Going back to school is never an easy
decision, considering the time and resources that a degree program can
drain out of most adult learners. To begin to explore this question you
will need to honestly answer a few questions:
Can you afford it?
Most people find the cost of attending undergraduate or graduate
college to be daunting. With college tuition costs skyrocketing into
tens of thousands of dollars, many students wonder if they will ever be
able to afford going back to school. The cost of an online degree is
reasonable compared to traditional colleges, but can cost upwards of
$30,000 for a degree including books and supplies. Many adult learners
go back to school with significant aid and tuition assistance from
employers. Explore tuition assistance programs from your human resource
department to find out if you qualify.
Do you have the time for
it? Committing the time to completing a degree when you joggling a full
time job and family responsibilities, leisure and last but not least
sleep is incredibly changing. Many adult learners find the time during
their morning and evening commutes or early mornings during the
weekends. If you don’t procrastinate, you will find the time. Many
adult learners have small children, and work full time, and over 65% of
distance learners will complete their programs.
Are you
motivated enough? Completing a degree program will likely take several
years. Unless you are ready to complete your degree program, now maybe
not be the right time to begin. If you are expecting a very stressful
moment in your life to occur, such as a divorce, a birth of child, or
your parents are ill, now is definitely not the right time.
If
you find something wavering on any of these issues, consider a part
time program which is less time intensive, and will spread the cost out
over time. The great thing about distance learning is you can attend
classes whenever you have the time, which could mean early morning
before the kids are up, or on the train ride home from work.
Going
back to school definitely has its rewards, but it is challenging, as
long as you realistic in your expectations, and you are willing to be
flexible, a degree program can be completed quickly.
Take the
eLearners Advisor to see if online education is right for you.