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I would really like to return to school and finish my bachelor’s degree but I am worried about how I will balance my professional, work and academic life.
Many adult students wonder how they will be able to juggle all of their current responsibilities and those demanded of a university degree program. If you have spent any length of time in the working world you have heard the term “time management.” But it’s unrealistic to think that time can truly be “managed.”
Instead, think in terms of managing yourself. This is a skill. With that notion, you certainly can learn to devote the time necessary to complete your degree while attending to the many areas of your life that require attention.
The first consideration is to choose a university with a degree program that accommodates the needs of working adult students. You will need easy access to home, work and school. It also might be helpful to look at how you currently spend your time during the day. Make a list of all you activities and note the number of hours you allocate to each.
For example, your list might include the time you spend commuting to work, how many breaks you take during the day, number of hours watching television or movies, reading, cooking, housework, shopping, home maintenance – you get the idea. Be honest with yourself and account for everything. Then, look at where you might be able to cut back. Everyone wastes time so find these areas. Learn how to sacrifice leisure time for study time. Even 15 minutes is a great deal of time if you can use it on school work. Cross off things like waxing the car and landscaping the yard. These things can wait.
Next, it is important to be highly organized. List things to-do with timelines, deadlines and priorities which will help you not to forget what needs to be done. This list will include your class schedule, class meetings, projects, research, exams, work assignments and family time. Breaking things down into small steps and timelines will keep you on track and feeling less overwhelmed.
Identify your best time for studying. Are you a morning or afternoon person? Choose the best time when you can concentrate well. Use your down time for less demanding tasks. That said, study the most difficult subjects first when you are fresh. This will save you time in the long run.
Distributed learning and practice means studying in shorter time blocks with shorter breaks in between which will keep you from getting tired. Even when you are taking a break, your brain is processing the information.
Being an adult student can be a wonderful and enriching experience. There are a number of resources available to help you manage your time wisely. Start slowly to retrain the brain to study and by managing yourself, you will find the time to you need to devote to your studies. And remember, returning to school is only for a short period of defined time.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Education after job loss
My company downsized a few months ago and I lost my job so I am exploring new opportunities. I would like to return to school to revamp my career path and perhaps create more options for myself in the future. However, I’m wondering if this step will be viewed by potential employers as a safe way to ride out the recession instead of buckling down and looking for a new job.
In a down economy and what seem to be bleak job prospects, returning to school is an appealing option. People site a number of reasons for returning to higher education and creating new opportunities is certainly high on that list. While it does seem that going back to school is an attractive and seemingly “safe” way to ride out scary economic times – and the boom in applications many schools are experiencing attests to that fact – you are correct in examining the appearance of your motives. School is an acceptable way to explain an absence from the work force. However, you might be postponing the inevitable, which is getting a job, and ratcheting up a lot of debt in the process.
Remember that there is a big difference between learning a skill set and immersing yourself in the academic world. If you want to develop in one specific area, it might be a good idea to invest less time and money by finding courses at a vocational or community college, or by enrolling in a professional certification program offered through many colleges and universities.
In the world of academics, you will study broad principles and theories, not technical skills. This will help you develop as a “big picture” thinker and problem solver.
If you have not finished your bachelor’s degree, it makes sense to consider completing this in order to remain competitive. Some jobs in mid and upper-level management might require an advanced degree. The marketplace is crowded with job seekers and educational credentials can certainly help you stand out.
It is wise to know what it is you hope to gain from earning a degree. If you have a solid answer like a career or industry change, or the desire to become more learned for your next job, returning to school is a logical choice and potential employers will benefit from your newly gained educational experience.
In a down economy and what seem to be bleak job prospects, returning to school is an appealing option. People site a number of reasons for returning to higher education and creating new opportunities is certainly high on that list. While it does seem that going back to school is an attractive and seemingly “safe” way to ride out scary economic times – and the boom in applications many schools are experiencing attests to that fact – you are correct in examining the appearance of your motives. School is an acceptable way to explain an absence from the work force. However, you might be postponing the inevitable, which is getting a job, and ratcheting up a lot of debt in the process.
Remember that there is a big difference between learning a skill set and immersing yourself in the academic world. If you want to develop in one specific area, it might be a good idea to invest less time and money by finding courses at a vocational or community college, or by enrolling in a professional certification program offered through many colleges and universities.
In the world of academics, you will study broad principles and theories, not technical skills. This will help you develop as a “big picture” thinker and problem solver.
If you have not finished your bachelor’s degree, it makes sense to consider completing this in order to remain competitive. Some jobs in mid and upper-level management might require an advanced degree. The marketplace is crowded with job seekers and educational credentials can certainly help you stand out.
It is wise to know what it is you hope to gain from earning a degree. If you have a solid answer like a career or industry change, or the desire to become more learned for your next job, returning to school is a logical choice and potential employers will benefit from your newly gained educational experience.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
What is a liberal studies degree?
I would like to finish my bachelor’s degree and am really interested in history and philosophy, so it seems like a liberal studies degree would be a good fit. However, I am worried people will not understand what “liberal studies” means. Can you explain?
The word “liberal” in education often throws people off because they are thinking in political terms. However, liberal studies are not political, aside from studying this discipline from an historical perspective. Being liberal from an academic perspective means that one is a broad-based thinker who has learned to communicate effectively in a variety of ways. Preparing people for leadership is often the foundation for a liberal studies program.
Not surprisingly, perhaps no single skill is more critical to employers today than the ability to articulate ideas clearly, persuasively, and coherently about yourself, your ideas and your research. This is the hallmark of a liberal studies education.
Learning to think involves reading, writing, listening, speaking and remembering. Liberal studies coursework teaches these skills by centering on academic disciplines that examine the human condition Classes are offered in subjects like literature, history, philosophy, psychology, religion, visual and performing arts, to name just a few.
