5 Reasons to Consider Going Back to School
Have you been toying with the idea of going back to school? Are you struggling to find a reliable job in today’s market or looking to make a drastic career change? Are you eager to expand your knowledge? Going back to school can open many doors.
Many opportunities arise when you choose to further your education. Read on to decide for yourself whether a new degree is right for you.
5 Solid Reasons for Going Back to School
Statista reported that students earned 1.9 million Bachelor’s degrees and 773,000 Master’s degrees in the 2016-2017 school year. Of those numbers, only 3.8% of recent 2017 graduates didn’t have a job.
The power of higher education plays a significant role in career opportunities, many of which require a degree to get your foot in the door. If you’re one of the many who has a degree and is considering going back for round two, you may harbor your share of hesitations.
Below are 5 reasons why you should give college a second try.
1. It Pays to Have a Master’s Degree
You don’t have to make a 180 degree turn in your professional career to go back to school. In certain cases, getting a graduate degree can lead to promotions and advancements in the job you have today. These career paths include:
- Academic Teaching
- Graphic Design
- Software Engineering
- Upper Management
- Financial Advisory
- Web Design and Development
- Directors of Marketing
- Database Administrators
- And More
In fact, individuals with a Master’s degree earn 38.6% more than those in similar positions who only have a Bachelor’s degree. They are also less likely to face unemployment.
2. Further Education Expands Your Marketable Skills
While the working world offers a host of experience for your resume, there are skills learned in college that aren’t taught on the job.
Among those skills is critical thinking. This skill enables you to analyze information such as data, issues, or ideas in an objective manner. Instead of gut feelings or personal biases swaying you, you are able to think with a scientific mind driven by facts and reasoning.
Academic settings use critical thinking, yet those who master it excel in the working world. Their ability to think outside the box and resolve challenges make them invaluable.
Another common skill picked up in academia is active listening. Active listening is a heightened form of listening that uses multiple senses and undivided attention.
It uses both verbal and non-verbal cues that help you better understand the speaker and convey your own understanding in a way that puts them at ease. This priceless ability is necessary for every environment where human interaction is necessary.
People who are active listeners are better at sales, networking, and forming meaningful connections with others.
Beyond that, higher education teaches you skills within your realm of study and promotes personal growth. Thus, you benefit not only on a professional front but also in your personal life as you find yourself more likely to become a lifelong learner.
3. Higher Education Leads to Networking Opportunities
A lot of the professional realm is navigated through people you know. In fact, 85% of all jobs are found through networking, not traditional application processes.
Students who attend graduate school gain a large network of connections within their field of study. As part of their education, they interact and collaborate with both proven masters in their field as well as their fellow students.
The relationships built from these interactions often lead to open doors for prosperity. This is why so many academic institutions encourage internships and active involvement.
4. You Increase Your Marketability and Versatility
Often times, undergraduate degrees come with a very narrow field of opportunity. Psychology, Mathematics, and other specific degrees leave students with limited skill sets.
These limitations translate into their career opportunities. Employers who find their degree irrelevant to their business or the position they’re hiring for are less likely to consider the applicant, even if the soft skills are there.
A graduate degree expands a student’s marketability. Even if you stay within the same field of study as your undergraduate degree, you open the door to better careers within that industry.
Many well-paying careers require a Master’s degree to qualify. It’s the reason why they come with a higher salary. The knowledge and experience required to perform it is higher and there are fewer candidates within the job pool who fit the bill.
5. A Graduate Degree Helps You Change Course
Feel like your undergraduate degree was a mistake? Many people achieve a Bachelor’s degree in a specific realm of study only to enter the workforce and realize this path isn’t for them.
That’s okay.
Instead of getting a second degree, expand your earning potential and change course in your career path by getting an advanced degree.
Although some Master’s courses require specific undergraduate classes to qualify, most people can pick those classes up in addition to their existing degrees before pursuing a Master’s.
The best thing to do if you’re considering a career change through higher education is to do your research. Find out more about the path you’re interested in.
Talk to people who in the area you’re eager to study and reach out to academic institutions for information about their programs. Find out what it cost and how long it will take.
Weigh your desires with what it takes to achieve them, then create a game plan to turn that desire into reality. Who knows? You may discover a better version of yourself.
Pave Your Own Path to Self-Improvement
Whether or not going back to school is in your future, there are several different ways for you to improve yourself or your life path. Uncover new avenues of self-discovery and begin challenging yourself to grow today.
Our website has a host of articles geared around self-improvement. Take a look for yourself! With a large digital library chock full of tips on self-reflection, motivation, and growth, you’re bound to find something to pique your interest.