woulda shoulda coulda

story by | lindsie schoenack

Most high school students assume that after graduating they will go to college. Today, there are many adults who made that assumption, but things didn’t work out quite as planned. For women in particular, marriage and children can derail the best-laid educational plans. Fortunately, it’s never too late to finish a bachelor’s degree or earn a master’s degree.

You’re probably thinking, “But I have a family, a job, other commitments—there is no way I can go to college too. After all, even a super mom needs some sleep!” That is true, but earning a degree may not be as difficult to fit into your busy schedule as you may think.

The adults who look into the University of Mary Fargo Center’s accelerated degree programs often have similar questions and concerns…

where do I begin?

If you want to earn your bachelor’s degree, the first step is to meet with an advisor who will evaluate any college credits you have earned in the past. You may also have work and life experiences that will transfer into college credit! If you are looking at earning a master’s degree, you need to determine what program will help you attain your career goals. Your graduate advisor can help you with that process.

By working with an advisor, you will know exactly what is needed to earn your degree, with a customized schedule and financial aid plan to help you achieve that goal.

I’m too busy and would never have enough time!

At the University of Mary, our adult programs are at an accelerated pace, with most classes lasting five or seven weeks. On-site classes are one night a week for four hours and online classes are available 24/7. Typically, if you can commit to 15-20 hours a week for class and homework, you have time to earn your degree.

I could never afford it!

Because of the accelerated format, students are considered full-time and therefore eligible for financial aid. Plus, University of Mary is a full participant in the Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program which helps VA-qualified veterans earn their bachelor’s or master’s degree.

I tried college before and it was too hard, I’m sure I wouldn’t do well!

You were young and probably didn’t know how to manage your time or multi-task like you do now. But even so, an advisor is assigned to you the minute you enroll at University of Mary as an adult learner. Questions and guidance regarding programs of study, planning, policies and procedures, course registration, and completion of degree requirements are among the areas your academic advisor will address with you. Faculty are likewise available for monitoring your progress, offering content assistance and addressing questions. Your advisor and faculty partner with you to promote consistent communication and academic support. but what if something comes up, like having another baby, a family crisis or moving?

Another way the University of Mary has addressed this concern is to structure the adult programs in a “cohort” format, where students earn their degree with a group of adult student peers. You stay together through your course of study, forming a strong support network and work teams.

U-Mary’s adult programs are flexible because your life isn’t simple. You always have choices:

• You can “stop out,” which simply means you take a break. When you are ready, we will be waiting to help you get back into the swing of things.

• You can switch formats. If you are in an on-site program and your situation changes, you can switch to online. Or maybe you’re studying online and find that your family is moving to Fargo. If you want, you can join an on-site cohort.

Anyone who tells you that going back to school as an adult is easy is bending the truth. It is a serious commitment that requires time and effort—but everything that is important does. You can do it and the University of Mary is here to help you every step of the way. Maybe it’s time to take the sage advice that Christopher Robin gave to Winnie the Pooh, “…remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

The University of Mary Fargo Center offers accelerated degree programs for working adults, with classes held one night a week or online and some programs can be completed in as few as 15 months. On-site, U-Mary offers bachelor's degrees in accounting, business, information technology management and organizational leadership and master's degrees in business administration, project management, strategic leadership, nursing and counseling.

Lindsie Schoenack is the director of the University of Mary Fargo Center where she helps adults realize their goal of earning a degree [and sometimes more than one!]. She is active on the board for the North Dakota Society for Human Resource Management, is chair of the Business Training committee of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, and is pursuing higher education herself [yes, you can do it too]. Lindsie, her husband, Aaron, and their two children, Evalyn [5] and Benjamin [3], love to bike ride, swim at the Y, read books and play tic-tac-toe, dinosaurs and Candyland.