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With 14.6 millions Americans out of work and countless either unsatisfied with their jobs or waiting to lose their no jobs it should not come as any surprise that community college enrollment is up, especially among people 40 years and older. Despite the challenges going back to school cab be as an adult many folks seem to be taking advantage of being out of work and working on their degree.
According to a Business Week article,
- Enrollment at community colleges jumped 16.9 percent from the fall of 2007 through 2009
- 16 percent of community college students are age 40 or older.
You may be considering going back to school but are hesitant because of the toll on your wallet and your time. At Ntroduction we have given you tips on going back to school but here are a few more tips from Business Week and Ntroduction to help you over come the challenges of being an older student.
- Keep Working – If you are already working keep your job. Paying for school is no easy task and even community college costs an annual average of 2,500 dollars. Though working while going back to school may take longer, for most adult returning to school it’s the only way to sustain life while making the change.
- Aide, Grants and Scholarships, Oh My! – Despite the glum economy most State and Federal aide programs are still going strong. In fact the maximum annual Pell Grant rose from $4,731 to $5,350 last year. And if you are an adult returning to school you may qualify for even more aide if someone else in your house is also going to school. Meaning if your spouse is thinking about it, do it together and you could both reap a few more benefits. Go to the library, research on the Internet and most importantly visit your local Community College’s financial aide office. The help is there; you just have to find it.
- Student Loans – If a chunk of the money you use for school is based on loans try to give yourself a game plan for paying it back. Whatever field you’re going into be sure to research the average salary and the job opportunities in that field. This way you can establish a rough idea of what to expect once you are out there.
- Unemployed? Keep Looking – If you’re going back to school while unemployed do not stop looking for work! It can be easy to fall into the trap of using school as an excuse not to look for work, but in the current job climate, that is not a good idea. Keep looking while going to school and even start looking for jobs in your field of study. Sometimes you can find a decent paying internship that will give you a paycheck and college credits.
