How to Prepare to Go Back to School
Going back to school might feel like an intimidating, overwhelming prospect. You’re working, you’ve got kids, you’ve got life in general. You might be asking yourself: “Do I have the time to go back to school? Do I have the money? Is it worth it?”
Making Time for School
Everyone is busy. Most people don’t have a lot of extra time just waiting to be filled, so if you want to go back to school, it will require some adjustments to your schedule. While you’re going through the school application process–or even still shopping around at different schools–take a good look at your current schedule.
If you work during the day, then look for a school that offers evening classes. Central Coast College has several classes with evening schedules such as Computer Specialist Accounting, Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy. Pay attention to how long each class runs–whether it’s two weeks, twelve weeks, or something in between–and decide ahead of time what sort of time commitment you’ll be able to make. Planning out your calendar in advance like this can save you a lot of stress once classes start–if you’ve already decided on the amount of time that you can commit to attending class and doing the homework, then that decision can help keep you from feeling overwhelmed later.
Making Money for School
Different programs have different costs, and every person’s financial situation is different. So don’t let the thought of “I can’t afford it” keep you from applying to school. Just do your research ahead of time. You can check out the net price calculator on our website, to see the average cost of tuition for Central Coast College. You can also contact us if you have questions about a specific training program or to learn about the financial aid programs available at Central Coast College.
Scholarships are another way that you can get yourself prepared for school without putting the rest of your financial responsibilities at risk. Scholarships are available for nearly every monetary amount. Check out our recent blog post about how to find and apply for scholarships.
Is Going Back to School Worth it?
This is perhaps the most important factor in preparing to go back to school. You need to decide for yourself if it’s worth it to you. At Central Coast College, we’re here to help you answer this important decision–get in touch with us here and talk to us about your current needs and career goals. Important things to consider are the percentage of graduates who obtain training-related employment after completing the program, and what those graduates earn. Some of this information is available from government websites, and some of it through the school and its website.
Here at CCC, we want every student to have the best experience possible and to become a successful graduate. Planning ahead by taking into consideration your time, finances, and what you learn about the school can help you understand what is needed once you’ve begun a training program. Let us help you prepare to go back to school!
To view Central Coast College’s full disclosures, click here.