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So you're thinking about go back to school? Or maybe you've finally hit that golden age of legal adulthood and college is your next step? Don't worry. No seriously! If you're an over-thinker, extra planner, break down the details kind of person like me, I promise, you don't need to worry. I know that doesn't really do much to actually calm your worry, I get it. I've been you. I've been where you are, no matter what place you might be in.
What was the most discouraging was that everybody else had already seemed to "know" their calling. They knew exactly what they wanted to do and where they wanted to go. To be fair, some of them were in the know for years longer than just their senior year. I knew that there were things that I liked, and things that I was interested in, but what could I make into a career? This is where my Mom came in.
Logically, like most families, either your parents are paying for your college tuition or you're getting student loans or financial aid. In my case, my parents had a little bit of savings for me to pay for my college. Since it was their money going into my future, they had a little say in the matter of what I did with it. My Mom knew me well enough to know what I liked, so I let her choose my major and my school. Neither were bad decisions. She chose Graphic Design at a nearby community college. The friends I made my first 2 years of college were unforgettable, and we still correspond from time to time even now, but graphic design wasn't for me. I nearly completed my degree when I made this decision, but it wasn't something that I could make a decent career out of. So instead, I focused on finished my general education classes. I knew that I would need some time to figure out what major I would switch to, but I wasn't ready to be done with classes.
After going as a part time student for another year, I decided to go into the Accounting and Bookkeeping program at the same community college. That lasted about a year. At the time I was saving the money that my parents had given me, and I was paying out of pocket from the earnings I was getting from the 3 jobs that I had. Yeah, I said that correctly. I was working 3 jobs, while putting myself though college. Its no fairy-tale story. Getting through college is hard, and trying to do it on your own is even harder.
Fast forward to almost 10 years since I graduated high school and I still have no degree. I've attempted school 3 separate times, never being able to complete a program. But, to be honest, I wouldn't peg it out to be the lack of ambition to finish. Its just that I still haven't found that "thing" that is for me; that niche that I was made for; that things that I'm the most passionate about. And I still haven't. I've had such a long break since my last attempt that its time to go back. Its time to try again. Only this time, I have a new approach.
My plan will take longer than the first few, which seems a bit intimidating, but I'm excited to try. I'm trying to incorporate some of the things that I love, and some of the things that I've always wanted with my life. But since this is a different type of approach, I'm going about it differently than I have in the past. We'll see how this plays out!!
2. CHECK YOUR FINANCES -- How are you going to pay for classes? Savings, loans, financial aid, parents moo-lah, etc. There are plenty of options. Don't be discouraged if you don't have the money to pay for it. If you have a job, a little budgeting and a payment plan can get you through. Financial aid is also an option! It's a form of student loan that is available for people that will struggle to pay for college. FAFSA is one of the most common ones that colleges use. Check the school website that you've chosen, they usually have a section dedicated solely to financial aid. Some of which can go through the school itself instead of going through the government website. You can also apply for student loans through your bank! they often give you better interest rates knowing that its for your education. But there is no harm in asking! There are Scholarships! A quick google search will lead you do hundreds of sites that can take you to different scholarships that are available to you, no matter what your level of intelligence or experience.
And there are many more! You may have to put in some effort, but the big ones are worth it when you're receiving anywhere from $50-$10,000 in college funds! You can get Grants! Unlike loans, grants you will never have to pay back! There are a lot of grants that you get through the school you decide to go to, and some even from cities and states! The more you search, the likelier you are to find one that is perfect for you!
3. DO YOUR RESEARCH! -- One thing I wish I would have done, was do some research. Find a school program that fits for you! once you have found the program you'd like to study, don't just pick a school at random. believe it or not, some schools are better than others. Depending on your field, some would look much better on a resume when applying for different jobs. If money is a motivator for you, look into accredited community colleges with good transfer programs. This could save you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! Despite what you may have heard, there is nothing wrong with community colleges. They have many benefits! Usually they're smaller so you'll get more attention from your professors. Most CC programs can get you an AA in your field and move onto your bachelors when you go to your university. There are many more, but don't discount a community college just for being a community college! As long as its an accredited college, and the program is what you're looking for, Go For It!
Good Luck to you!
A little back story on me, which I'm sure you care deeply about. (If you don't care about my story, feel free to skip to the next section.)
When I turned 18, after graduation mind you, I knew that going to college was the next step. For a lot of us, its either college or the military. In today's society, if you don't have a plan for your next step your future is not off to a good start. You could hear more judgmental people say things like, "you're going to end up living in the gutter," or, "what will you do with your life?", "How will you survive?". Some people can be so rude. Anyway, these are the things that I got when people would ask me what the next step was. Honestly, at 18, I had no idea. Like I said, I knew that college was next in line, but where? What for? Not the slightest idea. I wasn't ready to leave high school. I knew that from then on out, I was expected to make my own decisions and survive nearly on my own. I didn't feel like high school had prepared me for that. I didn't know about bills, taxes, budgeting, how to change a tire, cooking more than easy mac and ramen, the list could go on and on. So on top of not feeling prepared with knowledge, I was lost in where I wanted my life to go.What was the most discouraging was that everybody else had already seemed to "know" their calling. They knew exactly what they wanted to do and where they wanted to go. To be fair, some of them were in the know for years longer than just their senior year. I knew that there were things that I liked, and things that I was interested in, but what could I make into a career? This is where my Mom came in.
