As a 37-year-old enrolled at a local community college, Tracy Mingo shares the experience of many of today’s college students: She’s a parent.
More than a quarter of undergraduates – about 4.8 million students – are raising dependent children, according to the most recent data published by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
Mingo decided to return to school for a career change after losing her job. “After I lost my job, I was really at a crossroads. I knew I wanted to do something different, and I was afraid because I knew that would require extensive child care – child care that would be able to handle an academic schedule as well as a professional work schedule,” she says.
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