InternetU - Information for Online Education

Making the Decision to Go Back to School

Every year, millions of moms and dads welcome the start of a new school year for their kids by shopping for new clothes, shoes, and backpacks filled with fresh school supplies. As they wave good-bye from the bus stop, many think about going back to school themselves.

One of the greatest benefits of online education is that, in most cases, the "Back to School" mentality holds true all year round. It's never too late to think about finishing what you started - or beginning what you never got a chance to start.

You are ready to go back to school if...

You have a clear understanding of what it is you want to accomplish and know how earning a degree will help you achieve that goal.

If you know that you can't qualify for a pay raise or move into a management role without a bachelor's degree, going back to school is a smart decision.

However, if you are looking to strengthen specific professional or technical skills (say, project management skills or learning to program in JavaScript) or fill a gap in your knowledge of the fundamentals (e.g. basic accounting principles), you may not need a credential like a degree. Perhaps a single course or set of courses (a certificate program) or even some non-credit option (a book from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com) will meet your needs. Maintain perspective as to how this degree helps you accomplish your goals.

Remember, if there is any doubt as to why you need this degree, chances are you won't be able to see the "big picture" later on down the road and risk the chance of losing motivation along the way.

Your employer offers tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 50 percent of companies with 100 or more employees offer some kind of tuition assistance as part of their benefits package.] For some reason, some companies seem to want to keep their tuition assistance program a secret, so it's up to you to find out if it's available to you. Factors to consider:

How much they will pay. IRS regulations stipulate that employers may provide an employee with up to $5,250 per year, tax-free. Additional compensation will be taxed, so it's safe to assume your employer will not exceed that amount ? but you never know!
What they will pay for. Does tuition assistance apply to your application fee or other costs? In addition to tuition and fees, your company might even pay for textbooks and other related course materials.
Type of education. Perhaps company policy stipulates that they will pay 100% of the costs towards a degree or certification, but only 50% for personal interest courses. Make sure to ask!
Type of institution. Typically, employers will verify that the institution you attend is accredited by an accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); these are the only two organizations authorized to recognize accrediting agencies.
Your grades. Find out how grades may affect your level of coverage. Your employer may foot 100 percent of the bill if you get an A, 90% if you get a B, and so on and so forth. Usually a "C" or better is required to be eligible for tuition reimbursement.
When they will pay. Determine whether your employer will pay up front at the start of the semester or if you have to come up with money for tuition first and then wait to be reimbursed after you have received your grades.
Field of study. If you work at an advertising agency, it's highly doubtful they will pay for a degree in nursing. See what limits there are in your choice of a major. Most likely, you will have to study something relevant to your current job or future role.
Length of employment. Thinking about earning your degree and then immediately quitting? Think again. Your employer will generally require you to be employed for a given length of time after completion of the degree. If you leave before that time, you may have to pay back any tuition or fees that were provided to you.

You have thought about the short- and long-term financial impact of going back to school to earn your degree.

A college degree doesn't come cheap. But don't let the price tag of a college education stand in your way.

Look at your personal budget and examine how paying for school may affect you and your family over the next few years. The flip side of this is to also think about your potential for increased earnings or job opportunities after you complete your degree. Going back to school is literally an investment in yourself.

You have the support of your loved ones.

Is your family willing (and able) to support your efforts to be a student? To do your best academically, you need to have the backing of those closest to you.

Make sure to talk about the impact of your return to school and how things might be different around the house: increased chores for kids; rotating meal preparation responsibilities; guaranteed quiet time to study in the evenings, etc.

You also have your employer's "buy-in."

Believe it or not, but you will also want to have backing from your employer as well. Don't assume that you are free to use your work laptop to respond to a discussion question for your class. How will your manager react if you spend your lunch hour catching up on a paper whose deadline is approaching?

You understand the necessary time commitment that is required of you and are ready to make a plan.

The general rule of thumb is that a three credit college course will require, on average, of ten to twelve hours per week. The hype of "Online education 24/7 - on your time, at your schedule!" is exciting, but you must consider the actual consequences of squeezing school-related duties into your life.

Will you still have time for a five o'clock racquetball match or your monthly Book Club get-together? Closely examine your schedule and responsibilities and identify what you are willing to sacrifice in the short-term to achieve a long-term goal. You must be ready to give up the occasional episode of "The Office" or idle Saturday mornings in bed.

You see yourself as being in control of your future.

Do you make things happen, or do things happen to you? There is a psychological concept describing one's decision-making ability called “locus of control.” Students with an internal “locus of control” believe that their actions (such as studying on a regular basis) result in receiving A's and B's. Students with an external “locus of control” believe that their C's and D's were determined by forces beyond their control (such as an unfair professor).

If you identify with the former example, and are ready to take responsibility of your learning, you are making a commitment to success and are ready to go back to school.

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