Is going back to college even worth it?
“Absolutely,” says J.R. Cifani, vice president of Monster-Making It Count. “Over the course of a lifetime, on average, a person with a bachelor’s degree will make half a million dollars more than someone who stops at an associate—and will make a million dollars more than someone who stops at a high school diploma.”
Not only will a degree likely boost your lifelong earning potential, it also tells potential employers that you’re willing to put forth the effort to keep learning.
“You had the willingness to set a difficult goal, the commitment to stick with it and the brainpower to get the job done,” Cifani says. “And depending on your major and the type of job you’re interviewing for, it tells them that you know quite a bit about the field. Right or wrong, it’s the minimum standard for many professional jobs today.
Many feel that college is the place where people ‘learn how to learn,’ so not only does a degree illustrate that you are probably more prepared in a relevant field, but it also shows that you have more experience learning how to dig in and solve a complex problem.”
Here are your options.
Associate Degree
Average time to complete: “Part-time students on average take four years or eight semesters,” says Monroe Community College admissions counselor Christine Casalinuovo-Adams.
Students attending school full time can earn an associate degree in two years or four semesters. But, Casalinuovo-Adams warns, “Going to college full time is the same time commitment as a full-time job.”
How to start:Call a community college’s office of admissions to set up an appointment with an admissions counselor.
Options:
Year-round school
Accelerated degrees are a great option for adults who are willing to attend college full time, attend during the summer months and take courses during intersession (winter break). With year-round, full-time schooling, an associate degree could be achieved in fewer than two years (two semesters, two summers and intersession).
Old credits
Previous college credit can help adult students fulfill degree requirements quickly. “Yes, those from 20 years ago when you were 18 can still count,” Casalinuovo-Adams says.
Flexible schedules
Adult learners will also find flexible schedules, online courses, hybrid courses (half online, half on campus), telecourses (via TV), sunrise courses (start at 6:30 a.m.), weekend courses and off-site classes at area high schools.
Why should you do it? Earn an AS degree, an associate of science, to prepare to transfer to a four-year college. You can complete all of the same general requirements students are completing at the four-year college at an affordable cost and with a flexible schedule.
Earn an AAS degree, an associate of applied science, to prepare for a career you’ll immediately enter upon graduation. The skills you learn prepare you for a specific career, such as accounting, nursing or health information technology.
“Adults are returning to complete college level degrees for a variety of reasons: displaced workers, additional training/education, advance their knowledge and skill development in a specific area, retraining, a second career or to fulfill a personal goal,” says Greg Bocchino, career counselor at MCC’s Career Center.
Inspiration: “Walking in the door is the hardest part,” Casalinuovo-Adams says. “We recommend that any student who is interested in returning to school come in and meet with us. We are able to answer all of their questions and help address their concerns. We can show them how they can fit college into their lives and make the changes they have been dreaming about.
Bachelor’s Degree
Average time to complete: Full-time adult learners with transfer credits typically take two years. Part-time adult learners with transfer credits take an average of four years to complete.
How to start: Call the college in which you’re interested to set up an appointment with an adviser. Call any colleges you have previously attended to request your official transcripts. Have the transcripts sent directly to the college at which you have an appointment, or bring the sealed transcripts to your meeting.
Options: As an adult learner, you could just apply to a college as if you were a freshman or transfer student. You could take classes full or part time during the day with traditional students. But before you do that, consider that colleges are pulling out all the stops to entice adults back to school.
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