It’s never too late to continue your education or finally get the degree you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you started school once upon a time and never finished, or you decided a family came first and never ended up going to college, there’s no age limit on getting a degree.
With that being said, there can be some challenges to going back to school as an adult, especially if you’ve spent years focused on a specific career, or raising a family.
The first thing you’ll need to make sure of is that you’re highly organized. Life doesn’t stop when you want to go back to school. So, planning ahead for success will help to keep you grounded and keep you from feeling overwhelmed as you balance the different areas of your life.
You should be excited and proud of yourself for taking this step! Let’s go over a few different ways you can make this new adventure easier on yourself.
Choose a Program to Accommodate Your Needs
Not every college caters to adults. You might not want to attend a school that has a body made up of mostly people in their early 20s. Even working with counselors at those schools isn’t always effective because you’re not in the same place in your life as many of the other students that go there.
Look for schools and programs that encourage adult learners. Maybe they advertise to older individuals, or offer flexible scheduling like night classes for those who work or have families.
Another option is to take classes online. The beauty of online learning or hybrid programs is that you can often do it on your own schedule and you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home. Many industries offer online degrees, including healthcare. Some of the top online MHA programs are right at your fingertips!
Research Credit Transferring
Even if you haven’t been to school in a long time, you may still have credits that can transfer over toward a new program or degree. If you took any collegiate-level classes before, consider how many could be applied toward your new degree.
By doing this ahead of time, before you enroll in a new program, you’ll have a better idea of how long it might take to get a new degree. The more credits you already have, the faster you can get through a program.
Find Funding
You might be in a more financially-stable position now than you were when you just graduated high school, so funding your further education might not seem like a big deal. But, the reality is that many programs are still very expensive.
Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you won’t qualify for financial aid. There are scholarship funds specifically designed for adults returning to school. The government also provides financial aid to veterans and other military personnel who want to further their education. Don’t be afraid to research your options. There are lots of credit options and types of loans available. You may be able to get more assistance than you think but make sure to look at all the options and read all the terms and conditions first!
Nothing should keep you back from reaching your goals and furthering your education if that’s what you want to do. Whether you want to start a new career or simply have a degree in your hand, there is no wrong reason to go back to school at any age.
*Disclaimer: this post is in collaboration.
