College Advice for Students Starting their Education Over Again Online
Life happens. Babies are born. Finances tighten up. Health waxes and wanes. Along the way, many students have to make the difficult decision to put school on hold in order to take care of life's little quirks. Whatever the reasons you left school, it is never too late to make a fresh start and finally earn your college degree online. As you ponder the possibilities ahead of you, the following are some thing that can help you ease back into the swing of an educational career.
Consider Your Credits
One of the first things you will want to look into is the validity of your previously earned credits, if you have any. Like milk, these do have an expiration date. If you are returning to the same school, you will want to find out if the credits can still be applied toward your degree program. If you are considering starting over at a new school, investigate whether the credits can be transferred in and applied to your desired program.
Evaluate Your Career Goals
Life events have a habit of changing our perspective and career interests. Maybe you studied to become a nurse before, but now you are more interested in becoming a healthcare administrator. Maybe you have discovered an interest in computer science, or perhaps the needle is pointing towards a managerial position.
When you return to school, you will have to decide whether you want to go back down the same path you were on before, or whether you want to explore new avenues. One thing you will most certainly want to do before pursuing any career path is to determine the future employment outlook and the potential rewards and risks that you may encounter.
Preparing for the Program
Children and work obligations are the two biggest challenges to address for anyone returning to school. Prior to returning, you will want to arrange as much help as you can find to assist you with your children's needs. This means finding someone to help with everything from cooking to drop-offs at afterschool activities.
Similarly, you should let your employer know that you are returning to school and work with them to adjust your schedule so that you have time for your studies. Some students find that they have to cut back on work to make room for studies. This can affect your income, so you will want to put a pencil to your budget and do whatever you can to build up a slush fund to ease the financial burden and cover any unexpected expenses along the way. Other students do both full-time work and full-time school.
Studying Online
Many non-traditional students return to their studies via online programs. This is a fantastic option as it offers considerable freedom and flexibility. It is ideal for parents and people whose current career makes it difficult to attend on-site classes. Online courses make it easy to fit studies into your life and schedule, which means you can study on your way home from work, after the kids go to bed, or during your lunch break at the office.
In addition to finding the time to study online, it is advisable to dedicate a study area where you can focus on your studies. While you can study from a table in the break room or a counter at a coffee shop, there will be times you will need a quiet, calm place to focus on research, writing papers, and taking tests.
Leverage Your Knowledge and Experience
Going back to school after some time away gives you an advantage. Life teaches you many lessons and these can be applied to your studies. From lessons on how to manage your time, to lessons on how to tackle difficult subject matter, your life is a classroom and the tools you pick up along the way can be used to help you climb that next rung up the educational ladder.
Taking the Leap
There are a lot of things to consider as you make your way back into the classroom. It can be scary. It can be intimidating. But, one thing it is not is impossible.
Earning a degree requires only your dedication and determination towards achieving your goal. The staff at ECPI University are happy to help you ease back into school and complete your education online. For more information about this exciting opportunity, connect with a friendly ECPI University admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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