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Education

Should I Go Back to School?

Posted: 5/19/2011

Going back to school can catapult your career to new heights.

(NewsUSA) - School is never easy, but responsibilities like bills or a family can make the prospect of adding to the mix seem overwhelming. Despite these challenges, people from all different backgrounds are choosing to go back to school, seeing continued education as a way to improve their current job prospects or create future job security.

Many choose to go back to school to complete degree programs they never finished or to enter a new career. Some find that an advanced degree is needed in order to get to that "next" position. However, in a lot of cases, these individuals worry it may be too late to go back to school.

Annette R. Uncangco, MS, and regional director of career services at DeVry University, disagrees. "It is never too late to go back to school!"

"Many of our students are adult learners, who have come back to continue their education. Our Career Services department partners with our graduates in their career search and provides them with lifetime assistance throughout their career."

Whatever your situation, going back to school is a big decision. Consider the following when making such a choice:

List Pros and Cons

Ask yourself: How much money does earning a degree cost versus the salary that it is likely to bring? What are the short-term and long-term impact on the family? What are the different jobs available to someone with this degree? Weighing the items that are most important will help you reach a conclusion.

Research

Be proactive when it comes to selecting a school and degree program. Take a tour of campus, talk to the admissions officers, explore your financial aid options and make sure to talk to career services, too. Employability after graduation is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting an area of study.

Create a Support Network

Talk to friends and family, and figure out how much support you can expect. This support could take the form of practical things such as preparing a week's worth of meals in advance or finding someone who will babysit one night a week to allow scheduled study time, or maybe it's time to enlist the kids' help with weekly chores.

Clarify Priorities

Undertaking a big goal often necessitates giving up lesser priorities. Be realistic about what sacrifices pursuing a degree will require. This change in life may be a time to learn how to say no to some outside obligations.

Going back to school can be a complicated choice that will likely require a lot of research and consideration. MSN Career Igniter, powered by DeVry University, is one of the many tools available to help make the proper preparations.

It's a lot of hard work, but earning a college degree may well be more than worth the effort.

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