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With so many fascinating and interesting new careers and markets emerging, it’s no wonder so many adults are wanting to jump ship from their current jobs and try something different and perhaps more stimulating. Whilst some jobs have simple entry requirements some demand a little more training in order to be considered for certain roles. Therefore the option of going back to University could be just the ticket in order to make a little change in direction.

With more and more professionals choosing to go back to school in an attempt to reach higher levels in their careers, or to open up new career opportunities or just to make more money long term, here are some points for you to mull over if this is something you’re considering.

 

Consider Your Personal Motivation

Before biting the bullet and moving forwards with further education as a mature student you should first consider how motivated and committed you are. It is easy to forget the demands of full time education when we haven’t studied for a few, or for some, many years. You should also look at your current situation and consider how much time you will have to dedicate to further studies. Perhaps you have children and a family to support in which case it’s not just the financial hit that doing a degree will cause your family, but it may be that with young children to raise you may just not have enough time to fully commit yourself to a full time, intensive course. So this all needs to be taken into consideration in your thought process.

Think about areas in your life that you can reduce slightly to free up more time. Hobbies and additional interests in your life are always important to create a healthy balance in life, but studying is a demanding mistress and will consume more of your time than you may expect. So have a contingency plan in place about the certain areas in your life that can be reduced if necessary.

 

Look at the Pros and the Cons

How much difference is a degree of further education course going to make in your career? Is it really the only choice you have available to you? Furthering your education can be a hugely beneficial thing to do, but it is also expensive and very time consuming. So weighing up the pros and cons is definitely a good idea before you make any concrete decisions. Is a degree the only way you can achieve the career goals that you are so focused on? Or are there any other options open to you? Perhaps the money that you would need to get your degree done could instead go into investing in a new company for yourself. With the startup boom, stronger than ever before there has never been more support and information available to those who are wanting to go it alone and trying to carve out a career as a business owner.

Look through the figures for studying and the figures for creating a startup and think about which one makes more sense to you. This is a huge decision for anyone so take your time to really think through the different options available and which one would work the best for you and your career goals in the industry you are in, or want to break into.

 

Which Degree?

So if you’ve gone through the above and you’re still arriving at further education being the best next step for you, then the next element to consider is the degree itself. Which degree is going to offer the best possibilities for career progression, advancement and specialisation? Do you want to have a wide overview of an industry sector or career area or are you wanting to specialise in a very specific and niche area of business so that you have something very specialised to offer? Are you wanting more practical studies within a vocational degree or are you looking to delve into the theoretical and analytical side of business? Again, consider which of the above will be the most effective at getting you to where you want to be.

 

Online or Traditional Classroom?

With more and more universities extending their academic offerings online there has never been a better time to learn a new skill, business area or develop your knowledge all from the comfort of your own home. Studying from home has many different benefits, not only do you decrease the amount of time needed going backwards and forwards to a college or university but it is also a very convenient option for people who want to continue working whilst they study. Online courses offer flexibility and allow mature students to build their timetable around their existing commitments, whether those are work related or family based.

However the more traditional, classroom based university courses also offer many advantages of their own. The face-to-face time you gain with tutors is an important part of studying as is the support and camaraderie you get from spending time with course mates and the peers in your class. It’s difficult to replicate the networking opportunities made in a traditional university setting. Bonds are made, friendships are forged and contacts are built up for future partnerships and collaborations. You also have the added benefit of support when certain modules or elements of the course are challenging and it always advantageous to hear alternative perspectives, opinions and enjoy lengthy debates and discussions about complicated subjects.

There are some options that combine both online and face-to-face which could be a good option in ensuring you get the best of both worlds and enjoy the benefits of both approaches. So make sure when you have chosen the course you want to do and then the University or college you want to do it at, you then look into the different learning methods they offer. Weigh up all the different things that you want to get out of this further education chapter of your life and go for the option that ticks as many of your boxes as possible.

 

Explore Financial Help

You will have to make sure that you explore the financial help available to you and of course any scholarship opportunities that your chosen university may offer you. Don’t just assume that because you are a mature student that you won’t be eligible for any financial help. Cashfloat offers loans for people going back to university, so look at sites like this and it’s also worth checking with your current employer to see if they offer any tuition reimbursement programs if you’re looking to stay put in your current job.

 

The Balancing Act

Once you’ve made all of the above decisions the practical planning phase kicks in. If you already have a job, a family, hobbies and a busy life you will need to really think about how you can balance all these things to make sure you are not putting your life on hold until you finish your studies.

Time management is critical to your success to ensure that you don’t lose yourself in the process and that people in your life don’t wind up feeling a little abandoned. Of course, a little compromise here and there is going to need to happen but if you plan your time well and stay really focused and committed to making it work, there is nothing to say that it can’t be one of the most rewarding and satisfying chapters in your life so far. One where the benefits will push your career to the next level and will help you to feel more confident, competent and powerful in whatever you choose do in your work life.

Chiino
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