to study and manage your time that you might find helpful.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/ssindex.htm - strategies for success, an online primer and tutorial on how to study for students from the alamo community college. this is a pretty extensive resource with links on the right side of the page to click into the following subjects: learning styles, note taking, memory techniques, time management, overcoming procrastination, sq3r (a method for getting the most out of reading your textbooks), study tips, critical thinking, preparing for tests, and oral presentations. also, take a look at the faq's (frequently asked questions).

http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/checklis.html - this is a study skill checklist for you to go through and inventory your study habits from virginia polytechnic institute and state university. at the bottom of the form is the link to "study skills self-help information" which is all kinds of information to help you with areas you were weak on in the checklist. if you want to bypass the checklist and just go into the information section, go to this link http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

Are you still planning on moving to Cleveland? I am from Cleveland and worked at a hospital there for a good many years. There are waiting lists for the nursing programs, but there are jobs.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

That's a very heavy load. At that age they should be going to bed fairly early and you'll have some evening time free. But I agree, if this is your first time going, and you don't need the full time hours for financial aid, cutting back might not be a bad idea.

Kids do no understand or even care that you're a student and have homework. How much every you do with them now is how much your going to be doing with them then. How much help is dad going to be? Especially on weekends or his days off?

Also, Chemistry requires simple Algerbra, have you had any exposure to Algerbra? High school perhaps? Chemistry is challenging and requires some memorization and time for that. English requires a lot of writing, learning APA of other formats for papers and can be a busy class that way. I'm not a good judge of Algerbra because math comes easy to me I can do Algerbra in my sleep.

Bottom line is: when there's a will there's a way. You can do it, if your motivated, organized, and flexible. But why kill yourself if not necessary.

MIKelly · Jun 22, 2006

If I were you I would drop at least one of those classes. I am a SAHM of four, ages 6, 4, and twins who are 28 months. I started classes last August and when I sat down with a college counselor he told me I'd need to take 12 credits so I could apply that winter for the nursing program. I wasn't in that much of a hurry! So I started with English Comp online and got an A-. I missed out on registering for another class when that 8 wks was up so I had to wait two more months to take another one, which was Nutrition (online), got an A+. I folllowed that immediately with Psychology (online), got an A. I am currently on campus for my first class, which is my humantities requirement, Comparative Religions. It's looking like an easy A+. I am only taking one class at a time so I can keep my GPA up high enough to get into the program (nobody with less than a 3.8 gets in). It's a big job taking classes when you have a family. You are either ignoring your kids or your husband at least a little and that can be hard. I have a great husband that pitches in with the kids all the time, so I'm lucky. I will say that I am LOVING getting out of the house to take this new class! I have felt like a "momblob" for a long time now. It's good to get out in the real world again! Oh, and off the stinking computer. When I took online classes they were convenient, but I felt like I was chained to the computer. My kids are happy to see me NOT working on it anymore.

marinemommy · Jun 22, 2006

I think it really depends on your experience (whether or not you've taken college courses) and your time management skills. I have 3 young boys (6, 3, and almost 2) and took 12 credits last semester (one of them was one campus once a week). I'm currently a SAHM with a bachelors in athletic training and it was hard. Granted they were relatively simple classes (Biology (Lecture & Lab), Pharmacology, Psych and a Human Development class) but it was really hard juggling my time and my studies. I am not doing that again this semester and would recommend that you'd take probably about 2 classes, just to get into the swing of things.

RN2bemommyof3 · Jun 22, 2006

Thank you all for the info! This will not be my first time in college classes, but it has been over 8 yrs. Plus, the last time I did this I didn't have a family to think about.

I am lucky to have a very supportive husband that will offer a lot of help when he is home! I think I will only take two classes. But, I'm not sure how that will affect my student aid.

Daytonite- If we do move to Cleveland it won't be for a few more years.

Thank you!!

Kimberly

xNursePinkx2b · Jun 22, 2006

I'm a sahm mom also (I have a 4 month old) and taking the same classes! I think we can do it

AmericanChai · Jun 23, 2006

I am not that brave, but I have known moms who did it. :) I am only taking one class per semester since all I have left are the sciences. If you have a good support system, someone to watch the kids a lot, I think you can do it!

stpauligirl · Jun 23, 2006

Hello everyone!!
I am a SAHM to 3 small children. I will be starting my pre-reqs this fall.:monkeydance:
When I start school my kids will be 4, 2.5, and 7months.
Do you think it is possible to manage taking 12 credit hours?
I plan to take Chem, Eng(online), and Algebra(online).
Do you think I should attempt this or cut it back?
Thank you for your advise!
Kimberly

Listen to Daytonite. GPA is everything to get accepted into nursing programs and you need as many A's as you can possibly get. Chemistry and Algebra aren't easy classes.

FireHorseNinja · Jun 23, 2006

hi, i'm a sahm also. i have 4 teenagers; 15 and a half, twin 16 year olds, and 17. we are a blended family... yikes, that's another thread. i started taking classes last year. it's been a long time since i was in school, as i will turn 40 this year. great move to get started on your classes!

i am taking 2 classes a semester, and this has been very manageable! whereas if i had taken more class, i’m sure that i wouldn't have done as well. i have pulled a's in all my science classes which are important.

my opinion is that it's better to take a bit longer, and do very well... than to get it done quickly and only be an average student.

your children are still young. you can't foresee the future and your family is your first priority. yes in the long run it will be great to be able to provide more 'things' for your kids, and have a satisfying career... but your kids will grow up and move on... all too quickly and you cannot replace that time with them, ever.

not to say that it's wrong to work or to be away from them... that's not my point. the point is that to be excellent in all you do, requires balance. you can't do it all. if your stressed out and pulled in to many directions, you will have nothing left to give. you're a wife, mother, friend, daughter, etc... you have to remember to have time for yourself as well.

my experience having 4 teenagers right now, living in so. calif. (that doesn’t drive yet... but are involved in everything :-) i can tell you that there are bumps along the way that you cannot plan for. just last year our family had to deal with some difficult issues with our oldest son. it was a mentally and emotionally challenging time, however because i only had two classes going, i was still able to hold a 3.5 gpa.

life isn't a sprint... but a marathon. i think an online class is a good idea, but it's great to get into a real classroom with other like minded students as well. i think you're smart to scale back to two classes. especially when taking sciences. micro, anatomy, and physio, and intermediate algebra are pre req's we have to have before even getting on the waiting list. i will be ready after next semester.

respectfully,

dawn

aim: dawnikanspsalm91

[color=gray]"[color=gray]ability is what you're capable of doing. motivation determines what you do. attitude determines how well you do it."[color=gray] [color=gray]ability, motivation and attitude are all ingredients of a winner, and they cannot be omitted or substituted. coach lou holtz

Buckyxj · Jun 23, 2006

Its all about how you manage time. I am not a SAHD but I work 48hrs. a week and go to school 30hrs. a week plus have a wife and two kids to take after. but I still find time. I feel bad for missing my kids childhood but hey one year and im done. good luck