Back To School

It may take a bit longer when opting for courses online, but it can easily fit into most schedules.

For some of us, college right after high school is not financially feasible or we just don’t want to commit to more schooling after already attending thirteen years in a row.

This was my situation. I wanted to get a job, get married, and raise a family. College just was not a plan of mine. Well, seventeen years after high school, plans changed. The children begin to develop relationships outside of the home and I found myself with extra time. What could I do?

I pondered for quite some time, but I knew that now was the perfect time to go to college. I also knew that I was not able to attend a college campus with three children at home. Besides, what thirty-something year old wants to sit next to a class full of nineteen-year-olds in a lecture hall. When I think of this it reminds me of the movie Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield. I knew that was a choice I did not wish to act upon.

I began to investigate different online college courses to get my Associate of Arts degree. I chose an educational facility that would allow for online courses, so I could continue working and taking care of my family. It was a great experience to have the flexibility of having time for myself in between my other responsibilities.

I continued the online courses with our local college by earning my Baccalaureate of Supervision and Management in 2019. The college was a four-year college and did not offer further degrees in the field of Project Management. I had to search for a new college offering online courses that would allow continuing my education to obtain a Masters’ degree in Project Management and Operations. I have since earned my degree on April 1, 2022, and am now enrolled in a Doctorate program for my career-driven completion.

The best part of attending school online is the freedom to engage in as little as one course every eight to ten weeks. The comfort of your own home gives you the convenience and flexibility you need for greater concentration. The forums allow for contact directly with the professor and classmates for advice and guidance throughout the entire course.

Today, online colleges are available to anyone regardless of their state of residency, age, race, gender, or employment status. With a few simple steps, you can research a handful of universities to compare course programs to further your education to enhance your current profession or start a new one.

If you have more time to dedicate to furthering your education, you could attend full-time for up to four courses a semester. There is a possible program for anyone based on what you have to offer in time and finances. The semesters will be more expensive; however, you will complete the requirements quicker.

Financial help is available through FAFSA through grants, loans, and scholarships. There are larger private loan provider programs to investigate such as Sallie Mae. Again, depending on the time you must invest, part-time or full-time, would help you decide on lending options to suit your needs.

With all those advantages, who could say ‘it’s not the right time’. However, be aware that there are always some disadvantages. Online classes may not be for everybody. This option requires good time management skills and the absence of procrastination. The college learning websites have very similar setups for the students. Each course contains clear syllabuses, assignment requirements, reference documents, and assignment due dates. Most of the assignments give you one full week to complete and submit to avoid late penalties if a late assignment will be accepted at all. This is an easy trap to fall into if one is not careful. I do not recommend waiting until the fifth day to start the assigned work. Experience shows that this is not sufficient time for research, typing, and proofreading the project you must upload for grading by Sunday night.

In conclusion, I highly recommend everyone to continue their education no matter their age. It is never too late to go back to school.