Tips for juggling the class room, family room and conference room

(ARA) – As the slowed economy has fueled a very competitive job market, more and more adults are making the decision to go back to school to build upon their skills and obtain the knowledge required to strengthen their career prospects.

Many of these students heading back into the classroom are working to earn their bachelors, or obtain a second degree while they juggle class and study time with their work, life and family responsibilities. Many educational institutions are taking notice of this, and encouraging students to fully understand the time and effort required to pursue their education.

DeVry University’s Senior Career Services Advisor and adjunct professor Kim Smith teaches a critical thinking and problem-solving course that introduces campus resources and academic information to help students “conquer obstacles that can prevent the achievement of their educational goals” – shortened as the acronym COPE.

“Most student responsibilities include work, family and financial obligations in addition to completing their degree, and, as a result, it can be a difficult challenge to find the right balance between them,” says Smith. “This course helps students develop a plan toward graduation based on the amount of time they currently have available for their class and study time. For students to effectively manage their time, they must first understand how they use their time.”

To start, students complete a personal time survey that maps out an entire week of activity. Identifying how each student spends each of the week’s 168 hours is critical in determining how many credit hours are realistic for their schedule and pinpointing specific days and times that can be set aside for studying. Students also choose their preference of class-type, as DeVry University offers a unique opportunity to pursue a quality education on-campus or online, or in a combination that fits their lives and schedules.  

“The main focus of this assignment is to give students a realistic view of how much time they are spending on daily activities, including sleep, preparation time for meals, travel time, work, school and socializing,” says Smith. “The goal is to have students create an individualized course schedule that allows them to maintain a healthy balance between school and other obligations.”

Specific time management lessons addressed during the course that can apply to all adult students include:

* Admit and commit – The key here is that people will only be successful at managing time well if they admit that any system is better than none, choose one, and commit to using it. Of the many planning tools available, find one that works for you, and commit to it.

* Establish priorities – Use a “to-do” list to place items in order of importance. Understanding how many hours you can devote to typical daily activities allows you to plan your school schedule accordingly.

* Keep the schedule flexible – It is best to be proactive in planning a schedule for each semester as soon as you meet with the class and receive the syllabus. Keep in mind that life will present unexpected demands, and that means you will need to re-evaluate and adjust your plan each week to meet your goals.

* Be realistic – Can you sustain a grueling school and work schedule until the end of the semester? Can you really write an essay in just an hour? Be realistic. Be sensible about the amount of time a certain task will take, and plan study breaks with small, beneficial rewards for yourself. Planning time to see a movie or talk with a friend brings mental and emotional rest to prepare us to tackle harder tasks again the next day.

The goal of this activity is to provide students with the information necessary to make sound decisions that will allow them to maintain the balance between school, work, family, friends and financial responsibilities. “Students see value in implementing time management strategies,” says Smith. “They realize they don’t have to sacrifice work and family life requirements while pursuing their educational careers.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) –  In a competitive job market, earning a degree can be the biggest single step one can take to enhance career value and earning potential. As many bask in the glow of making plans to increase their career potential, the prospect of paying for college is a sobering reality.

Few of us have funds set aside for this endeavor. In addition, the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" reports a rise in tuition costs at public and private institutions for the 2009-2010 school year. According to the report, annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 4.4 percent to $26,273, and public university costs rose 6.5 percent to $7,020.

Prospective students often don't know where to start. But take heart; Darlene Violet, director of Financial Aid at Brown Mackie College – Akron, Ohio,  offers advice on funding your education. "The U.S. Department of Education distributes $96 billion a year in grants, work-study assistance, and low-interest loans," Violet says. "Every student begins the process of seeking financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as the 'FAFSA.'" Information submitted on the FAFSA form determines the amount a student may receive through a federal Pell Grant, which is based on financial need. The recent economic stimulus program increased Pell Grant funds by $500 per student. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Beyond completing the FAFSA, many turn next to student loans. "An education is always a good investment," says Violet, "but many people don't realize the loans must be paid back starting six months after leaving school. I advise students to seek out and apply for scholarships." Wide varieties of organizations offer scholarships, from fraternities and sororities to community groups, foundations, and corporations. Winning candidates receive funds based on a vast spectrum of criteria, including ethnicity and cultural heritage. "Students just don't take the time to find them," Violet continued. "It can be a lot of work." Read this article »

With the increasing costs of college education, more and more individuals are having to choose between obtaining a college education and taking an entry level job. Before making the decision to skip the college degree and go straight into the job market, or to stay in a dead end job rather than earn a degree, consider the following:

In the past a high school diploma was sufficient to get good employment., and many companies offered training and development programs for their employees.  However, today with a more competitive job market, more and more companies have withdrawn training services and now expect aspiring candidates to find training on their own. It is also an established fact that a single person changes careers at least 7 times in a lifetime. College education provides the necessary edge that job seekers need in order to compete. Read this article »