Tough Question: Should I Go Back to School?
What does it take for a flower to fully bloom? It needs an ideal environment, extra special
attention, and the proper nutrients – without these things it will wilt and eventually die. The same is true for you and your career! What does it take for you to fully blossom in your job – first you need the right environment (including your workplace and the people in it), you need to pay extra special attention to your personal and professional development (self-improvement), you need to be healthy and have a good balance between work and life. This month at LTAW we will talk about how you can fully bloom in your career.
Unless you secured all the degrees you’ll ever need the first time around (Hello, Doctor!) and have landed your dream job, you’ve probably wondered in passing if you should consider going back to school. For some professionals, going back to school means a complete career change, but for others it may simply mean a change in the direction of the career you already have. While nothing is simple about this decision, there are some easy questions to ask yourself if you want to determine if hitting the books again is the right decision for your future.
- Why do I want to return to school?
What is the exact purpose for returning to school? Do you want to get a more advanced degree or specialization in your current field, or do you want to make a complete change? What are you motivations? - Can I afford tuition costs?
Many companies now offer tuition reimbursement dependent upon what field you’re studying and what grades you get in your core coursework. But either way, plan on coming up with a decent chunk of dough to cover books, additional fees, and other school-related costs, and factor that into your decision. In some cases – such as when you don’t have a four-year college degree – you almost can’t afford not to go back to school. - Is the timing right?
Some people handle stress better than others, and some peoples’ circumstances allow for the additional load of going to college. Consider which end of the spectrum you are on with regards to your current career, your family, and other life goals and activities. - Do you have a good support system?
It’s very important to have a good support network when you return to school later in life. From arranging daycare for your kids to covering your rear at work, you will need the important players in your life to be on your side. If someone is covering you in negativity, it may be best to weed them out of this decision. - Are you happy now? Will your happiness improve just by going back to school?Sometimes going back to school is a great idea and results in great career prospects and new professional horizons. But sometimes, there’s something else at play – examine how you are feeling about yourself, your current career status, your daily life, and consider whether going back to school is the cure – or the Band-Aid
Sources:
http://adulted.about.com/od/goingbacktoschool/tp/10-Considerations.htm
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/04/back-to-school-leadership-careers-advice.html
