Considering Going Back to School?

Before you misconstrue the title and think that I am against furthering your education, let me assure you that I'm not. I believe that we should take every opportunity to learn and grow both personally and professionally. It's just that sometimes, the decision to return school doesn't come from within; it comes from our jobs. You may no longer be happy with your current profession or you may feel that in your current position you are stagnant.

Occasionally, the need to return to school stems from the desire to remain competitive in your field; just be aware that returning to school is usually a big step that should not be taken lightly.

That being said, I would like to share some of what I learned when I went back to school. I hope that my personal experience will let you make a more informed decision about returning to school.

Cost

First of all, let's be frank: it costs money to go to school- a lot of it! No matter if you are full-time or part-time, on an accelerated path or taking your sweet time. You will be spending a large amount of money on your education.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to have tuition reimbursement with your company then you will have less of a cash outlay, but those reimbursement programs usually come with a catch. You need to use that education with your company. They don't like to pay for employees schooling only to have them jump ship and take that education to another company.

Make sure you understand the specifics; for example, would your company expect you to pay them back for your schooling if you should leave the company in the future? You may not think you'll be leaving, but things happen: a spouse job transfer or an illness in the family. Especially in the case of illness, it's not likely that they would expect you to pay them back. Still, it would be good to know that for sure.

Then there are the incidental costs such as books, additional materials, babysitters, and new computer equipment. You may find out, as I did, that a laptop is practically a necessity, especially if your study group or research takes you out of the classroom.

I also found that my little inkjet printer was not cut out for the amount of printing I was doing. Not only was I printing out reports, but e-books as well. Personally, I found 50 pages of reading too much to do online so I frequently printed the pages out - that took a lot of ink!

Time

Going to school takes time - a huge amount of time. Even if you are in an accelerated program, in which the classes only meet once a week. One drawback to once a week classes is the fact that they can be many hours long. It can be really hard to go from a full day at the office to 6 hours in a classroom.

When you originally sign up for the course, an entire Saturday spent at school seems like a small price to pay for a degree. But then reality sets in: Saturday, your day for chores and errands, now consists of school then chores and errands, and then (last but not least) HOMEWORK. Trust me, no matter how dedicated to your education you are, you soon will feel very torn between chores/errands and your schoolwork.

Also, consider if your job is the kind that has large, short notice projects assigned to you. These projects will always be a priority over your schoolwork. After all, the job pays the bills. Most adult education teachers are well aware of the demands on their student's time. If you are upfront with them, you may be able to turn in an assignment late. It just means less free time for you.

You also need to consider if your job demands traveling. Can you access class notes or lectures remotely? Are study groups available online and can you turn coursework in via email? These are all things to consider, and if for some reason your school doesn't offer these, you will need to make other arrangements to keep current.

Family

Having a family that supports you and encourages you in your efforts makes all the difference. Will you still feel guilty if you have to miss a dance recital or soccer game? Yes, of course you will. But you will remember that it is for a good reason. Plus, your children get to see that learning is something that takes place over the course of your entire life, that it is never too late to learn something new or finish s you started a long time ago.

If you're looking to expand your skills and build your career, visit the OfficeArrow Career and Education Services section.