Considering a midlife career change? Going back to school may be your best or worst option, depending on you, the program you choose, and your unique field. You need to be sure your career goals and education goals harmonize, if you want to achieve successful carer change.
Many midlife career changers report they are confused by all the choices they have. Back when they entered college, often right out of high school, they considered only programs from recognized universities taught on live campuses. Today you can choose online programs, weekend courses, continuing education and career-oriented programs to prepare you for coaching, copywriting or other new careers.
If you're considering a field like library science or pharmacy professional, you might discover you can get a quality degree from courses taught mostly online. If you're considering an MBA, you will see brochures and flyers from universities that didn't exist 20 years ago. You may wonder if your degree will be worthwhile.
If you're considering a career that didn't exist 20 years ago, such as coaching or web design, our choices will be even more challenging. Programs can run to four figures and they're mostly unregulated. Here are 5 questions to ask before you invest time or money.
First, do you really need more training? Or will your previous experience and credentials place you beyond entry level?
If you plan to work for an organization, find out if they value credentials as much as experience. You will also find that specific schools and degrees will be valued more than others.
For example, some public relations firms want to see journalism degrees. Many universities hire faculty with PhA.D. degrees from a specific type of university. Some departments recognize law degrees as terminal degrees, while others do not.
Second, how does the school schedule courses and requirements? You may need Introduction to Statistics in order to graduate, but discover that course is offered only every two years.
Third, do you have to write a dissertation? If so, make sure you talk to current students who are writing dissertations. Ask the admissions office to introduce you. In a traditional program, the department head or program chair should be willing to make those introductions.
Some schools ease everyone through coursework with high grades, but don't prepare those students for the rigors of a dissertation. Others have high standards but dissertation advisors are overloaded, so you can be delayed even when you're doing everything right.
There are too many pitfalls to list here. You have to talk to students in the program - not faculty, not administrators - to get realistic advice. If you are discouraged from meeting with current students, recognize a red flag and consider enrolling elsewhere.
Fourth, compare yourself to successful graduates of the program. For example, if you look at top-tier MBA programs, you will find the most successful graduates are twenty-somethings with a few years of corporate or military experience. If you consider certificate programs (such as coaching), the most successful graduates will have strong marketing skills and/or solid ties to networks of potential clients. Do you fit the profile of the successful graduate?
You'll maximize benefits of a full-time, top-tier MBA if you're in your twenties with a few years of corporate or military experience. And if you embark on special certificate programs, you'll gain a new career if you have solid ties to an existing network.
You may discover that the graduates with jobs all returned to former employers. They weren't changing careers. They were getting their tickets punched.
Of course you can defy the odds and you may have other objectives that will be met by completing those programs. But you should have a complete understanding of the odds.
Finally, study the faculty. Top universities will have professors who hold degrees from a variety of universities. If most of your professors were trained by the university where they are teaching, you have to question the program's commitment to innovation, growth and change.
And now I invite you to find out more by visiting http://www.midlifecareerstrategy.com/schoolbk.html
Get the Report, Back to School for a Midlife Career Change by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., a former college professor and current career consultant.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Goodwin
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