After being out of school for 5 years should I go back to University to finish?
464152
Yes! As you move into your thirties and beyond, having a college degree is going to be more important in your earning power. Research shows that every class you take will improve your earnings, even if you still don't graduate. And continuing education helps keep you healthier and happier. If you have kids, it is so good for their education and motivation to see you studying.\n\nPlus, you don't want to wait until you're in your fifties and have your children complain that since you've been going to college, you only call them when you need money!
102899
Dear Bob, \nThe investment to finance your education will cost you $7500 per year.  When you graduate in 5 years, assuming you have deferred all loan payments, you will owe approximately $47,500.  This may seem like a lot of money now, but consider the improvement in your future earnings after you get your college degree.  If you begin working now at a salary of $19000, after 5 years of 3% annual raises, your salary would be about $22000.  The job you get out of college will pay at least $25000.  If we amortize your loan payments over 20 years at 8%, you will have to pay about $400 per month.  This may be a struggle at first, but you can expect bigger raises (5%) per year with a college degree.  After 3 years, your income will be almost $29000 if you go to college compared to $24000 if you start working now.  This is enough to completely cover the loan payments, especially when you consider that the interest payments on student loans are tax deductible.  Beyond the third year, your salary with a degree will continue to rise faster than if you skip college.  It makes sense not only from a financial perspective, but also in the fact that you are more likely to find more interesting and challenging work with better career advancement opportunities if you get your degree.  Good luck!
290920
finish college. I think you will be happier in the end that you did. and think of all that knowledge that you are missing out on!\n\nI will have my 2 year degree this year, FINALLY! and I am ready to move on to classes that pertain to what I want to do with my life.\n\nI say keep going. the boring part is over.
1178399
It all depends on what direction you want your life to take.  Is this a career move that will fit into your 5-year plan?  Does this person also fit into this plan?  Do you see a future with them?\nAlso, if you love the city life, moving back to a rural town is going to be awfully boring.\nRemind yourself why you moved in the first place.  Do you want to go back to your old way of life?\nIn the end, it's your decision.  Good Luck.  Make the right one.
489183
Finish uni, you might regret it in the future if you quit now. If you don't finish, you might be asked at a job interview what you did for those 2 years and it wouldn't look good if you said you just gave up your degree. A year goes by faster than you think.
397375
First of all, you are never to old to go back to school. It really has everything to do with motivation. If you have the desire, then do it. If not, dont waste your time because you wont do well. You will have to do it for yourself and to be totally truthful with you, you have to do it for internal reasons not external ones like money. External reasons for behavior do not, in most cases, have long term success rates. Things that relate to your value system and desires are more stable and tend to remain the same.\n\nTo answer you other question about how to get back into school. Personally what I would do is talk to some local physical therapists and ask them where they went to school and if there are any local programs available. Also ask them for requirements needed to get into the program. I'll be honest with you, a 1.59 GPA is not going to cut it in any program. (Not saying this to put you down by the way) Hopefully with age and maturity you'll do better than that. Most older student do do better after going back to school by the way... they have different standards, needs and values.\n\nGood luck with you,\nDaniel
220114
If you want a skilled job, the best way would be to go back to university - I'm currently doing an Access to Higher Education course which would be suitable for someone like yourself. It teaches skills such as Communications, Maths and Computing as well as 3 specialist subjects in a wide range of areas. This is the best way for a mature student to get to university as it will help you gain the skills and confidence to study at a UK university. I was working in the retail sector before i started the course, and even working my way up - i only managed a salary of about £14,000
704524
you shoud finish your degree because you have more than 1 year to go.  After completing, apply for a graduate school (to earn master or Ph.D degree...)
