No Time for School? How to Get an Education When You’re Working Full Time

In order to support yourself while you get that education, however, you still need to work. For many people, this creates a viscous cycle that prevents them from ever earning a college degree because of the logistical difficulty involved.

If you find yourself in this position, however, there are options that can help you to balance your work and your education that you may not know about. Here are four of the best ways to get an education on your schedule while still working.

Take Night Classes

If you want to attend a college while still keeping your normal job, night classes may be an option worth looking into for you. Many community colleges offer evening classes for people who work during the day, making it easier to find class times that will line up with your existing schedule.

Though this can make for long days, it won’t be too bad if you only take a few classes at a time and work your way through your degree or certification gradually. Make sure to take only what your schedule will allow, since overloading yourself will only result in stress and frustration.

See What Your Employer Can Do

One of the most obvious ways to make your college schedule work with your job is to simply ask your employer if they can help you balance the two. Amazingly, however, this is also one of the options that few people explore. Not only will many employers be willing to work around your college class schedule to some extent, but many will also be able to help you pay for your education through college assistance programs.

Be sure you find out what your employer can do for you before you go back to school. If you don’t ask, you could be missing out on valuable assistance that could make going back to school easier or cheaper.

Pursue an Online Degree

If you really don’t have the time to take classes on a physical campus, going to school online may be the best option for you. Though they are sometimes looked down upon by people who aren’t very familiar with them, online degree programs have actually become very reputable. Employers will take students with online degrees just as readily as those who have earned degrees from physical colleges or universities. Online college also lets you take classes on your own schedule.

Attend a College with Accelerated Programs

One of the challenges many people have with the concept of going back to school while working is that their lives will be greatly disrupted for four years or more. These days, however, some colleges offer shorter degree programs that can get you an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a shorter period of time than traditional colleges. These schools typically focus very tightly on career skills, ensuring that students graduate with the abilities they will need to start a new career in their chosen fields.

To help you find the right school for you, make sure that you research various institutions via social media. With CollegeAmerica, for example, you can check out some information about them on their LinkedIn page as well as get connected to alumni. Many other colleges and universities have such platforms set up so that potential students can easily get connected with them.

Going back to school while continuing to work full-time may be a challenge, but it is one that will pay off in both money and fulfillment when you’re finished. Use one of these four options to pursue higher education, and you’ll have a college degree before you know it. Be sure to explore all of the possible options that are available to you. By doing so, you’ll be able to make a good choice about which one is actually best for you and your goals.

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