Logically, like most families, either your parents are paying for your college tuition or you're getting student loans or financial aid. In my case, my parents had a little bit of savings for me to pay for my college. Since it was their money going into my future, they had a little say in the matter of what I did with it. My Mom knew me well enough to know what I liked, so I let her choose my major and my school. Neither were bad decisions. She chose Graphic Design at a nearby community college. The friends I made my first 2 years of college were unforgettable, and we still correspond from time to time even now, but graphic design wasn't for me. I nearly completed my degree when I made this decision, but it wasn't something that I could make a decent career out of. So instead, I focused on finished my general education classes. I knew that I would need some time to figure out what major I would switch to, but I wasn't ready to be done with classes.
After going as a part time student for another year, I decided to go into the Accounting and Bookkeeping program at the same community college. That lasted about a year. At the time I was saving the money that my parents had given me, and I was paying out of pocket from the earnings I was getting from the 3 jobs that I had. Yeah, I said that correctly. I was working 3 jobs, while putting myself though college. Its no fairy-tale story. Getting through college is hard, and trying to do it on your own is even harder.
Fast forward to almost 10 years since I graduated high school and I still have no degree. I've attempted school 3 separate times, never being able to complete a program. But, to be honest, I wouldn't peg it out to be the lack of ambition to finish. Its just that I still haven't found that "thing" that is for me; that niche that I was made for; that things that I'm the most passionate about. And I still haven't. I've had such a long break since my last attempt that its time to go back. Its time to try again. Only this time, I have a new approach.
My plan will take longer than the first few, which seems a bit intimidating, but I'm excited to try. I'm trying to incorporate some of the things that I love, and some of the things that I've always wanted with my life. But since this is a different type of approach, I'm going about it differently than I have in the past. We'll see how this plays out!!
Before You go back to school, Do These 3 Things
1. FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY -- One of the biggest things that helped me was an honest to god Venn Diagram. Believe me, I know that sounds really silly but it helps. If you're unfamiliar with what a Venn Diagram looks like Here is the one that I used. You can use any header for the circles
If you're interested in getting the word file, comment below! I can send it to you! =]
2. CHECK YOUR FINANCES -- How are you going to pay for classes? Savings, loans, financial aid, parents moo-lah, etc. There are plenty of options. Don't be discouraged if you don't have the money to pay for it. If you have a job, a little budgeting and a payment plan can get you through. Financial aid is also an option! It's a form of student loan that is available for people that will struggle to pay for college. FAFSA is one of the most common ones that colleges use. Check the school website that you've chosen, they usually have a section dedicated solely to financial aid. Some of which can go through the school itself instead of going through the government website. You can also apply for student loans through your bank! they often give you better interest rates knowing that its for your education. But there is no harm in asking! There are Scholarships! A quick google search will lead you do hundreds of sites that can take you to different scholarships that are available to you, no matter what your level of intelligence or experience.
3. DO YOUR RESEARCH! -- One thing I wish I would have done, was do some research. Find a school program that fits for you! once you have found the program you'd like to study, don't just pick a school at random. believe it or not, some schools are better than others. Depending on your field, some would look much better on a resume when applying for different jobs. If money is a motivator for you, look into accredited community colleges with good transfer programs. This could save you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! Despite what you may have heard, there is nothing wrong with community colleges. They have many benefits! Usually they're smaller so you'll get more attention from your professors. Most CC programs can get you an AA in your field and move onto your bachelors when you go to your university. There are many more, but don't discount a community college just for being a community college! As long as its an accredited college, and the program is what you're looking for, Go For It!
The Best and Worst Times to start your search
Now. Its plain and simple. The sooner you start, the more informed you are, the more prepared you are, the more self assured you will be. Trust me. Its as simple as that. You may have another year or two before its even feasible, But the more you know, the more prepared you are, the better off you will be! Once you think you know everything, don't stop. Things change over time! Program curriculum may change, tuition can change, important aspects of the job you're searching for may change. Over time, things can change. Keep up on what is happening with your future.
A New Way to Think About going back to school
Seriously, it can be scary. You're taking on a new challenge, you're pushing yourself for growth. But don't be afraid! Instead of thinking about the new and exciting as scary, think of it as NEW AND EXCITING!! You're about to make tons of new friends. You're about to learn so many new things! You're about to have so many new experiences! And to top it off, you're about to take on the biggest thing to be proud of in your life! (feel free to be indifferent about that)Finishing School Makes You Look Better
Finishing school not only makes you a better candidate for the jobs you're searching for! you'll automatically be considered for higher positions because finishing alone shows that you're dedicated to completing something. It also shows that you're smart enough to do the jobs that you're looking at. You've been educated and the diploma proves that.
In Conclusion:
The moral of the story is, if you're thinking about it, do it. Don't let anything hold you back. your fears, your circumstances, your friends, your family. I promise you won't regret it.Good Luck to you!
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