Can marriage and parenting coexist positively with being a college student? The answer, of course, is yes, although meeting everyone’s needs—your own, your spouse’s, your children’s—is not easy. If you are married, with or without children, you need to become an expert at time management. If you do have children, make sure you find out what resources your college offers to help you with day care or after-school care.

Sometimes going to college can create conflict with a spouse or partner as you take on a new identity and set of responsibilities. Financial problems are likely to put extra pressure on your relationship, so both you and your partner have to work hard at paying attention to each other’s needs. Be sure to involve your spouse and children in your decisions. Bring them to campus at every opportunity, and let your spouse read your papers and other assignments. Finally, set aside time for your partner and your children just as carefully as you schedule your work and your classes.