Anyone have a baby in the middle of a college semester?
Question:
I was due January 4. I figured I could go ahead and go to school during my last paid semester since I was due right before the begining. (I have a 4 year scholarship, but it will take me 5 years to graduate).
Although this pregnancy was half irresponcibility, my BF and I have decided that we want to wait to try again for a few months so I can have a summer baby (so it won't interfere with school).
However, I was just wondering what would happen if we went ahead and tried sooner.
I'd like to hear some personal experiences.
How long did the teachers/school let you take off after the birth of your child?
How were your grades affected?
Good experiences? Bad experiences? Opinions?
Answer:
I am a mother of three. I have a 7,6, and 4 year old. My youngest is autistic. I just finished a 16 hour college semester with a 3.75 GPA. If you have good study skills and are able to function with no sleep than you can handle a new baby in the middle of a semester, but if you like to sleep and cannot be interrupted while studying I wouldn't suggest it. Honestly, I know it would have been much smarter to go to school before I had kids. (Hindsight is 20/20) There is no rush, finish school, get settled and then have a baby. It will be so much easier once you have everything in order. Babies also can put financial and emotional strain on your relationship with your boyfriend. You will be student, mommy, and wife. Your boyfriend will still be able to do things while you will be taking care of baby, house, and homework. Please wait.
I had my son right in the middle of my semester and it worked out ok. Don't get me wrong, it was very hard trying to adjust to a new baby, and still trying to keep up with school. I spoke to all my professors individually and was lucky they gave me the opportunity to turn some work in late. If I had to do it all over again however I would have waited because it was really hard, an extra stress in an already stressful situation.
Honestly if you are at all interested in finishing school, I would wait until you have graduated for one, and two, wait until you have a job in the field you are interested in working. It is not likely that you would get hired if you took so much time off between graduating and looking for a job.
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