Acquiring an education is mandatory if you want to land a decent paying job. There may be some exceptions, but it’s rare—very rare, and it’s not recommended to gamble on it. Companies and corporations will overlook a resume that has no college education as fast as they picked it up. With so many colleges and universities throughout the United States—approximately 5,300 according to The Washington Post, pursuing a higher education has become almost as common as getting a high school diploma.
“Almost”, being the operative word here! College takes a great deal of time, dedication, persistence. Even as a traditional student, meaning someone who enrolls in college directly out of high school with no personal commitments or obligations outside of academic studies, the responsibility of juggling academic courses on a higher level can be quite challenging.
Non-traditional students, those who may have waited a few years or more to enroll in college, who may have their own families to care for, and may be working a full-time job, often find the demands of a higher education even more difficult.
Challenges of Going to College and Working
Oftentimes, non-traditional students are stuck between a rock and a hard place, having to set certain priorities above the other. Both being equally important, this can cause a certain amount of stress to a student that can ultimately affect their academic progress.
Here is a list of some of the challenges that full-time working students might find while attending college:
Studying Time is Limited – Whether you’re raising a family or working a full-time job, the time spent there or with them is time that could be put toward your academic studying. As a result, you’ll have to get more creative with finding study time.
Limited Course Offerings – When working a full-time job, you’re limited to taking courses during a certain period of time. For instance, if you work a 1st shift job, then evening classes are going to be most convenient for you. If you work 2nd shift, then an early morning class is going to be best, and if you work 3rd shift, you’ll have the flexibility to take morning and evening courses, but your mind and body will let you know very quickly that it’s not a big fan of it, simply because you need time to rest!
Stressful Commuting – Living in large metropolitan areas like Miami already provides the challenge of congested highways, but when you’re pressed for time, running back and forth from your full-time job to school can add even more stress.
Limited Time for Tutoring – Oftentimes, there’s not much you can do to make it to class on time commuting from work, not to mention finding a parking space! The victory of making it to class can be short-lived when your professor assigns you a project that you need assistance with. This usually calls for more time with the professor, or perhaps scheduling tutoring time. Yet, who has the time for that when you’re already working 40 hours a week? Not to mention, you’ve probably already factored homework into your schedule—which may have already been limited!
Based on any of these obstacles, many non-traditional students may not finish college as quickly as they had originally planned.
Finding the Right College
Florida National University (FNU) does not want to see this happen! That is why we’ve composed a curriculum of online courses for students to take. FNU is an accredited higher institution designed to formulate an exemplary curriculum of stellar academic courses that will train and prepare students to seamlessly transition into the professional workforce.
Here are the main advantages of taking online classes with FNU:
Taking Online Classes offers Flexibility!
Studying Anytime, Anywhere – When taking online courses, you have the freedom to study on campus or off. For out-of-state students, this is especially beneficial. For instance, if you live in Ohio, but would like to get a degree from a college from another state, but can’t afford to make the move, enrolling in one of FNU online courses that you can take 100% online is certainly an option!
Take Any Course You Want – No more do you have to limit yourself to perusing night classes in the academic catalog. FNU’s online courses broadens your options as if you were a full-time student on campus!
Zero Commuting Time – When opting to take an FNU academic program 100% online, you have eliminated the worry and stress of commuting. Take advantage of your online classes by making a cup of coffee and kicking your feet up on the couch with your laptop in the comfort of your own home. Now, that’s studying!
Responsibility to Time Management – If there has to be a downside to earning your college degree online, it’s going to be the challenge of mastering your time management skills. Since there is no set time for classes, it is up to you to set your own classroom time and commit to it. If you do this successfully, then you will certainly enjoy the flexibility of earning your college degree online.
Access to Professor and Classmates – Earning an online degree gives you accessibility to teachers and classmates, enabling you to ask any questions that you may have about a certain assignment or even grade score. You will no longer have to schedule an appointment to speak with your professor. You can contact them directly online!
If you’re interested in enrolling in one of FNU’s online programs, contact our admissions office and start the enrollment process today!
