It is never too late to pursue your dream, join a new career, or advance the one you already hold. Unfortunately, furthering your education as an adult is hard. It requires sacrifice, commitment and clear goals. This article looks at some of the things that you should keep in mind when planning to go back to school as an adult.
Decide Where You’d Like Your Career to Go
Where are you planning to go with the new course? Are you upgrading or switching careers? Have a clear picture in mind. Choose a school or platform that meets your needs. In this case, meeting your needs includes providing the exact course you wish to take and a schedule that fits your availability. If you are working, go for a platform that is flexible enough to accommodate your work, like the EPICODE school for example, that offers great courses in IT and a very flexible schedule.
Have A Chat with An Academic Advisor
An academic advisor helps you through the journey through college. They walk you through the requirements for studying your course and the challenges you are likely to face. They also assist you in ensuring that you are on track to complete your degree. This is important to get you in the right frame of mind to make it through the course.
Attend Seminars or Conventions of Your Line of Work
It is good to get oriented to industry mannerisms, attitudes and general working procedures. One way you can get oriented is by attending conventions or seminars in the new line of work. They provide opportunities to meet and mingle with the professionals in the industry, which helps you grow a new network (especially if you changed your career). You also get insider knowledge of the industry, which is vital for your growth.
Let Your Network Know
It is a good idea to inform your professional network, such as LinkedIn, of your plans to change or advance your career. These connections usually help you find new opportunities and keep you updated on the changes in the industry. Telling them of the change of career or an upgrade keeps you in their minds when opportunities that are related to your new qualifications crop up. This may ease you into your new career and make job searching a lot easier.
Set Realistic Goals for Yourself
Have a look at your career and education goals and determine if you can actually meet them. Remember that, unlike young students, you have other responsibilities that require your time and resources. You need to divide these two in such a way that no part fails as a result of going back to school.
Ensure that the goals you create are achievable in the period that you have set and that the sacrifices you will make are worthwhile. You may want to extend or postpone some education goals, such as taking full-time classes or two courses at the same time, due to your existing job or family responsibilities.
Would you ever consider going back to school? Do you know someone who did? Let us know some of the challenges they faced or what prevents you from taking this strategic step in the comment section.
I wouldn’t go back to full time education, but in last 3 years I have done my level 3 and 4 in Housing with the chartered institute of housing, its 8 hours a week of assignments, which is enough for me.
I have often thought of returning to education, but as my sister is currently doing another degree with two young children I think I may wait a while! It’s definitely taught me that its not easy with young children around!
Something to consider for 2023 – years since I did any learning