Bad Economy Sending Adults Back To School

Even though the national unemployment rate decreased to 9.7% for January 2010, down from 10% in December 2009, according to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on February 5, 2010, millions of Americans still remain out of work. Many of them, mid to senior-level professionals, have been forced to re-examine their current career choices. Some of those who lost jobs have decided to follow their passions and start their own business. But many adults have chosen to go back to school for a graduate degree.

When considering going back to school after many years in the workforce, whether for a master's or a certification program, figure out your options, see if you can marry your passion with the skills you already have for your new career. If you want to go in a totally different direction, do your research and talk to those in the field about how you can acquire the necessary skills and what additional degrees you will need. Take the time to interview the students and graduates at the school you may want to attend, especially those who may have also gone back as adult learners, to get their feedback and recommendations.

Here are some advantages of going to school during this recession period:

*Networking
*Stability
*Increase skills
*Fill in holes on your resume
*May be eligible for tax credit
*Gives you a chance to pursue your dream

There are plenty of resources which will help adult learners re-enter colleges or certification programs without breaking the bank. Online preparation for entrance exams or getting extra help online is an affordable option. You can spend time preparing from the comforts of your home, or any location, allowing you most flexibility. You can also cut down on paying for unnecessary overhead costs by learning online; no need to carry around tons of paper either. Get connected and explore the virtual world in order to reinvent yourself.

By: Lara Cohn

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Lara Cohn is a Blog Contributor at Examville.com. Examville is a global online education community where users like you can connect and interact with others from around the world. Our innovative platform creates an open, virtual meeting place that allows for learning without borders. Examville facilitates online user-to-user collaborative learning at an affordable cost.