Taking a college course is a great way to further your career and increase your earning potential. However, it’s also something that takes a lot of investment from you in terms of both time and money, and so it’s important that you make sure you choose a course that is the right fit for you.
Online or in-person?
The first question to ask yourself is, do you want to study in person, or do you want to study online? There is no wrong or right answer to this question; there are pros and cons to each option that will have a greater weight depending on what you want out of your course. People enjoy studying in person because it gives them the opportunity to experience an institution and meet new people.
Studying online is great for people who have work and family commitments and therefore don’t have quite as much time at their disposal. It’s also a great opportunity for people who don’t want to or can’t easily travel to a college or university. There are a greater variety of courses available via online options as well.
If you choose to study online it’s important that you choose an institution that has expertise in this field. Online institutions comprise options such as Excelsior College, which has provided online courses to over 182,000 students and so they know how to deliver complex material online, in a way that you will understand. They are also experienced at building community online, which is something that traditional bricks-and-mortar institutions may struggle with.
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Speak with people in your chosen profession
If you’ve a career goal in mind, when you’re choosing a college course or direction of study, it’s a good idea to speak to someone from your chosen profession. It can give you insight you might otherwise never know.
LinkedIn is a great resource for reaching out to people who work at companies that you might want to also work at one day. Most people will be more than happy to talk you through what they actually do in their job, and what kinds of courses are likely to be useful to you if you want to follow in their footsteps. Plus, the extra benefit is that you will have made a connection in your chosen field, which will serve you well when you graduate and the time comes to start looking for employment.
Photo by Check for employment opportunities
If you are just beginning a field of study at a university or college, it’s a prudent idea to check that your institution has a way of providing you with some kind of work experience in your chosen field, through connections in the industry or through internship programs. Internships give you the opportunity to gain valuable experience and see if you like a career before fully committing to it. They also give you something to put on your resume, which will help you when you start looking for work. Plus, they give you more industry contacts and hopefully some letters of recommendation and references as you start your job search (you can never have enough of those).
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What is your goal?
Finally, when you’re choosing a college course, think carefully about what you want to get out of it. If you are looking to learn for fun, then that’s great, as is learning with a career opportunity in mind. The important thing is that you know what you are looking for so that you have the best shot at getting everything that you need or want from it.
