Should You Go Back to School?

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Have you ever considered going back to school? Online learning, distance courses,
part-time options and learning through night school and community college means that education is
much more accessible than it has ever been before. Education can be expensive, of course, but,
payment plans, free classes, student loans, bursaries, grants, scholarships and other support is
available. This means that more people than ever are going back to school, even after a lengthy break.

It's easy to see why. We’re expected to decide at 16 what we want to do for the rest of our lives.
To choose the courses that will get us where we need to be and to start on the path that we will always
be on. This doesn’t often work out. Most of us haven’t really got a clue. We choose courses that our
friends take, we fail to appreciate the opportunities afforded to us, and many of us simply fall into a
career without much thought. Going back to education gives you a chance to further your career, learn
new things and even make a massive life change.

But, it’s a commitment. Going back to school means that you are giving up time with your family,
spending a lot of money and perhaps losing income from work. Here are some of the questions
that you should ask yourself before making a decision?

Are You Happy at Work?

One of the main reasons that adults return to work after a long break is for career advancement or
change. If you want to go further at work, you might need to gain a degree or do further training
courses to get past entry level work. If you’re unhappy with your job and can’t see yourself ever
being happy in the industry you might need to learn something completely different so that you
can change careers entirely.

Don’t rush this decision though. One lousy week at work doesn’t mean that it’s time for a career
change. We all have them. Take your time and speak to your manager first.

Have You Got Time?

Education takes time. But, perhaps not as much as you might think. Studying online, such as
an NEC Online, or taking a part-time course means that you can study around your other
commitments. Even keeping a full-time job and exploring a social life while you learn. All you
need is a few hours a week to commit to your course.

Do You Regret Wasting Your Education?

Another big reason people go back to school is to re-do their time. If you look back
on your education regretting that you didn’t work harder or get more from it, it’s not too late.

Where Do You Want to Be in 10 years?

It’s never too late to go back to school, but it’s also wise not to leave it too long. Think about
where you want to be in 10 or even 20 years’ time? Will you still be happy in the same career? Do you want to do it forever? Or, would you like a change one day, or the chance to start up on your own? Even if you don’t want to do it now, going back to school could make it much easier when you do.