Going Back to University Later in Life

 Going-back-to-University-life.For some, the love of learning never dies. That is why you might feel a strong sense of urgency to head back to university later in life, despite having already racked up plenty of work experience in your industry of choice.

This decision might come into play because you are interested in a career change, or it might be that you simply want to improve your skills in your already existing field of expertise. Either way, you will undoubtedly be wondering whether to go for it and what to expect. Here is some more information.

The Application Process

If you do not quite remember what goes into this, you will definitely want to start getting your applications underway as early as possible. Do lots of research into the various institutions that you may be keen on and find out all their requirements.

The main requirements for getting into UNCW, for example, include high GPA and SAT scores. As you can find out on CampusReel, are an average of 4.22, and you will also be required to show a score of at least 1195 on the SAT or 72 on the ACT.

Furthermore, you should include information concerning your work experience and other tertiary education achievements for an improved chance of application approval.

You, Will, Have to Work Harder Than You Remember

Those adults who have been to university in the past and come back to continue their studies at a later stage tend to emphasize how it is a lot more demanding than what they remember. Student life is very different from working life and forces you to draw upon your time management skills to the maximum! Make it through by creating to-do lists and drawing up daily schedules. Write everything down even if you think you will be able to remember it. Chances are, you won’t.

You’ll Be Welcomed with Open Arms

Many older students worry that the younger students will look down on them or avoid interacting with them simply because of their age. More often than not, however, this is not true. The majority of young students will welcome older students with open arms, helping to show them the ropes and get them reacquainted with the student way of life.

You’ll Enjoy Every Moment

There are few things as rewarding in life than nurturing your education, boosting your knowledge, and learning new skills. As such, it is highly probable that you will love every second of your time spent at university no matter how old you are when you decide to return. Not many people are lucky enough to get a second chance to live life like a student, so enjoy it! You’ve earned it.

Ultimately, if you have your heart set on returning to university but are still overwhelmed with questions and uncertainty, take a deep breath, and just do it. Don’t let fears about ‘being too old’ hold you back from following your dreams. Now is the time to make them happen.

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Are You a Parent Who Wants to Go Back to College? It’s Easier Than You Think

are-you-a-parent-who-wants-to-go-back-to-collegeIf you’re a busy parent, you’ve probably been putting off going back to school because you assume that you either won’t have the time or money to accomplish your dreams. After all, not only do you have a family to care for every day, but you might also work and have a home that needs constant cleaning and maintenance. Fortunately, going back to school is a lot easier than you might think and it’s a great way to have a career that brings in a more stable income while providing you with a sense of accomplishment.

Online Classes

If you’ve given up on the idea of college, it might be due to the fact that you couldn’t see yourself going to a local campus filled with young adults. Thankfully, online classes not only make things easier for you, but they provide you with the distance that you need to feel part of something. You can take online classes for many different majors and degrees, and all you’ll need is a computer or laptop. The classes are scheduled for you and it’s your responsibility to complete them as needed.

Adaptive Scheduling

If you would rather learn from a professor or teacher in-person, colleges have made things easy for busy adults who need more adaptive scheduling. This means that you can take night classes as needed or go for day classes while the kids are in school. By working with one of their school counselors and advisers, you’ll be able to find a schedule that works for your needs and still allows you to obtain the degree or certification that you need to get started in the field.

Student Loans

Another key problem that busy parents face is that they just can’t afford school. You might already be living from check to check and paying for college tuition for yourself just isn’t an option. With student loans, you get to have your tuition and textbook fees paid for you. Most loans won’t need to be paid back until after you graduate and because you’ll be working in a field that pays more, you’ll find it worthwhile to take the loan out.

Financial Aid and Grants

Many parents are eligible for grants and other forms of financial aid. In order to see what you qualify for, be sure to talk with a financial adviser who works at the college. They will typically look for ways that students of all ages can get into school easily and quickly without it becoming a financial burden. If you need to write a grant, be sure to use a grant writing template to get started.

