| The American economy has been in the doldrums | | | | want to improve a particular skill set, or to acquire |
| for over two years now. With the unemployment | | | | knowledge about a trend in their particular field. |
| rate hovering at about 10% (and much higher for | | | | However, if the answer falls into the life-changing |
| certain segments of the population), laid off | | | | category, you will have to take a whole new look |
| workers are realizing that they need to take | | | | at a number of other factors. If you have |
| action in order to combat the possibility of | | | | decided that you are going to return to school in |
| corporate downsizing or outsourcing of their jobs. | | | | order to follow a new career path, you need to |
| Many people are finding that the best tool for job | | | | do some research about that particular field. For |
| protection is education. | | | | example, what is the typical length of education |
| Working adults going back to school to improve | | | | for that job? Will you have to dedicate one, two, |
| their employment opportunities is becoming more | | | | or four years to accomplish the degree that you |
| and more common. According to the Department | | | | desire? After graduation, is additional on-the-job |
| of Education, more than 38% of college students | | | | training required? What are the job prospects and |
| fall into the "nontraditional" category of being over | | | | projected growth in that field over the course of |
| the age of 25, and returning to school after a | | | | the next several years? |
| significant break in their educational path. More | | | | Once you have decided what type of degree you |
| than likely that is because of the widespread | | | | want to seek, you should think about what type |
| knowledge that higher levels of education not only | | | | of school would best fit your lifestyle. For |
| protect against unemployment, but also create a | | | | example, if you are fortunate enough to hold a |
| more lucrative earning history throughout a | | | | full-time job, a traditional college experience may |
| person's career. | | | | not be the answer for you. You may want to |
| There are many educational routes a person can | | | | think about a distance-learning program, like an |
| follow to improve their employment and earning | | | | online school, in order to schedule your study and |
| potential, depending on where they are starting | | | | exam periods around your work schedule. Online |
| from and what their long-term goals are. The | | | | educational programs are also good for people |
| best way to find the program that is right for | | | | who have other obligations, like family or |
| you is to start by defining your goals. Think about | | | | community responsibilities. |
| what you are trying to accomplish and how you | | | | Finally, once you have decided on the degree |
| may want to do it. Although it may sound | | | | program and the type of school you will attend, |
| simplistic, making a list and writing it down can be | | | | you need to figure out how you will finance your |
| very helpful, and it may help you answer a few | | | | education. Many people do not have the resources |
| basic questions that will assist you in finding out | | | | to pay for college expenses out of pocket. |
| the best way to get back to school. | | | | College is not a cheap endeavor, but the results |
| Probably the first question you should ask | | | | are well worth the initial expense. In order to |
| yourself is: "What do I want to accomplish?" The | | | | reach your educational goals, you may need to |
| answer may be as simple as continuing education | | | | find additional sources of funding. There are |
| to improve skills, or it may be a life-changing | | | | numerous student loans and grants available to |
| paradigm shift, like choosing a new career path | | | | students who are returning to school. Many of |
| altogether. Whatever the answer is, it is very | | | | these are government funded, with the loans |
| important to define it clearly in order to choose | | | | having lower interest rates than some loans from |
| the right educational process. Continuing | | | | private institutions. Check with the financial aid |
| educational programs may be good for people | | | | office of your school to get more information on |
| who are already in established careers and who | | | | how to apply for loans and scholarships. |