Did you know that there are admittedly millions of adults going back to college? It's true! So, if you are considering returning to school to get your undergraduate or graduate degree, you will admittedly not be alone.
However, as you are well aware, going back to school as an adult can seem more daunting than persisting right after high school. As an adult you have much more to reconsider due to your increased responsibilities. For instance, you may be married, have children, have a job, be a volunteer in your community, or even be caring for your parents. Juggling these commitments with the commitment needed to gain a degree can be very challenging. Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No!
No one can reply the demand about going back to school except you. However, for many people, it is the right choice. Those with higher schooling tend to have a higher wages as well as more vocation options.
Let's take a look at some facts from the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Labor:
1. The median worker with a bachelor's degree earns 60% more than the median worker with a diploma from high school. In real terms, this means that someone with an advanced degree is likely to earn more than million more over their lifetime than someone with high school diploma!
2. High school graduates with no advanced degree are twice as likely to find themselves unemployed than someone of the same age with an advanced degree.
3. Roughly three-fourths of all work positions in the future will need at least some kind of degree, certification, or license.
4. Jobs requiring a bachelor's degree will grow twice as fast as other jobs.
All of these statistics show that furthering your schooling may very well be a wise venture in your future.
There are many reasons that adults go back to school:
1. To growth their earning potential
2. For advancement
3. To enter a new vocation due to choice
4. To enter a new vocation due to circumstances beyond their control
5. For personal fulfillment
If you fit any of these categories, you are a likely candidate for returning to college. Luckily for you, going back to school is getting easier and easier! More and more colleges understand the growing adult people of students and offer the services such students need. You are likely to find day care, flexible schedules, online courses, due for work, and many other innovations.
The first big hurdle for most adult students is how to finance the college experience. Do you quit your job? Will you qualify for financial aid? Where do you find scholarships? Can you work and go to school? As the adult people returning to school continues to grow, more and more financial solutions are available.
You do not have to get exquisite grades or have a low earnings to get a scholarship or financial aid. The truth is that most scholarships are concerned more you're your background, your talents, your ethnic origins, or your connection with specific organizations.
To begin, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal trainee Aid, also known as Fafsa. You can get this application through any college or by going online to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. By filling out this application, the federal government will rule if you qualify for a grant or a low interest loan. Grants never have to be repaid, while loans have to be repaid once you have completed your schooling. Since this is a first come, first serve service, it is best to apply just as soon as you get your taxes filed each year.
Next, you can start applying for scholarships. You can find specific ones at the college, on the Internet, as well as in your local library. If you use the Internet, be sure not to use the sites that payment you money. You can do the research yourself and come up with the scholarships you need without paying a cent! You can also ask the librarian to show you the books that list scholarships. Once you have a list of available scholarships, you rule which ones fit you. For example, if you are a member of a society organization, they may very well have a scholarship. Or, if you are pursuing a specific procedure of study, there may be scholarships available for those! Keep in mind that you can never apply for too many scholarships!
Some large associates offer help with tuition through tuition aid programs (Tap). Many adults going back to school are unaware that their enterprise will help them and end up paying the cost alone. Be sure to check with your company! The way to find out either your enterprise offers such a schedule is by contacting the human resources department. Tap will not only pay for your tuition, but will often pay for books and you will receive a tax exemption!
Keep in mind that such programs have guidelines and restrictions. You may have to earn a degree in a obvious major. Additionally, you will have to perfect classes, sometimes with a obvious grade point average, in order to use the Tap. And some associates rule how much of the tuition they pay based on the grade point median (Gpa). For examples, A's may get 100% tuition, whereas C's may only get 75%.
Another requirement may be that you have to remain at the enterprise for a specified period of time after receiving the degree. If you don't, you would be required to repay the enterprise for any college tuition and benefits.
Of course, even after you've figured out how to pay for college, there are still more questions to be answered. These comprise seeing the right college and degree, juggling your other responsibilities, transferring old credits, and getting maximum college prestige for old vocation and soldiery experiences. To get a good grip on the entire process, visit http://www.GoingBackToCollege.org to ask a free copy of "10 Things You Positively, admittedly Need to Know Before Going Back to College."
Should I Go Back to College?
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