After working for a number of years, do you have times when you reflect back on your schooling days and wish that you could relive them again? We could think of a few good reasons why we should go back to school. One would be the much needed break away from work. Another would be the chance to upgrade our skills and improve our knowledge too.
Based on a survey conducted by management consultancy Hay Group of 95 organisations here, it was found that employers are likely to pay up to 46 percent more in starting salaries for degree holders than for diploma holders. If you do not have a degree certificate yet, this could be one of the main push factors to further your education.
There are many professional courses being offered in Singapore now that are readily accessible that makes going back to school not as daunting as you would imagine it to be. To help give clarity to your decision making, we have listed out 5 points you should consider seriously before making your decision to go back to school, or not.
1. Understand your fundamental reason for going back to school
Determine the fundamental reason why you decide to go back to school. Is it to upgrade your skills so that you can value-add to your job, which in turn will lead to a promotion? Or could it be because you have decided on a career switch and want to have the necessary qualifications for the new career? Or could it be that the economy is currently in recession and you got retrenched, so it would be best to pursue an education before finding a job?
After pin-pointing the reason for going back to school, it will be easier and more straightforward for you to choose the program and the school that is able to meet all your needs.
2. Plan your finances wisely, and make use of support schemes
Now that you have determined the core reason of going back to school, and chosen a field of study, the next important consideration would be: do you have enough money to go back to school? Are you able to support yourself and/ or your family financially should you decide to stop working and pursue your studies? It is important that you have a strong understanding of your financial situation, and do an in-depth research on all the tuition fees of your chosen program across all universities to access your best option.
You can also contact the shortlisted schools of your choice to enquire about the types of financial aid services they provide, and the eligibilities of them. Many courses available can be reimbursed with your Skills Future credits. Institutions such as TMC Academy have even partnered with several established banks to provide subsidised study loans and financial aids. In additional, there are awards and grants of $1000 given out to top students as well.
You don’t have to be shy about taking up financial aids because they are there to help everyone who desires to further their education, and you should capitalise on these resources!
3. To keep your job, or not to keep?
The reality for most is that we are unable to just quit our job and go back to school full-time. It is often more than likely that you will have to keep your job so as to pay off your daily expenses and the additional study expenses.
Many universities offer part-time and full-time higher diploma or degree courses, so you have an option to work and study at the same time, which will not strain your pockets. There are also options of online courses and studies too, which allows you to study at your own pace and timing – this mode of study requires a high level of discipline though. An example of an online learning platform would be the TMC Academy eCampus, which is a user-friendly e-learning platform which supplements the face-to-face learning environment. They can download lecture slides, supplementary notes, attempt online assessments; and interact with lecturers and students in online forum.
In addition, if your main aim is to upgrade yourself with the relevant skills required for in your workplace, you can also speak to your bosses and enroll them to fund or subsidise your studies! A good boss would acknowledge and support their employees should they wish to improve and upgrade themselves.
4. Reaching out and asking for help
Do not be shy to ask for help during this period, be it walking your dog, picking your child up from childcare, tapping others’ brains on certain subject matters. When you give people the opportunity to support you, you are enabling them to contribute to your success too!
In addition, you may also find that some of your classmates are much younger than yourself. Nonetheless, do reach out to them and build a relationship with them. This will help to make your education journey less lonely and more fun too! In addition, it can also give you an insight into the world of that generation, which might be useful for your family and work too.
5. It will not be easy
Going back to school now would be a very different experience compared to the times we were in school. Now, we have more responsibilities on our plate – we have to juggle between family, work (if you are taking a part-time degree), and school work. Expect the challenges so that you will be prepared to work through them all – meeting deadlines, project work, having lesser time for yourself, and etc.
Create a strong support system so that you don’t have to feel that you are dealing with the challenges alone. Communicate the fundamental reason you are going back to school with your family members, which is most likely to provide a better life for the family, so that they will be on the same page as you and support you in whatever ways they can. Tell your friends too, so that they can also understand if you do not appear in social gatherings as often as before. It is not easy, but it is do-able, and definitely a rewarding and enriching experience for you!
Should you choose to further your education, there are many professional courses available that you can choose from. At TMC Academy, they offer a range of courses, both full-time and part-time degrees, partnered with established universities recognised internationally from Accounting & Finance to Hospitality & Tourism to Psychology. In addition, TMC Academy was also awarded the Gold Standards Service Providers for Psychology during the 2016 Training and Education Development Awards organised by JobsCentral Learning.
Go back to school with the mentality that you will succeed, otherwise you will just be setting yourself up to fail. We wish you a fulfilling education journey ahead.