Adults Returning To School

In the United States there are approximately 8 million people over the age of 25 who are attending college. There are many reasons that adults are looking to return to school.

Some of these may include:

• Those who have been working since high school and now feel ready for college
• Adults who have a clearer vision of what they want to do than when they were younger
• Being more mature to be able to handle college than they could at 18
• Those who have been working at a dead end job and want to switch careers
• People who were not initially successful at college and discontinued their education
• Adults whose education was interrupted for various reasons such as illness or family obligations
• Women who have been stay-at-home moms who now have the time to focus on their own career
• Adults finishing their military service
• People who feel they need additional skills to stay competitive in the job market
• Those who have finished careers such as in athletics or have had forced early retirement and are looking for a second career path

If you find yourself in any of these or similar situations and are considering your next steps in the college search and application process, it is often helpful to speak to an educational consultant to get expert advice. You are making an investment of time and money and you want to make sure it will be worthwhile and rewarding.

You may be looking for the full college experience or you may have to juggle work and/or family schedules to accommodate your education. Colleges can differ tremendously on what they offer for older students such as scheduling of classes, transfer credits, life experience credit, childcare options, student family housing, financial aid or a student center for nontraditional students. In addition, even if as an older student you are commuting to classes, you may be eligible for such things as health benefits and access to recreation facilities as part of your tuition.

Colleges can also vary greatly in their general education requirements and what majors and degrees they offer students. Therefore it is very important to have clarification as to your career plans and to do thorough research on best-fit schools for your individual needs in order to make the best choice for your future.

If you are an adult considering returning to school, College Docs can help you formulate a clear direction for your education and career goals. For your individual college search and application process needs, let us develop your Personalized College Action Plan.

Feel free to call us with questions on how we can help.
Contact College Docs  CT at 203 520-6338 or College Docs Chicago at 203 218-5619
or email us at [email protected]