Back to school or back to the drawing board? Are you ready for a degree program?

By Mary Fineday

Education Articles

Education pays off with higher earnings and lower unemployment rates. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers with an associate degree earned $7,020 more on average than high school graduates in 2009. Over a lifetime of work, that's six-figure earnings.

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What's keeping you away from career training?

There are plenty of reasons to go back to school, but it's equally easy to find reasons why you might put off your education for another year. Take a look at these top reasons to go back to the drawing board and learn how you could be ready for online education sooner than you'd think.

1. "It's been a long time since I was in school." Being away from school for a long time may make it feel like it's harder to go back, but this one's purely mental. Colleges and universities have orientation programs that make it easier to get used to the change. Many online schools feature classes dedicated to getting you used to the web-based format.

2. "I'm too busy with my family." Family is a big joy in your life, but that joy comes with extra obligations. Fortunately, schools offer night and weekend classes to help spread out your time in school, and online career training offers the extra benefit of studying whenever you have time. Plus, think of the inspiration you can provide for your children, particularly if they're old enough to be in school themselves.

3. "I can't take the time off work." This reason is similar to the one above, with the extra pressure of a paycheck. However, remember that business values education; some companies even pay for employees to enroll in a degree program. If yours doesn't, you could check around to see if you can find an employer who is willing to sponsor your education in exchange for a promise to stay with the company.

If your work schedule is still too tight, take advantage of some of the great benefits of online education to study when you can in a learning environment that allows you to set your own schedule. Self-motivated, self-paced students particularly excel in balancing work and school, and many online students remain full-time employees.

4. "It won't fit into the budget." This is a tricky one. When you need training to boost your salary potential, you're already dealing with the fact that there's not a lot of extra cash flow in your life. This is where federal, state and local financial aid comes into the picture. When you choose an accredited online or on-campus school, you may be eligible for aid in the forms of loans, grants or scholarships. Some financial aid doesn't even need to be repaid.

5. "I don't have the extra space for a study area." This seems like a small complaint, but can make or break your success as a student. Create some physical space in your home that is dedicated to studying. Balancing a laptop on the couch cushion while you watch TV isn't going to give you the mental space you need--even a small desk can put you in the mindset that it's time to get serious about your education.

6. "It's too late to apply this year." While most campus-based schools have application deadlines, online colleges and universities typically accept applications on a rolling basis. That means you're never too late to apply. Just make sure you don't try to hold the same late-application philosophy with your schoolwork deadlines!

Take the back-to-school challenge

Making the decision to head back to school is a big choice that shouldn't be taken lightly. However, if you've been making the same excuses for years, it may be time to examine what you can do to make an education happen. Whether you choose a campus-based program or an online degree or certificate program, it's important to weigh your options carefully before proceeding.