944476
Sorry about your job loss. But congratulations on your decision to go back to school! \n\nI got laid off last year due to the global economy and as a result was qualified for Federal retraining dollars. So, check with your state employment/unemployment department to see if you might qualify for worker retraining funds. That's a starting point.\n\nNext, check with your local community college since they usually get the state and federal funds for worker retraining. They may have other funds... and don't discount the community college programs, they could get you into the career of your dreams that don't require a 4 year degree (a friend of mine who also got laid off is getting retrained as a video technician and is loving it after 30 years in high tech as an engineer). \n\nFinally, be careful about these online "universities" many are unscrupulous and are in business to get financial aid from the government by enrolling bodies. Make sure the school is fully accredited by the same body that certifies your major state universities.  I teach for the leader in this field (they are based in AZ) and feel they do a really good job supporting the students they admit and provide good counseling and career advice, especially for older students.  But also check your local state university since they may have scholrship $$ for "non-traditional (18-20 year olds) students. I dontae $$ each year to such at fund at the school I got my MBA from. \n\nbest wishes for every success in your new career!\n\n(PS I decided to become a high school teacher and am really enjoying it).
475682
Awesome!  But five years is too long.  Can't you find an accelerated program somewhere?
563370
I went to College for a year and a half. I thought it was worthless. Recently I had to go back to work after being a sahm (stay at home mom) for 15 years, the best job i could get was a 9.00 an hour factory job. I am 43 years old, I am going to go back to school in Sept. and finish my education. Why? because 40 hours a week is 40 hours a week, and quite frankly I'd rather work smart not hard!!! and get paid more! On the flip side, I think if you enjoy what you do, be it work in a factory run a company, or dig ditches you should do the best job you can and enjoy it! After all the person who has to get up and go to work everyday is you! If you aren't interested in pusuing college at the moment take a year off or just attend one or two intersting classes per semester. Alot of my resistance was being told that I HAD to go! Good luck!
507105
go back to school and spell
519668
Going back to school is always a wise choice.  It is far easier to get the experience when you have a good education.  You admit you are in a dead end job so going back to school would definitely be a step up and a step in the right direction.  Good luck!
198138
At 22 I am back in the same job I had when I was 16 having done the whole university thing, so for some people it is not worth it (debt-wise).  \n\nIf you can find a job or career that requries a degree then it is definately worth while, having a target makes it sensible but if university is just to delay having to get a job, then it won't really help you.\n\nI learnt a lot more outside of lectures than I did in my lectures, life skills etc. so it is still a valuble experience, but at the moment, my degree is not helping me to get a job. That said, I'm more of a working-class student, so maybe an apprenticeship would have been a better idea.
715883
Set your goals to only work one year if you do.  Jobs can suck you in and before you know it you've been there 5 years. From experience stay in school.  Your brain is still in that mode. When you get out you lose that school thought process. Apply for the school, the worst good happen is that you don't get accepted and you take another class to bring up your average and you apply again. Good luck
1139409
When you look back in history, you will find that people who share your disposition were generally on their own to pave their own road.  I, personally, think that is one thing that has not changed at all.  Not until there's a different foundation under our feet.\n\nI would recommend to you that you formulate long-term goals for yourself and then shorter ones to get you there.\n\nReally focus in on a couple of your ideas, keep the journal alive, but really set out to bring a few of them to life.\n\nSince you dropped out of college, it may not make sense for you to go back in and get your degree just to climb the ladder and all that nonsense to try to get to where you want to be.  It sounds like you create your own education for yourself, which is all you could really aspire to Learn in college or high school anyway.\n\nSorry, I'm thinking outloud, but I think you should go Further Into whatever it is you're doing; don't worry about jobs and careers that much, because if you get focused and devote yourself, your job will follow and you'll be well into your career.\n\nRemember your Conscience and good luck making the World the best place you can.
1172951
Hi, you know we all different.  And it's really what makes us happy we should go with.  I can't actually wait to go back to school because I love it, I need to get more and more knowledge.  And I want to have my own business and for that I will go to Uni and study how the things work.  In your case you probably born leader and smart with a money and surroundings so good on you.  And you probably will run your company if you need without any study.  So consider yourself lucky and good luck with your future.