Whatever your reasons for furthering your education, we’re here to help you succeed.
Here’s are eight things to consider when choosing an educational program that aligns with your future:
1. Career Goals
Look at your current degree or job title, then research how you can build upon this foundation to advance into a rewarding field. Alternatively, you can research job opportunities available to professionals with your desired degree.
Questions to Ask:
What are my long-term career goals?
What skills have I developed so far, and how can adding to these skills assist my career plans?
Will my career benefit from a specialization, concentration or specific elective course?
2. Interests and Skills
Think about your current skill set and what you’d like to improve. Consider which of your current talents you enjoy using in your day-to-day work, as you may want to continue using them in your future career.
Questions to Ask:
What subjects have I enjoyed learning about?
What skills do I like to utilize in my current job?
What skills are required for advancement in my field?
3. Schedule Flexibility
Programs with flexible scheduling options allow you to balance your work and personal life alongside your education.
Questions to Ask:
Where in my life is there opportunity to study and complete assignments?
What shifts can be made to accommodate my education?
For how long can I commit to a degree program?
4. Affordability
Education is an investment you don’t have to make alone. Research the cost of different programs, and search for other ways to help finance your degree or certificate.
Questions to Ask:
What financial aid opportunities are available at my preferred school(s)?
Does my employer offer education reimbursement or a tuition discount?
5. Learning Style
Understanding your learning style and preferred learning environment will help you narrow your choices.
Questions to Ask:
Do I prefer to collaborate with my peers in the classroom, or do I learn better on my own?
Am I a good test taker, or do I do better with projects?
Do my work and personal life allow for regularly scheduled class meeting times, or do I need something more flexible?
6. Degree or Certificate
Degree programs take longer than certificate programs, but they offer a well-rounded education and may be required for certain careers or help you change fields. Certificates, meanwhile, can help you upskill quickly and focus your education in a specific area, but they might not be a replacement for a degree in all instances.
Questions to Ask:
Does my desired job title require a degree, or will a certificate suffice?
How much time can I invest in my education? Three months? Two years?
Am I transitioning to a new field or advancing in my current one?
7. Support Services
Look for programs with services that support the needs of working adults.
Questions to Ask:
What resources can make it easier for me to commit to my education?
Does this school offer personalized tutoring, career support or academic advising?
8. Accreditation
Accreditation ensures your degree or certification is recognized by employers and other education institutions, helping you get hired or paving the pathway to a PhD.
Questions to Ask:
Is this institution accredited?
What accrediting agencies are relevant to my career?
Do I want to pursue a doctorate, and if so, will that program consider credits from this current school?
