African American woman smiling wearing cap and gown and holding diploma
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Am I Too Old to go to Grad School?

African American woman smiling wearing cap and gown and holding diploma

There are so many myths about grad school that many of us have heard.   There’s the one about how, you should only consider going if you’ll be at a top school otherwise, it’s not going to be worth it (This is a lie).   The...

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There are so many myths about grad school that many of us have heard.

 

There’s the one about how, you should only consider going if you’ll be at a top school otherwise, it’s not going to be worth it (This is a lie).

 

There’s also the myth about how you can only get in with a 4.0 GPA (This is another lie).

 

But the one that really gets under my skin is the myth that grad school is only for the young.

 

This particular myth gets under my skin because it couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, statistics show that the average grad school student is actually 33 years old and the number of students who are 35 years and above is on the rise each year.

 

So if you’ve been thinking about going to grad school but are a bit hesitant because you’re in your thirties or older – I’m here to tell you that now is the time to finally pursue those goals.

 

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re trying to get into a grad school program.

 

1. Your GRE Scores Are Very Important for Grad School Applications

You’re most likely aware that having a good score on your Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is important for any graduate school application. When you’re a little older, these scores can be even more important because they indicate your ability to handle the program you’re interested in.

 

2. Get Organized & Gain A College Mindset

 

So, getting into grad school is great and all – but it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to have to reach deep within to realize your goals. One thing you’ll need to start doing is getting organized.

 

There’ll be classes to attend and research to do, on top of all the day-to-day tasks you have as an adult returning to school. So, make sure that you create a schedule that involves meal prepping, study time, assignments or researching time.

 

If you want to get organized today, be sure to download the FREE Back to School Divas Planner. You’ll get access to weekly plans, goal sheets, meal planning sheets, and much more.

 

You may also need to reach out to your significant other or close family and friends for extra help if you have small kids. Set aside specific time over the weekend to get all your studying done. Whatever the plan is, communicate your needs to your loved ones and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

 

 3. Draw From Your Life Experiences in the Classroom

I’m a firm believer in working with what you’ve got. Can you think of one thing that could give you an edge over your younger fellow peers? Your life experiences. The fact that you’ve lived, have worked, and have life experience always comes in handy when in grad school.

 

Your new college professors will enjoy engaging with someone who can draw from their real life experiences. You can add value to the class discussions. So start viewing your age as an asset you can draw from, Diva!

 

Going to grad school may have been a dream of yours when you were younger. Maybe you started to slowly let go of this dream because of that annoying perception that graduate school is only for young people.

 

Well, that’s not true. You’re never too young or too old for school. As long as you feel that your career can benefit from you furthering your studies, go for it Diva! You have nothing to lose and infinite opportunities to gain.

 

young woman completing application to online college
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Is the University of Phoenix Right for You: Pros & Cons

young woman completing application to online college

Earning your degree as a working mom or wife has never been easier. Don’t get me wrong, you’re still going to need to put in a whole lot of time and energy into earning that degree, but a little thing called “technology” has made the process ...

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Earning your degree as a working mom or wife has never been easier. Don’t get me wrong, you’re still going to need to put in a whole lot of time and energy into earning that degree, but a little thing called “technology” has made the process so much more achievable.

 

Online classes have been a great savior for many working moms and one of the best institutions to offer a variety of online programs is the University of Phoenix.

 

University of Phoenix is the largest private University in the United States. Students can apply for any of its many online programs or simply do things the old-fashioned way by attending classes at select campus locations. Since you’re a working mom with tons on your to-do list, you’re probably leaning more towards the earlier option.

 

What Programs are Available?

The University of Phoenix offers students a variety of courses at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree level. Check out their degree programs if your career aspirations are in any of the following fields.

 

  • Business & Management
  • Teacher Education
  • Social Science
  • Information Technology
  • Accounting & Finance

 

Before settling on the institution, you want to weigh up your pros and cons.

 

 

Pros of Attending The University of Phoenix

 

The Convenience Factor

Online programs make it possible to keep up with all your personal commitments. If you have PTA meetings on Fridays, work presentations on Wednesdays, and your kid’s soccer matches on Thursdays, you can still attend all of these events while also furthering your studies.

You can plan ahead of time as you’ll receive all your course material, assignments, and due dates at the beginning of the course. This convenience will allow you to know when to dedicate time to studying and when you can focus on the other tasks on your long to-do list.

 

It Doesn’t Matter When You Log On

You can access your online study material at your own convenience and then, when it suits you, join the student discussion forums that will be available for your class. When you join these forums, you can leave a comment that can be read by other students or read through any of the previous discussions. All this is, of course, possible without everyone being online at the same time.

You are also able to set up appointments or phone calls with relevant faculty members as needed.

 

Tuition Guarantee

It is common knowledge that furthering your studies can be quite costly. The worst part is that tuition goes up every year … except at the University of Phoenix. They have a “tuition guarantee” that will lock your tuition from your program’s start to finish.

This means that if you take a little longer to complete your program, you won’t be affected by increasing tuition. Your tuition will be locked in the moment you register to the University.

This is a great argument to pitch your boss if you’re interested in tuition reimbursement from your employer.

 

Easily Transfer or Earn Credits

If you’re a transfer from another regionally accredited community college, you can easily transfer those credits to your degree program at the University.

If you don’t have credit, don’t worry about it. There are several avenues that you can use to earn credits.

 

Cons of Attending The University of Phoenix

 

Some Degrees Require Hands-on Programs

Not all online programs are made for every career path. For instance, if you would like to be a nurse, then you need clinical experience before you can qualify to work with patients. Because of this, The University of Phoenix gears their nursing program towards registered nurses who are interesting in furthering their studies.

 

“Team Learning” Component for Each Class

This can be both a pro and a con. learning to collaborate and work in a team will provide you with the necessary skills required to help you work better with your colleagues. But, if any of your team members are slacking, this will affect your grade.

 

Choosing to go back to school is a great step in helping you achieving your career aspirations. The University of Phoenix might just be the perfect place to get that ball rolling.

 

If you would like more information, join the Back to School Divas Facebook group! Meet real women who have attended the University and other online colleges you may be interested in.