Exams and Certifications

After school, you’ll typically need to take several exams to become either certified or to obtain a degree. These exams can be difficult for parents who now need to refresh their knowledge of the courses that they took. There are a multitude of exam prep programs for all different types of degrees and fields. By utilizing one of these programs, you’ll be more ready to take the tests needed to get started in your career.
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3 Effective Ways to Parent Kids in College

How to Register for the ACT

How-to-Get-Your-Child-Prepared-for-College-in-High-SchoolKids grow up fast. Remember their first day at school? Or how helping with their basic grade school arithmetic made you look like a genius? And then, high school happened. Everything got harder, especially their becoming independent and not needing you as much. It’s healthy, though. Kids grow up to be their own person. Their independence is a sign you did good work because soon they will be out there in the world on their own.

But no matter how old they get, they will always need your guidance. Right now, it’s with their college applications. The application process is pretty straight forward, but it’s something entirely new for your child. It’s also an anxiety-filled process because it is a momentous period in their lives.

How to Get Your Child Prepared for College in High School

The college application process requires both the student and the parent to be organized. The process is a whole lot easier if you prepare in advance, then every step becomes more of a habit then an uncertain action. Parents, this is what every student should do:

  1. Take challenging college-prep courses that yield more than minimum graduation requirements, for example, honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB). Focus on core academics like English, math, science, history, HS/college dual enrollment, and world languages
  2. Focus on maintaining good grades. A distinctive high school transcript will be necessary for a strong application.
  3. Colleges are interested in more than your academic record, so explore and commit to extracurricular and leadership activities.
  4. Summer volunteer opportunities/jobs/internships beef up applications.
  5. Meet regularly with the guidance counselor, preferably starting freshman year. Guidance counselors are a great resource in planning out high school and college careers.
  6. Understand the costs of college and who’s responsible for it. If the family is helping out, it should be determined how much parents are willing to spend.
  7. Tour several college campuses.
  8. Register, then study and finally take a college admissions test.
  9. Complete the college application process, which includes essays, questionnaires, and sometimes interviews.
  10. Apply for available scholarships.

Where You Come In

While each of the items on the checklist above is critical, some may require more help from a parent than others. For instance, number four—summer volunteer opportunities/jobs/internships beef up applications—might require you to taxi your child around until he or she gets their license. The same goes for number seven—tour several college campuses. As well as number six—determining who’s paying for the degree.

However, number eight—Register, then study, and finally take a college admissions test—requires further assistance from a parent. There are two common college admission tests and your child needs your help to determine which he or she should take, if not both. You should help them decide. But first, you have to understand them yourself.

The ACT is a national standardized paper-and-pencil test for colleges and universities to assess applicants. The test consists of four mandatory sections (English, math, reading, and science) and an optional section, Writing. Students are given 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete the mandatory section. If they opted to include the Writing section, then they are given an additional 40 minutes for a total of 3 hours and 35 minutes.

The SAT is another option that only tests math, reading, and writing. Meaning, if your child is better at science, they might have a better shot at scoring higher on the ACT.

The primary reason to choose one or the other is reliant on the student themselves. Here are the differences between the SAT and the ACT:

  1. ACT is less complex than SAT, and so the ACT test has a shorter time for each question.
  2. The SAT does not have a science section.
  3. The SAT reading test is much longer than the ACT.
  4. ACT allows students to use a calculator throughout the test. The SAT has sections wherein the student is not allowed to use a calculator, while there is also a section where they will be allowed to use one. If your child is not great at math, the ACT might be better for them.

The ACT could be a good alternative to the SAT if your child didn’t do well on the PSAT. If this is the case, you can find the ACT test dates for 2020 here.

