Things to Consider About Going Back to School to Earn an Advanced Degree Later in Life

Deciding to go back to school to earn an advanced degree after years in the workforce can seem overwhelming, but it also opens doors to significant personal and professional growth. Whether your goal is to change careers, update your skills in a fast-evolving field, or simply fulfill a lifelong ambition, the journey back to the classroom is worth considering. 

Keep reading to discover some key benefits and considerations for successfully earning an advanced degree later in life, and why your prior experience could be a distinct advantage. 

Benefits of Advancing Your Education

The motivations to return to school vary, but common among them is the pursuit of career advancement. Updating skills or earning a new degree can make you more competitive in your current field or completely new industries. However, the benefits extend beyond career prospects.  

Engaging with fresh ideas, interacting with people from different backgrounds, and pursuing meaningful goals can rejuvenate your passion for learning and personal development. This intellectual stimulation can be profoundly satisfying and enrich every aspect of your life. 

Advantages of Online Learning for Adults

Online education offers many benefits, particularly for adults who are balancing work, family, and other life responsibilities. As more adults consider the benefits of returning to school, online learning emerges as a highly practical and efficient modality. 

Here are some of the key benefits that online education provides for busy, working adults: 

• Flexibility: One of the most significant advantages of online learning is its flexibility. Adults can log in and complete coursework at times that best fit their schedules, whether early in the morning, late at night or on the weekends. This flexibility allows students to continue full-time employment or manage family responsibilities without compromising their educational goals. 

• Accessibility: Online programs provide the opportunity to study from anywhere with an internet connection. This eliminates the need for commuting to a campus, saving time and resources that can be better used elsewhere. It also opens up opportunities for students in remote or rural areas who may not have easy access to traditional educational institutions. 

• Pace: Many online programs offer asynchronous classes, which means you don’t have to be online at a specific time for live sessions. This allows students to learn at their own pace, pause and revisit lectures as needed, and digest material in a way that aligns with their personal learning style. 

• Work-life balance: For adults who must juggle professional and personal responsibilities, online learning offers a viable path to advance education without sacrificing job performance or family time. The ability to integrate learning into daily life helps maintain a balance that might be disrupted by more rigid traditional learning schedules. 

• Diverse networking opportunities: Online programs often attract a diverse group of students from various geographical, professional and cultural backgrounds, providing richer networking opportunities than might be available locally. 

Leveraging Your Experience as a Competitive Edge

Returning to school after accumulating years of professional and life experience offers a distinctive advantage that can significantly enhance your academic journey. Adult learners bring a deep reservoir of real-world knowledge, allowing you to apply practical insights to academic concepts, which enriches your understanding and application in ways that theoretical learning alone cannot achieve. 

This background also sharpens critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling you to tackle academic challenges with advanced analytical abilities. Additionally, years of balancing multiple responsibilities builds exceptional time management and prioritization skills, which are essential for navigating the demands of coursework alongside personal and professional commitments. This combination of practical experience, refined skills and focused determination uniquely positions returning students for success in their educational pursuits. 

Strategies for Success

Embarking on an educational journey as an adult learner requires careful planning and execution. To maximize the benefits of returning to school and ensure a smooth transition, it’s important to adopt effective strategies for success. 

These tips are designed to help manage your time, resources, and learning process efficiently, allowing you to thrive academically while balancing your personal and professional life. 

Develop a Study Plan: Balancing school with other life responsibilities requires a solid plan. For instance, setting aside specific times for studying, such as evenings or weekends, can help you stay on track without overwhelming your schedule. A typical plan might include: 

• Weekday evenings for reading and classwork. 
• Lunch breaks for review or discussion posts. 
• Weekends for major projects and exam preparation. 

Embrace Technology: Utilize digital resources to enhance your learning. Digital textbooks, online libraries and educational software not only make studying more convenient but also help you organize your academic materials efficiently. 

Effective Time Management: Managing your time during exams and coursework is critical. Prioritize tasks, set realistic goals and keep a strict schedule to ensure you cover all necessary material without last-minute stress. 

Explore Online Programs Tailored for Adult Learners

As you consider the many benefits and strategies for returning to school later in life, exploring the right educational programs is crucial. The University of Scranton offers a variety of online programs designed to meet the needs of adult learners, providing the flexibility, resources and support necessary to succeed. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current career or pivot to a new field, our programs can help facilitate your growth and achievement in the next phase of your professional life. 

Learn more about how our online programs can accommodate your schedule and goals by visiting University of Scranton Online Programs.