At 21 years old, I was working full time at a bankruptcy law firm. Soon after that, I jumped to an environmental consulting firm and had a very secure and steady career laid out in front of me. At that point, I had yet to obtain a degree of any kind, although I had completed two years of an environmental studies degree.
I always had it in the back of my mind that I would eventually complete a bachelor’s degree, but in hindsight I was taking that as a given and not actively working toward that goal. My decision to enroll in an online program to finish what I had started was not necessarily based on career requirements, though I’m sure that would have come into play down the line. There was definitely a ceiling to my career advancement, even if I wouldn’t realistically hit it for years to come.
The choice I made was motivated by two thought processes. First, I wanted to complete the degree before it was an absolute necessity, and second, my interests had changed, and I no longer felt like an environmental career was the path for me. I made the decision, and now it was time to take action.
Learn how [online degrees can help adults switch careers.]
Below are some of the lessons and tips I learned through my experience of completing a degree online amid a successful career that anyone considering a similar change should take into account.
1. Consider how much time you realistically have to spend in the online program: Online programs do not have the luxury of physical classrooms and, in some cases, set times, and you will still be expected to maintain all of your responsibilities at your job while meeting the requirements of your online courses.
2. Take less than you think you can, and assume each course will be more demanding than you anticipate: It is extremely difficult to work a full day at a day job only to go home and immediately jump to your classwork.
It is highly unlikely that you will be able to take a course load comparable to a typical full-time student. Each situation will require a different balance, and it is best to err on the side of caution when beginning your online courses.
Ask [these six questions about flexibility in online degree programs.]
3. Be as open and transparent with your employer as possible: I was amazed at the support I received from my employer while completing my online program. Flexibility within reason is not too much to ask for, and the worst case scenario is that they say no, and you are in exactly the same place as before.
You are making yourself more valuable to the business by finishing a degree online, and as long as there is proper prioritization, both parties can benefit.
4. Apply what you learn: One unexpected benefit I noticed while completing an online degree amid a successful career is that the lessons learned in the program can have immediate effects on your day job.
Being able to study economic concepts one night and apply them in the office the next morning is a little-mentioned benefit of simultaneously being a student and a career-driven person.
The takeaway: My past experience is that there is never going to be a “perfect” time to enroll in an online program while in the middle of a career. That being said, easing into the program is the best way to ensure that you can be successful in both school and work.
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4 Lessons About Balancing Online Education, Career Needs originally appeared on usnews.com