How Else Can You Help

As you help your child through the college admissions process, keep in mind the following:

  • Being emotionally and financially prepared for it.
  • Before they leave your nest, get them to be comfortable with taking responsibility for their lives.
  • Teach them basic life skills like cooking, driving, etc. so that they can take care of themselves out there.
  • Help with researching colleges and universities.
  • When they arrive on campus, set communication guidelines with your child.
  • Create a financial plan and be specific about who will be responsible for which expenses.
  • Have a serious talk about safe sex, drugs, and alcohol.
  • Be encouraging. It’s a scary new phase for the child.
  • Not everything will work as planned, so always have a Plan B.
  • If you are anxious about anything, especially finances, then be mindful that you don’t place too heavy a burden on your child.
  • Prepare to have an empty nest and the emotions that come with it.

Get it done, let go and have faith

The entire admission process can seem like a huge task. Although this might be the heaviest burden your child has had to bear, you have dealt with worse. Your guidance, encouragement, experience, and wisdom will be essential throughout the process. But somewhere along the line, your child will have to step up and lead the process. They will have to make definitive choices and take decisive action. The process should be seen as teamwork, rather than one party doing everything. After that, you are going to have to let your little bird fly.
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Every Parent’s Option For Their Child’s School And Education

3 Reasons Why Everyone Should Take Continuing Education (and What to Do About It)

 3-Reasons-Why-Everyone-Should-Take-Continuing-Education-and-What-to-Do-About-ItFor most people, education is goal-focused. They take classes to graduate high school or earn a degree. Maybe they also took advanced training to gain some specific skill or certification they need for their industry. Once they get the degree or accreditation, education ends — and that’s a real problem. Everyone, no matter their experience or formal education, should be lifelong learners.

Changing Industries

No matter what industry or market you serve, it is changing constantly. New treatments and products are developed, while others are discontinued. New information is discovered, and findings are refined. Technology changes, and there are trends in the way people communicate that popup. For this reason, many professions — like accounting, nursing, and education — require continuing education. Even if your industry does not have a formal requirement, continuing education is still smart. When you stay on top of your education, you ensure that your knowledge is up-to-date and current.

Professional Development

If you want to move up in your field, continuing education is what will help you get there. It improves your marketability and helps you develop areas of interest into a broader career. For instance, someone who wants to move up within a company may opt to continue their education within a particular industry, effectively becoming an expert, or they could choose something tangential. In this case, they may choose to take classes in business management, project management, marketing, or sales so that they can move past their current position to one that leverages those new skills in tandem with their existing education and training.

Confidence and Perspective

Continuing education doesn’t always have to result in a new career or promotion. Sometimes it has inherent benefits. People who engage in continuing education remain more relevant than their peers who do not put in that extra effort. By developing their knowledge, they remain valuable to their companies. In the off chance they do lose their job, they are already in a good position to find a new role that utilizes their cumulative skill set. They also boost their profile, which produces industry connections and collaborative opportunities.

Finally, people who have continuing education tend to have a different perspective on their industry. They have different ideas than people who have always done things the same way and those who are new to the field. They see things from both perspectives, and this gives them an edge.

Use Available Resources

Getting continuing education is easy. You can enroll in any number of programs — online or at a college, that culminates in a certificate or that doesn’t. Sometimes your best resource is not a continuing ed class or program — it’s a job-focused training. Amway is a great example. The direct sales company offers a training program that can help people develop the skills they need to succeed, particularly in sales.

“As an engineer, I was trained to be a skeptic and pick things apart,” says engineer and Amway Business Owner Jeff Miller. He thought that Amway could be a pyramid scheme, but once he got started, he found he was wrong.

“I dug in and realized I didn’t know anything about Amway, and the seeds were planted,” explained Jeff. “When we stopped simply going through the motions and began caring for people, lots of things started to change and grow. It’s not about convincing people, it’s about educating people. If you educate people, they can convince themselves.”

Conclusion

Continuing education helps you remain relevant in the face of changing industries and technologies. It helps you develop yourself professionally and improves your perspective. Getting there could involve a formal class or program, but you can also leverage job-skills training to fill in the gaps in your knowledge base.


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