The Adult Student's Guide to Survival and Success 6th Edition cover

Frequently Asked Questions: Enrolling

We get a lot of inquiries at Adult Student.com! Many deal with similar topics, so we've decided to post some of our most commonly asked questions. Use our form to submit your question.

FAQs at Adult Student.com:

For more information see our General Links and Developing Goals pages.

Open All | Close All

I was very excited to see that there is help out there for single moms on welfare who are trying to educate themselves and get off welfare. I'm trying to help my cousin out. I was just wondering if you have any contacts or can direct me in the right way on who I can talk to up in Canada? ... It's the same way here. -- Tammy R, Manitoba, Canada

We don't have a whole lot of information for Canada, but try these:

CanLearn.ca - Official education site of Canadian government.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada sponsors the Canada Student Loans Program - government portal for Canadian financial aid information.

Lifelong Learning Plan - RRSP Withdrawls - Information about using your retirement account to pay for educational expenses.

We also found a site that lists many of Canada's colleges and includes web links if available. Through Collegenet.com, choose "Additional Apps" and then choose Canada.

Maybe a web search on phrases such as "Canadian financial aid for low income students" or "Canadian social assistance education resources."

My advise to your cousin is to apply, apply, apply for scholarships. Sometimes an organization will offer a scholarship that no one applies for. In these cases, if they only get one application who isn't even completely qualified for their specific scholarship, they'll still give the money away.

I am expecting my son in August and unfortunalty I am doing this on my own. I am interested in going to college so I can get a better job and also so that my son can have everything he needs. What kind a programs do you suggest for a soon-to-be mom? Also, do you have any advise? -- Kari

Good for you and your goals. Many single moms attend and complete college.

As far as programs for you, look at your interests first. What interests you will usually come easier to you, generally requires less "work," and ends up being fun and stimulating. Two good "all-purpose" degrees would be in communications or business. Regardless of what program you end up choosing, you'll most likely start with the general school graduation requirements, such as writing and math classes, and one or two electives. After your first term or semester, you'll have a better feel for where your interests lay. Eventually you will need to make a choice between a more liberal arts sort of degree (social sciences, communications, business) versus a technical degree (math, engineering) and tailor your coursework to fulfilling those requirements.

We also suggest to start slowly until you know what your new workload will be like. Being a new mom is stressful enough! You might look at including some distance or online courses in your mix to allow you to be at home a little bit more with your young one.

I'm only 29 years old, however I finished all of my pre-nursing courses. Now all I have left to do is to get accepted into a Nursing School. The catch is that I was accepted back in 2001 and left under Academic Dismissal. At the time I didn't take school as serious and chose my job as a manager of a local restaurant over my studies. Well, I'm at a new job now and I've started moving up in the company again, right now I'm applying for the management program because of financial reasons. However, I want to finish what I've started and I want ot complete my nursing degree and maybe if I discover Nursing is not for me then I will be happy with my choice. Right now I'm afraid that since I've been out of school for so long that my credits will not be valid. -- Christa

The only way to know for sure about your credits is to ask the admissions office at the school you are interested in. Each school treats them differently, and often on an individual basis. We have more information on the types of experience that can be turned into college credit in chapter 3 of The Adult Student's Guide to Survival & Success, 6th Edition. I am confident that you are not the only one who has been in your position. Just be honest with the college as you were here and they'll probably find a way to work with you.

Why would a student want to take vocational courses rather than get a degree? -- Mark

It all depends on what the student wants to do and what the specific industry in which he or she is interested in working requires. Many people have both.

Some get their degree then take vocational courses specific to their job, others take vocational courses first and may later pursue a degree in a related field.

FAQs compiled by
Kristin Pintarich
Editor-in-Chief, Practical Psychology Press, Inc.