Going Back to School With Your Family in Mind

Whether it’s the idea of pursuing a degree, enhancing one’s career or just taking a class for an enriching experience, the idea of returning to the classroom is an exciting one for many adults. More than ever, area colleges and universities are providing options to meet the demands of working parents and those with hectic schedules who need the flexibility of evening and/or weekend courses, or accelerated programs. Online education is omnipresent, presenting adults with new opportunities for convenience as they pursue their degree.

One example of schools catering to the needs of adult learners is the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL(Innovative Degree Excellence in Accelerated Learning) program. This program offers degree completion for working adults with degree programs in Business Administration, Human Services, Psychology and General Studies, with an emphasis on efficiency and comprehensiveness.

In this program, the academic year is comprised of nine terms that offer five-week, eight-week and online courses held in the evening and on weekends. Courses are offered in Bridgeport, Stamford and Trumbull.

Another aspect of U.B.’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies is the online programs that are offered. As the university states, "All you need is a computer, access to the Internet and email, and you can take courses or complete your degree from the comfort of your home or office."

Another aspect of U.B.’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies is the online programs that are offered. As the university states, "All you need is a computer, access to the Internet and email, and you can take courses or complete your degree from the comfort of your home or office."

Among the programs offered online are the Master of Science in Human Nutrition; the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene; the Bachelor of Science in General Studies; the Master of Science in Technology Management; and the Master of Science in Instructional Technology, which requires one weekend a month of on-campus work.

A New Haven-area school which has established a niche by catering to adult students is Albertus Magnus College. In addition to a range of adult education programs offered, Albertus’ New Dimensions program is specifically targeted to those with aspirations in business and/or management. According to the college, "New Dimensions strives to provide its students with business and management knowledge and skills built upon a holistic foundation in preparation for assuming significant roles in the business and in life."

The programs offered through the New Dimensions program include: the Associate of Science in Business Management (with two different entry points); the Bachelor of Science in Business Management; the Master of Science in Management; and the MBA. The program puts an emphasis on offering students the chances to complete the program in a timely fashion, but is also thorough in its scope and well-suited to individuals who may not be able to handle a heavy course load. Students take one class at a time, one night per week, at a location near their home or office.

These are just a couple of examples from local colleges and universities. Many schools have an entire department devoted to adult education, and the options have become numerous.

A Juggling Act

The idea of continuing one’s education or taking that course in astronomy that you’ve been meaning to for years can be invigorating. The potential is there for great personal satisfaction, and in some cases monetary benefits. However, heading back into the classroom is not without its challenges. And for parents, this means juggling the responsibilities of family with studies. There are ways you can prepare both mentally and outwardly to try and strike a successful balance.

An effective starting point is to put your educational goals in writing. That way you can refer back to your list in those moments of high stress levels and self-doubt. To help manage your time and priorities, make step-by-step plans for your schoolwork and any projects you may have.

When you’ve decided to go back to school, it’s a good idea to sit down with your family for a discussion to lay out the parameters. The reasons for going back to school should be discussed, whether it’s for personal satisfaction or a potential promotion, as well as the time demands. The cooperation and support of your loved ones is important if you’re to put the amount of quality study time needed to achieve academic success.

Setting a "personal space" for study time is a good idea as well. Choose a quiet place to study, and encourage your family members to let you be during that time. It goes without saying that trying to accomplish this with young children can be a little difficult, but no one said it was going to be easy.

Just as you would ask your child what they learned at school on a particular day, and want to be involved in their educational experience, involve your family in yours. Talk about what you’re learning during family conversations ;you’d be surprised at the kind of role model you can become for your kids while you are in school.

Choosing the Right Path for You

Most adults return to school either because they want to gain the education they never pursued, go further in the realm of academics than they did before or learn what they need to in order to move into a new field of work. And while the process of going back to school is not simple for any of these reasons, it is certainly less complicated if your reasoning centers on the first two. Why? Because if you already know what you want to study, then going back to school is really just a matter of making the decision to do so, finding the program that works best for you, figuring out how you will pay for it all and then applying.

But if you’re thinking about returning to school because of professional issues —maybe you want a new job in a different field, maybe you want a job in a different part of the field in which you already work — there is an entire decision making process you have to go through before you even consider those other basic questions addressed above.

So how do you do it? How do you figure out what, exactly, is the best path for you?

First, look at the big picture. Step back for a minute and take a look at your professional situation: What do you want to change? What do you like most? Least? Is this even a field in which you want to stay? These are the basic issues facing all adults who are considering returning to school for professional reasons. And there’s a good chance that you’ll look at your situation and realize that you don’t want to make any drastic changes at all, or certainly none that require you to go back to school.

But then there’s the possibility that you do want to make a big change. And whether that means entering an entirely new field or simply changing the aspect of the one in which you currently work, there’s a good chance that going back to school will have a very real impact.

There are number of considerations you should be aware of. For example, how much schooling will be needed in order to facilitate this change? If you’re entering an entirely new field, will you need to enroll in a full, four-year-style undergraduate program, or will it simply be enough to do a trade program or an associates-degree-style two-year course of study? And then there’s the issue of how going back to school will affect the job you already have: Will you have to quit your job in order to devote all your energy to your studies? Will it be necessary to change your working hours in order to make time for your classes and homework?

Before you make any decision, list the most basic questions that pertain to your situation and answer them as carefully as possible. It’s the best way to make sure your decision is the right one.

Second, look inside yourself. Once you’ve made the decision to go back to school for work-related reasons, you have the task of figuring out what you would like to study. After all, there are as many options within each field of study as there are jobs within your area of professional expertise. But how are you supposed to know what you want to do with the rest of your professional life after you graduate if you haven’t even taken a single class yet?

Luckily, there are more ways than you might have imagined to find out what is best for you. And while none of these diagnostic tools are 100 percent accurate, they certainly will help you discover in what direction to lean in terms of your professional aspirations.

The Internet is, as usual, a great place to start. A recent Google search for "career tests" turned up a number of online diagnostic tests that will help you figure out what career path is right for you. Just be careful that you know who’s administering these tests before you take them: some of them might be created by advertisers or other non-impartial parties, and the results could be skewed more towards their ends than your own. But the good, honest ones are certainly worth pursuing. Also, go to the bookstore and browse the career section. There should be plenty of books there that deal with the very same issues you’re contending with right now. The best ones will not only help you figure out what your career options really are, but also how to go about discovering them.

Finally, make it a group effort. As an adult who is considering going back to school, you may find it helpful to confer with your family about these issues. No one, after all, knows you better than your family and friends, and they may have some interesting ideas about what you should be doing. Solicit their advice and take it seriously.

Information courtesy of www.educationforadults.com.