Angela Ardoin set a goal to earn her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree by 40. Now, she小蝌蚪APP檚 hoping to hit the milestone with both a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 in business management and her Master of Business Administration, both from the 小蝌蚪APP.
About six years ago, Ardoin moved from Baton Rouge to Lafayette. She says it took nearly six months to find a job making a salary comparable to her previous position because, 小蝌蚪APP淚 didn小蝌蚪APP檛 have a college degree.小蝌蚪APP
She was eventually offered a position with South Louisiana Community College as an administrative assistant in the admissions office.
As Ardoin helped potential SLCC students apply, she had an epiphany: 小蝌蚪APP淚 need to go back to school.小蝌蚪APP
So she did.
Ardoin paced herself by starting with two night classes at SLCC.
小蝌蚪APP淚 gradually realized I could do this,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 enjoyed it.小蝌蚪APP
After about a year, Ardoin began looking at open job positions at UL Lafayette to advance her experience and her pay. She received an offer from the Honors Program and began her new role as administrative assistant in 2015. Two years later, she transferred academically, as well.
Embracing a 小蝌蚪APP淣ontraditional小蝌蚪APP Student Journey
Ardoin小蝌蚪APP檚 current journey is her second attempt at a degree.
小蝌蚪APP淚 went to school when I was 18 for graphic design, but I dropped out because of money and family responsibilities,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檝e always wanted to go back to school.小蝌蚪APP
Across the U.S. there are 30 million to 35 million students who have enrolled in college but have not completed a degree, according to the Lumina Foundation.
Adults looking for career or education advancement, or even personal satisfaction, have been returning to school as more accredited online programs and courses become available.
These students, once classified as 小蝌蚪APP渘ontraditional,小蝌蚪APP are now the norm in higher education.
Universities like UL Lafayette give students the opportunity to earn their degrees or graduate certificates online with the support of experienced faculty and staff, extensive resources, and financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
In 2018, 10 percent of all UL Lafayette students were enrolled in a completely online program. And even on-campus students are adding more online courses to their schedules 小蝌蚪APP 36 percent of UL Lafayette students took at least one online or hybrid class in 2018.
Creating a Flexible, Workable Schedule
When Ardoin enrolled at UL Lafayette, she chose business management as her major because of the availability of both night and online courses. In doing so, she established a course balance that works for her.
小蝌蚪APP淓very semester, I小蝌蚪APP檝e taken at least one online class,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 would try to take one course during the day, two at night, and one online each semester.小蝌蚪APP
Now that the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration is offering an online management degree, Ardoin has found she has even more choices and flexibility as a fully online student.
The online courses are taught by the same faculty that teach on campus, but who have been specially trained and certified to teach online, as well.
The program culminates in a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management 小蝌蚪APP the same degree students earn on UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 120-year-old campus.
小蝌蚪APP淚 will take one online course this summer and four in the fall because they小蝌蚪APP檙e introducing the new management online program,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 going to get to graduate Dec. 20 because of these online classes. I小蝌蚪APP檓 so excited.小蝌蚪APP
In addition to balancing school and work, Ardoin is mindful to find quality time with her husband and 8-year-old son. Although night classes have allowed Ardoin to pursue her degree while working full-time, online courses reduce her in-class time.
小蝌蚪APP淚 love online courses because I get to go home at 5:15 rather than getting home after 9 p.m., and I can do it on my own pace,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 so excited for my last semester to not have night classes. This will be the first fall or spring semester that I won小蝌蚪APP檛 have a night class since I started in 2014.小蝌蚪APP
Making the Grade
Online courses, Ardoin says, provide flexibility but require self-discipline, as well.
小蝌蚪APP淢ost classes have assignments due one day a week, so you have the week to work on whatever at your own pace. So it小蝌蚪APP檚 great,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淏ut you have to be committed; you have to be able to read and comprehend what you小蝌蚪APP檙e learning and apply it.小蝌蚪APP
In order to stay on top of her coursework and progress through her degree program, Ardoin sets a schedule so she knows where her time is going while incorporating a few 小蝌蚪APP渟tudy hacks.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淪undays I usually spend three to four hours at the library, especially if I have a test or something coming due,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hen, whenever I know I have a test, I make my own study guide in Quizlet. If I type it, it helps me remember, and there小蝌蚪APP檚 an app so I can be in the living room on a weeknight with my husband and my son and talk to them and study on my phone at the same time. Quizlet is a godsend.小蝌蚪APP
Ardoin also has a solid support system, with her mom pitching in to help Ardoin and her husband with their son every night.
Aspiring Beyond the Finish Line
With her family小蝌蚪APP檚 support and a renewed academic confidence, Ardoin recently applied to UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Master of Business Administration program.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檒l be 38 when I graduate,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淢y goal back in 2014 was to get my bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 before I turned 40; now I小蝌蚪APP檓 going to be just turning 40 when I get my master小蝌蚪APP檚.
小蝌蚪APP淚 already feel like I小蝌蚪APP檝e exceeded the goals I小蝌蚪APP檝e made, even if I still don小蝌蚪APP檛 know what I want to be when I grow up.小蝌蚪APP
In acknowledging her effort and achievements in returning to college, Ardoin says some serendipity was also at play.
小蝌蚪APP淚 think everything happens for a reason. If I hadn小蝌蚪APP檛 moved to Lafayette, I wouldn小蝌蚪APP檛 have gone back to school,小蝌蚪APP she says.
小蝌蚪APP淚 love Lafayette, I really do. And I love this school.小蝌蚪APP
Add some flexibility to your schedule through online courses, or enroll in a 100-percent-online degree program, like the BSBA in Management online. Request information to get started.