Thinking About Returning To School? Prepare Your Finances Like This
Going back to school for your first, or even third degree can advance your career and triple, quadruple and even increase your income by tenfold. Unfortunately, many people shy away from going back to school because not only does tuition cost money, but they lose even more money if they have to stop working in order to fit in classes. Don't let financial worries hold you back!
Why is a school expensive?
Don't buy into the lie that the pricier the institution, the more respected it is. Many schools are more expensive simply because they are located in a nice neighborhood, or offer their students a multitude of "free" activities, that are reflected in the tuition you pay. If you're going back to school later in life, you probably don't care how much of a campus life there is, since you won't be partying. And it most likely makes no difference to you what part of town the school is in since you won't be living there. Some schools hold just as high as reputations in the real world, but simply aren't as "fun" for college aged people. Explore those schools.
Ask about scholarships
When returning to school late, we often forget about these because we associate these with high school grades and being a valued athlete. But there are a surprising number of other types of scholarships available. Ask a financial counselor at the schools you're looking at if you would qualify for anything.
Be sneaky with your schedule
Too many people instantly quit their job when going back to school, thinking that doing both is impossible. But, remember that every lecture is typically taught at a variety of times and days. Often, you can schedule your classes in blocks. My friend is a voice coach and she just moved around some of her singing lessons and scheduled all of her classes to be only 3 days a week, and only at night. She was able to go to school full time and still teach people how to sing.
Sign up for a meal plan
Campus dining halls have really raised the bar over the last couple of decades so don't shy away from them for fear of low quality food. Being on a meal plan usually means every meal costs you around $7, and with multiple dinging establishments on every campus, you'll have a lot to choose from. And don't worry about looking too old in the dining hall. A lot of people are becoming students again in their later years today!
About the Author
Vera Esther writes about topics in healthy lifestyles, relationships and travel. Her articles have appeared in dozens of publications and titles have ranged from "Is your date addicted to relationships?" to "Let your laptop teach you to sing" (a review of the interactive site http://www.thesingingzone.com/ )
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