It used to be that you could make a good living without ever having to go to college. But those days are gone. Today, if you want a job that not only pays well but also paves a way to a solid career, you’ll need more than a high school diploma.

The first step to a successful career is higher education. Regardless of what you plan to do with your life, you’ll likely have to enroll in a comm...

It used to be that you could make a good living without ever having to go to college. But those days are gone. Today, if you want a job that not only pays well but also paves a way to a solid career, you’ll need more than a high school diploma.

The first step to a successful career is higher education. Regardless of what you plan to do with your life, you’ll likely have to enroll in a community college, vocational school or university. “Know who you are and what you want to accomplish,” You should talk to one of the advisers (community college or university)—they know the job market and can help you sort through the choices for continuing your education.

The number of choices can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s best to narrow them to your particular interests, For many fields, an associate’s degree from a community college can be the factor that separates you from other candidates. An associate’s degree is equivalent to two years of study from a university. This type of degree can lead to careers such as data processing, health services, public service, mechanics or engineering.

Some community college or university offer certification programs that take just a few months; hands-on education, where you learn by doing; continuing education courses and corporate training that provide instruction in using new software programs; and traditional two-year programs that enable you to transfer to a full college or university.

A bachelor’s degree can open even more doors than an associate’s degree. A bachelor’s degree will usually require four years of study and be more costly. Universities that award them are generally more selective than community colleges and vocational schools. As many colleges, advisers can answer questions you might have about your career goals. “They will assess your needs—from taking fulfilling prerequisites to providing development courses to get a student up to the skill levels needed to take college-level courses.

Since you have children, you may inquire about online college courses. Some colleges and universities have these type of programs.

In addition, I recommend that you write down all of your questions when you to talk to advisor.

The sooner you start working toward your future, the more likely it is you’ll get there.

It's always good to do bachelor's degree from a community college which charges minimum for the residents of the same county. Then get experience through a consultant or directly in any good company for a year or two after completion of this Bachelor degree. Then I would strongly suggest you to go for Master's degree which will make you real wanted by industries and try to do this from top notch college if you really targetting to earn in million dollar when you retire....

It's always good to do bachelor's degree from a community college which charges minimum for the residents of the same county. Then get experience through a consultant or directly in any good company for a year or two after completion of this Bachelor degree. Then I would strongly suggest you to go for Master's degree which will make you real wanted by industries and try to do this from top notch college if you really targetting to earn in million dollar when you retire.

Your situation is almost like mine, except that before I went to college a 2nd time, I had gone before.
So sit down my friend, thro a log on the fire and lets talk. Out of the box thinking is my forte, and I like these type of questions, so olets get you into college.
1. First of all get rid of the notion, you have to be a geninius, cause you ain't. Most colleges just want your money!
...

Your situation is almost like mine, except that before I went to college a 2nd time, I had gone before.
So sit down my friend, thro a log on the fire and lets talk. Out of the box thinking is my forte, and I like these type of questions, so olets get you into college.
1. First of all get rid of the notion, you have to be a geninius, cause you ain't. Most colleges just want your money!
2. Bible College-Just get the caling, and call:) I hate to say it but they are easy to get into, I got into one, right afetr I was head-injured.
3. Correspondence Courses-But you really have to be disiplined. I ain't
4. I really like these, because like you I have two children, a mortgage, and I work. Online courses you either do at your own pace, or you do either according to a schelue within longer time periods than a typical classroom setting. And because the teacher never sees you they never get preconcieved ideas, about race, gender, or handicapp. I am a black male, with a head injury.
5. Online courses are also a lot cheaper. You don't pay room or board. And with the price of gas nowadays it cuts down on travel time.
6. In my experience teachers aren't as strict with grading. I've taken 6 courses. And I have never made below a "B". This summer I am taking Songwriting 101, and I am saving about 30 miles of gas each way!
7. If you have a handicapp, look in scholarships for people with a disability-theres several of them.
8. Join the mililtary, and let the military pay for your education. They did for mine the first time through, and for some courses after I got out. I took several course in business paid for by the miloitary.
9. If you work for the Federal Government, look into that avenue. At one time, I went that route took three classes towards my Masters(didn't) finish, and they even provided me with a laptop so I could take my online courses.
If your spouse, assuming you have one, (works) look into that. Mine does, and one of the benefits are that employees, or their spouses, can take up to 4 hours of credit FREE! Thats what I'm doing now at Messiah College. I have already got about 11 hours under my belt. And I am going FREE!
10. Check the benfits of the place where you work
11. Type benefits in search on your computer-and I gurantee you that you will get ideas.
12. Become a fireman
13. become a policeman
14. become a janitor, or a landscaper, or employee at the college you have your eye on. After a certain amount of time you will get benefits, and one of them will be prorated costs for education based upon the amount of time their.
15. This year from the governt you get $300/per dependent. Assuming that you are married thats $1,800.00 . Put that towards your education.
16. Ask the college you want to go to, if you can audit the course- Admittely I don't know to much about the validity of that route.
17. Put your drems in writing.
18. Make friends with college professors, or those in education. Start hanging around them, be seen eith them, and the opportunity will strike.
19, Check on the internet about colleges from other countries.
20. This idea just came in my mind- I'm sure you have heard about the shortages of nurses, and how recruitment (intensive) have gone underway-look into that-work at a hospitle-education fringes might be one of the benefits.
21. Look up hospitle benefits on the computer-I AM SOON AS I'm through talking to you!
22. Look into trade schools for electrician, plumbers, welders, automotive workers, they pay more anyway- and are more practical-but people like me in higher education don't realize it:)
23. Grants, Grants, Grants- some are free to- some you have to pay back-get on the phone right now, call up colleges, and ask for their grant office-and you wil be enrolled by next week.
24. Move to Pa, and get a grant from PHEA!
25. And lastly dance to this song by me. http://www.soundclick.com/util...And also Judge Judy recommends night school!-Now you can sit down:)