| Considering a midlife career change? Going back to | | | | sure you talk to current students who are writing |
| school may be your best or worst option, depending | | | | dissertations. Ask the admissions office to introduce |
| on you, the program you choose, and your unique field. | | | | you. In a traditional program, the department head or |
| You need to be sure your career goals and education | | | | program chair should be willing to make those |
| goals harmonize, if you want to achieve successful | | | | introductions. |
| carer change. | | | | Some schools ease everyone through coursework |
| Many midlife career changers report they are | | | | with high grades, but don't prepare those students for |
| confused by all the choices they have. Back when | | | | the rigors of a dissertation. Others have high standards |
| they entered college, often right out of high school, | | | | but dissertation advisors are overloaded, so you can |
| they considered only programs from recognized | | | | be delayed even when you're doing everything right. |
| universities taught on live campuses. Today you can | | | | There are too many pitfalls to list here. You have to |
| choose online programs, weekend courses, continuing | | | | talk to students in the program - not faculty, not |
| education and career-oriented programs to prepare | | | | administrators - to get realistic advice. If you are |
| you for coaching, copywriting or other new careers. | | | | discouraged from meeting with current students, |
| If you're considering a field like library science or | | | | recognize a red flag and consider enrolling elsewhere. |
| pharmacy professional, you might discover you can | | | | Fourth, compare yourself to successful graduates of |
| get a quality degree from courses taught mostly online. | | | | the program. For example, if you look at top-tier MBA |
| If you're considering an MBA, you will see brochures | | | | programs, you will find the most successful graduates |
| and flyers from universities that didn't exist 20 years | | | | are twenty-somethings with a few years of corporate |
| ago. You may wonder if your degree will be | | | | or military experience. If you consider certificate |
| worthwhile. | | | | programs (such as coaching), the most successful |
| If you're considering a career that didn't exist 20 years | | | | graduates will have strong marketing skills and/or solid |
| ago, such as coaching or web design, our choices will | | | | ties to networks of potential clients. Do you fit the |
| be even more challenging. Programs can run to four | | | | profile of the successful graduate? |
| figures and they're mostly unregulated. Here are 5 | | | | You'll maximize benefits of a full-time, top-tier MBA if |
| questions to ask before you invest time or money. | | | | you're in your twenties with a few years of corporate |
| First, do you really need more training? Or will your | | | | or military experience. And if you embark on special |
| previous experience and credentials place you beyond | | | | certificate programs, you'll gain a new career if you |
| entry level? | | | | have solid ties to an existing network. |
| If you plan to work for an organization, find out if they | | | | You may discover that the graduates with jobs all |
| value credentials as much as experience. You will also | | | | returned to former employers. They weren't changing |
| find that specific schools and degrees will be valued | | | | careers. They were getting their tickets punched. |
| more than others. | | | | Of course you can defy the odds and you may have |
| For example, some public relations firms want to see | | | | other objectives that will be met by completing those |
| journalism degrees. Many universities hire faculty with | | | | programs. But you should have a complete |
| PhA.D. degrees from a specific type of university. | | | | understanding of the odds. |
| Some departments recognize law degrees as terminal | | | | Finally, study the faculty. Top universities will have |
| degrees, while others do not. | | | | professors who hold degrees from a variety of |
| Second, how does the school schedule courses and | | | | universities. If most of your professors were trained by |
| requirements? You may need Introduction to Statistics | | | | the university where they are teaching, you have to |
| in order to graduate, but discover that course is | | | | question the program's commitment to innovation, |
| offered only every two years. | | | | growth and change. |
| Third, do you have to write a dissertation? If so, make | | | | |