Now that we’ve made it through the turkey-induced food comas and for the most part–we’re nearly there–survived another Black Friday of bargain-crazed consumers, it’s time to take stock of of a few things. It’s time to start thinking about that New Year’s resolution. It’s time to start prepping for the yearly long, hard look in the mirror. When that ball drops, it’ll mean another trip ’round the sun, another holiday season come and gone. You’ve got the chance to change every day, but who doesn’t like a good line in the sand? Of course, if you’ve got designs on earning your next degree–or finishing your first–you should start planning now.

Universities Have Deadlines: Why You Need to Start Looking Now

If your big revelatory moment waits until you’ve got your glass raised on New Year’s Eve, you might have to scramble. You’ve got schools to research, programs to consider, and applications to fill out–many of which require tests to be taken or records to be obtained–in short, you won’t regret starting a little early. Most universities have their admissions deadline for the fall semester in late January or early February, and many degree programs simply can’t be started in the spring, particularly graduate programs.

Time to Strike! Things Are Looking Up

While things haven’t returned to the level of affluence we enjoyed a few years ago, the economy is getting better. It’s expected by many that we’ll start to see job growth in the second quarter of 2010 (incidentally, that’s plenty of time to get an online course, even a certificate program, out of the way). Some extra training isn’t going to land you a new career by itself, but it can help your resume stand out. In two years, you could get a master’s degree to add to that bachelor’s-level qualification. If you don’t have any postsecondary education to further just yet, you could get an associate’s degree.

The point is, don’t wait until you’ve got glitter in your champagne glass and a head full of bubbles to decide that you’d rather go back to school and start working towards a better–or even completely different–career. Start thinking about it today, and get all the facts before you’ve got to rush on what could be the most important application of the rest of your life.