In today’s professional world, education is key to career success. People are seeking avenues to advance their educations without breaking the bank and without taking precious time away from their families.
Many excuses are frequently offered for not acting on a desire to obtain a degree. The two most common reason given are time and money. This is particularly true with the current state of the national and global economy. Yet to those who believe they cannot afford to return to school, I would counter that they cannot afford not to.
One distinct advantage of being a professional in the Information Age is the ability to use technology to academic advantage. The Web is a place that enhances life in the so-called real world, especially with respect to education.
The virtual land of the Web can be addictive and as its name suggests, getting stuck is easy. Stanford conducted a survey in 2000 that showed 90% of online time was spent on email. By 2006, Stanford was conducting a different study - Internet addiction. According to research by IDC, people spend an average of 32.7 hours online per week - twice as much time as spent watching television. Oh, it is a sticky and tangled Web for sure. However, time spent online is not all wasteful.
If 32.7 hours per week on average are already spent online, then the question of time with respect to education is moot.
There are reputable accredited online universities, such as Kaplan University and University of Phoenix. For those wary of non-traditional universities, most community colleges and state universities offer online courses now. For working adults desiring higher education, yet worried about having enough time, online studies are ideal. An asynchronous classroom environment makes attending school more convenient with an already busy schedule.
Another avenue to save both time and money is to consider taking CLEP tests. These tests provide one route to speed up the degree process by allowing a person to use experience and knowledge on certain subjects. The cost of the tests are negligible (especially when compared to credit hours), and many colleges and universities recognized CLEP credits toward degrees.
One of the biggest expenses in degree pursuit is textbooks. University bookstores operate on a proverbial racket, because they know the most current editions of books are needed - and sell them at a premium price. When they buy them back, the return is roughly only 30%.
There are ways students can save money on textbooks. One of the best ways is to avoid the university bookstores in favor of online options like Amazon.com. In the used books, students frequently resell their textbooks - and often the most current edition - for significantly less than new.
Amazon is just one of many possible Web sites that sell and resell academic texts. There are many others, such as Chegg, Alibris, TextbooksRus, AbeBooks, Biblio - this list goes on - that not only sell textbooks, but also rent them.
In addition to saving money on books, research into available scholarships and grants is another way to put keep tuition costs down. Literally hundreds of thousands of dollars remain unclaimed every year because people do not take the time to fill out the paperwork. The small amount of extra effort toward filling out (admittedly tedious) paperwork can save students thousands of dollars in the long run. I know individuals who completed their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees without any loan debt by taking a few minutes to fill out paperwork.
The bottom line is that education is expensive and time consuming. This much is true without question. However, most things that are worth the effort require money and time. The cliche stands - you can’t get something for nothing, and worthwhile efforts are generally not free. Besides, if an education is free without effort, then the outcome is you get what you pay for.
Sources:
D. Alvarado-Wirtz, "ProsePetals’ Potpourri: Online Life and Practical, Progressive Education." Associated Content.
K. Kristoff, "You could save hundreds on college texts." Sierra Vista Herald.
