Starting a new semester can be an exciting and stressful time for most students. Given the different circumstances going on in people's lives, some students are able to go to school full-time, whereas some can only go part-time. However, this should not make one think any less of themselves. Here are a few pros to being in school part-time:

1. Less Stress

No matter how many classes one takes, there will always be something to stress about. However, going just a little slower and taking fewer classes may ease the load. By only taking two to three classes a semester, the student is able to set more time aside to each individual class when it comes to studying and really understanding the content.

2. Working works

Though education is extremely important, it may not be everyone's top priority. Many students, especially those in community colleges, have other commitments, such as children to support, bills to pay, etc. Therefore, working during the school year is a must. Being a full-time student my first semester at CCRI, I personally know how difficult it can be to work while taking classes full-time. Many full-time students have to spend their summers working 50+ hours a week just to be able afford to live without a job during the school year.

3. Go with the flow

Being a part-time student allows the individual to take classes according to their lifestyle and how chaotic it may be. The student can go at their own pace and take as many classes as they can handle at that point in time.

4. More affordable

Taking fewer classes at a time allows for one to afford them much easier, leaving the student in much less debt. Full-time students graduate from a four-year college in so much as $200,000+ debt, whereas a part-time student at a community college can most likely afford the $2,000 or less a semester and graduate in zero debt. Student loans may take years or even a lifetime to pay off, but this can all be avoided if one is a part-time student.

Being a part-time student may have its cons, such as graduating at a later time than those who went to college full-time, however, the outcome will be worth the wait. The student will graduate most likely with much less debt and will not have to have it hanging over their shoulders for years. They will be able to work more and support themselves while in school because they are able to go at their own pace. And looking back at their time in school, they will see how much stress they alleviated from themselves by choosing this path.