When I found out that I was pregnant with Shane, I was in college. My world revolved around work, class, and sorority events, and of course my fiancee. I was frequently having 18 hour days- starting out with 8 hour shifts at work, then 6 hours of class, then a sorority event to attend in the evenings & an hour drive home every night.

{I was four months pregnant in this picture, hence the look of complete & utter exhaustion}

When I found out I was pregnant, it was January, and by the end of that semester I was miserable. I was waddling around in the heat {it was over 100 degrees daily by the end of the semester} and I was 7 months pregnant trying to navigate a huge campus with bad parking options. Every day, I wished that I had taken online classes. They would have helped me so much during that time.

Once Shane came around, I did start taking online classes. I wanted to stay home with him, so I enrolled in online courses through my university & kept going for another year that way. Unfortunately, at that point there were some issues with my financial aid and it was pulled completely. I couldn’t afford to continue school, and had to withdraw for the time being.

While I wish I would have been able to finish school, I know it’s never too late. I don’t intend on having an actual career for quite some time- at least until Shane is in high school if not later- so I have no immediate need for a college degree. &I’ve seen people go back to school later in life- in fact, my mom is a student right now! She just finished up a couple of years at the community college & starts at the same university I was attending this Spring. I’m so proud of her, and she is the perfect example of why it’s never too late to get your degree.

Like I said, I’m in no rush, but at the same time I actually like school. I have been wanting to take a course at a time, that way it’s not overwhelming with everything else going on, and that way I can start chipping away at the remaining 20-something credits I have left to graduate. That’s why I’m going to be taking a class at Ivy Bridge College next semester! {I thought about enrolling this time, but with the wedding, I figured I’d better wait.}

Ivy Bridge College {IBC} is a great option for Moms who want to go back to school. In fact, 50% of their students are mothers! IBC is flexible so you can keep your current job or keep staying at home with your kids, but you can still continue your education at your own pace. &They offer support services including a free online private community dedicated to students who are Moms where they can support each other. I think that’s such a brilliant tool & that every school should have that!

They also offer weekly success coaching including career planning, resume writing & interviewing skills, free tutoring, personalized academic advising & the ability to earn a college degree in as little as 17 months. They are designed for you to earn your associate’s degree there and then transfer to over 150 partner schools. They make transferring easy with their clear transfer agreements & make sure that you don’t waste time on courses that won’t transfer.

So what does it cost? About 1/3 of what it costs to attend other private schools. &Once you have your degree, you’ll see return on your investment- those with an associate’s degree earn 20% more & those with a bachelor’s earn 65% more than those with just a high school diploma.

Want even more reason to check out Ivy Bridge? What about a $1,000 tuition discount?

Win It: One lucky reader will win a $1,000 tuition discount. {Fine print: To be eligible for the $1,000 discount off tuition at Ivy Bridge College (IBC), the qualifying individuals will need to be degree seeking, enrolled in IBC a minimum of part-time, and new to IBC (specifically, not someone who has already applied to, enrolled in, or requested information from IBC). Classes at Ivy Bridge College Extension are not eligible for the discount. Limit one per person.The tuition discount is valid through September 1, 2013.}

Good luck!

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