These disciplines teach analytical and critical thinking. Learning to think and write in this way allows you to solve complex problems and interact in a positive way with colleagues. Surveys have shown that employers believe students with a broad-based education, such as in liberal studies possess strong characters and the intellectual ability to become lifelong learners, a vital component in today’s world.
Liberal studies programs allow students to chose an area of study that is of interest to them so, often no two degree plans are exactly the same. You may hear the word “interdisciplinary” in relation to a liberal studies degree program which simply means that you will study a combination of the various humanities disciplines.
Here’s a few people you may recognize who have liberal arts degrees:
• John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States, earned a history degree in international affairs.
• Brian Lamb, founder of and CEO of C-SPAN, graduated with a degree in speech and communication.
• Sally Ride, first American woman astronaut, has a bachelor’s degree in English.
The word “liberal” in education often throws people off because they are thinking in political terms. However, liberal studies are not political, aside from studying this discipline from an historical perspective. Being liberal from an academic perspective means that one is a broad-based thinker who has learned to communicate effectively in a variety of ways. Preparing people for leadership is often the foundation for a liberal studies program.
Not surprisingly, perhaps no single skill is more critical to employers today than the ability to articulate ideas clearly, persuasively, and coherently about yourself, your ideas and your research. This is the hallmark of a liberal studies education.
Learning to think involves reading, writing, listening, speaking and remembering. Liberal studies coursework teaches these skills by centering on academic disciplines that examine the human condition Classes are offered in subjects like literature, history, philosophy, psychology, religion, visual and performing arts, to name just a few.
These disciplines teach analytical and critical thinking. Learning to think and write in this way allows you to solve complex problems and interact in a positive way with colleagues. Surveys have shown that employers believe students with a broad-based education, such as in liberal studies possess strong characters and the intellectual ability to become lifelong learners, a vital component in today’s world.
Liberal studies programs allow students to chose an area of study that is of interest to them so, often no two degree plans are exactly the same. You may hear the word “interdisciplinary” in relation to a liberal studies degree program which simply means that you will study a combination of the various humanities disciplines.
Here’s a few people you may recognize who have liberal arts degrees:
• John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States, earned a history degree in international affairs.
• Brian Lamb, founder of and CEO of C-SPAN, graduated with a degree in speech and communication.
• Sally Ride, first American woman astronaut, has a bachelor’s degree in English.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Paying for college
I would like to finish my degree but frankly, I worry about the expense. It seems like tuition is really high and I don’t think I can afford it. Is there a way I can return to school and pay attention to my coursework without being distracted by financial worries?
Commit this acronym to memory: FAFSA. That stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and this is where the road to paying college tuition all begins. You will need to complete a FAFSA form to apply for financial aid. Go here to do that: www.FAFSA.ed.gov. It looks overwhelming but the site is very thorough, user friendly and easy to navigate. Plus, as the name says, it is free. Do this as soon as you are admitted to a college or university. The earlier you apply, the better your chances for receiving assistance.
Did you know that federal student aid programs are the largest source of student aid in the United States? These programs provide more than $80 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance. Financial aid means lots of things and covers a variety of options, not just loans that have to be paid back. At the University of Oklahoma, 70 percent of its students receive some kind of financial aid.
Types of financial aid include:
1. Grants. These are gifts that do not need to be repaid and come from either governmental or private sources. The amount is based on criteria.
2. Scholarships. Funds given based on academic excellence or talent; scholarships are also awarded based on field of study, ethnic background or financial need. Like grants, scholarships do not need to be repaid.
3. Fellowships. Available to graduate and post-graduate students, fellowships are awarded by private organizations, institutions or the government and are awarded based on merit, need, or the institutional or faculty’s grant. Sometimes you will need to be recommended by a faculty member in order to receive a fellowship and it does not need to be repaid.
4. Assistantships. Similar to internships or work-study programs, typically you are required to work as a teaching or research assistant.
5. Loans. Money awarded based on need from either governmental or private institutions that must be paid back with interest.
As you can see there are a number of ways to pay for higher education and while some colleges and universities are expensive, the cost of attending the majority of them is easily within your financial reach.
Commit this acronym to memory: FAFSA. That stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and this is where the road to paying college tuition all begins. You will need to complete a FAFSA form to apply for financial aid. Go here to do that: www.FAFSA.ed.gov. It looks overwhelming but the site is very thorough, user friendly and easy to navigate. Plus, as the name says, it is free. Do this as soon as you are admitted to a college or university. The earlier you apply, the better your chances for receiving assistance.
Did you know that federal student aid programs are the largest source of student aid in the United States? These programs provide more than $80 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance. Financial aid means lots of things and covers a variety of options, not just loans that have to be paid back. At the University of Oklahoma, 70 percent of its students receive some kind of financial aid.
Types of financial aid include:
1. Grants. These are gifts that do not need to be repaid and come from either governmental or private sources. The amount is based on criteria.
2. Scholarships. Funds given based on academic excellence or talent; scholarships are also awarded based on field of study, ethnic background or financial need. Like grants, scholarships do not need to be repaid.
3. Fellowships. Available to graduate and post-graduate students, fellowships are awarded by private organizations, institutions or the government and are awarded based on merit, need, or the institutional or faculty’s grant. Sometimes you will need to be recommended by a faculty member in order to receive a fellowship and it does not need to be repaid.
4. Assistantships. Similar to internships or work-study programs, typically you are required to work as a teaching or research assistant.
5. Loans. Money awarded based on need from either governmental or private institutions that must be paid back with interest.
As you can see there are a number of ways to pay for higher education and while some colleges and universities are expensive, the cost of attending the majority of them is easily within your financial reach.
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