| When tough economic times occur, especially with | | | | Scholarships |
| increasing unemployment, people tend to reflect on | | | | Bad news. Most scholarships are designed for those |
| their career choices. This reflection returns a need for | | | | going right out of high school into college. The reason is |
| training either to increase opportunities in their current | | | | most scholarships were funded years (think decades) |
| field or to pursue new opportunities. Thankfully there | | | | ago before the rise of distance learning and |
| are more avenues to receive training than ever | | | | non-traditional students. Plus, most students still enter |
| before. Not but a few years ago the only chance for | | | | higher education right after high school. Also, the |
| training was to sit in a scheduled class, within a bricks | | | | thinking is returning students later in life may be able to |
| and mortar building, listening to a talking head at the | | | | pay out of pocket for their expenses. This thinking is |
| head of the class. Correspondence courses were of | | | | changing, slowly, and scholarships for non-traditional |
| little value, relegated to advertising in cheap magazines. | | | | students are growing. Still, they are scarce, especially in |
| Today, opportunities abound for training. Not only with | | | | private, for-profit schools. Most private, for-profit |
| the advent of new technologies has their been an | | | | schools scholarships are self funded, meaning they are |
| increase in new educational opportunities, but there has | | | | usually just a discount on tuition. |
| been a significant philosophical shift. Alternative forms | | | | Financial Aid |
| of education are not only accepted but also revered. | | | | Financial aid is available for students who can |
| People who take it upon themselves to pursue more | | | | demonstrate financial need. The upside is if one |
| education in non-traditional forms show self-discipline | | | | qualifies, they get the money. The downside is financial |
| and self-motivation. This all shows prospective | | | | aid can be had only for undergraduate work. Meaning |
| employers that one is a desirable prospect or current | | | | if one is returning for a Masters degree or above, |
| employers that one is an indispensable asset. | | | | there is no federal financial aid. Also, if one is pursuing a |
| Training can take many forms. Some industries have | | | | technical or vocational program less than one year and |
| certification(s) one can pursue to improve their career | | | | not offering a degree program, there is no federal |
| opportunities. The upside is that this manner of career | | | | financial aid. |
| enhancement can often be pursued with self-study. A | | | | Student Loans |
| cheaper form of education to be sure. The lowly | | | | The great equalizer of returning students and |
| correspondence course has morphed into "distance | | | | non-traditional students is student loans. They are |
| education," and is now is a billion dollar industry. Along | | | | available for graduate students and vocational |
| with that growth is acceptance of the degrees | | | | technical schools with programs lasting an average |
| awarded, with even elite schools (Harvard, Columbia) | | | | school year (eight months). Also, qualifications for |
| pursuing "continuing education." Private, for-profit | | | | student loans are easy. Lending institutions do the |
| schools have proliferated also, making evening and | | | | lending, with a guarantee from the federal government |
| weekend offerings available in almost every industry. | | | | (for many loans, but not all). The government backs |
| The opportunities are so plentiful that every industry | | | | them as student loans never go away, they cannot be |
| should have an avenue to pursue career growth that | | | | forgiven in bankruptcy and the government can |
| would fit one's schedule. | | | | garnish wages to get them repaid. Still, repayment can |
| Figuring which school and when is usually the easiest | | | | be flexible and deferred while in school and for an |
| part of continuing education. The hardest part of adult | | | | extended period immediately after graduation. |
| education is how to pay for it. | | | | |