myUsearch blog

Today we have a guest post from Josef Katz from Straighterline, a company that offers a new way to complete your required college courses online with convenient and affordable online college courses that you can take on your own schedule.

“Do you really think that in 20 years, somebody is going to put on their backpack, drive a half hour to the University of Minnesota from the suburbs, haul their Keister across campus, and listen to some boring person drone on about Econ 101 or . . . is there another way to deliver the service other than a one-size-fits-all monopoly provider that says, `show up at 9:00 o’clock on Wednesday morning for Econ 101?’ Can’t I just pull that down on my iPhone of iPad whenever the heck I feel like it, from wherever I feel like? And instead of instead of paying thousands of dollars, can I pay $199 for iCollege instead of $.99 cents for iTunes?”

- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty interviewed on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, June 10, 2010. CLICK HERE to see the interview.

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In today’s competitive job market, going back to school to get a degree is not only a good way to sit out the recession, but it will also make you more competitive when the recession finally comes to an end. Have you been thinking about going back to school? If you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking about it, but something just keeps holding you back. There are a few roadblocks most students hit before going back to school, read this to find out how to overcome them.

photo by Richard

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A master’s degree at 52? Taking art history classes at 65? These ages don’t sound like the traditional college student, but then again, baby boomers are never the type to stick to tradition. Baby boomers are conventionally defined as anyone born between 1946 and 1964, and the U.S. Census estimates more than 75 million people fall into this generation. Yet as their age increases, more and more boomers are bucking retirement and hitting the books. 

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It’s easy to get a little freaked out by all of the news of recession. Just like any other bad news, “if it bleeds, it leads” and news organizations are going to try to capture your attention by making any economic downturn sound as bad as possible.

If you’re hesitating going back to school because you feel the future is too uncertain, or you don’t want to take on debt in a recession, remember that recessions are temporary; education is permanent.

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With a looming recession in the news, you might be wondering:  Will I be able to get a job after college?  Or, if you are already working, will I loose my job in this economy?  Well, you probably better start thinking about what skills you’ll need for the 21st Century. (more…)

Getting a second degree (or finishing your first) can be a great tactic during a recession. You make yourself more employable and sit out the worst of a lackluster job market.

But there’s another secret recession-buster that works especially well for students–networking. Creating a strong network of “who you know” is one of the best ways to find a great job more quickly. And students are in a unique position to start creating a great network that you can rely on throughout your professional life.

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If you’ve decided to resume school after time off, than there’s no reason to be afraid of the admission process. If you’re a transfer student, a mom, a worker bee, a veteran…it doesn’t matter, the school application process is not as demanding as you would think and can be done with ease.

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There are thousands of scholarships offering money for college to people in virtually any circumstance. If you’re a “nontraditional” student interested in a school in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming, the Daniels Fund Opportunity Scholarship is just one possibility. (more…)

If you have children, especially small children, you probably find it hard to find time to go to a movie or get your hair cut, never mind studying or writing papers. So how do working parents manage it?

If you’re balancing school, work and family, you need to move beyond getting organized—you need to maximize your productivity. This is the new watchword for the 21st century, as we try to get more and more done with less and less time. The productivity approach is perfect for the student parent. (more…)

Being a stay-at-home mom (or dad) is one of the most rewarding jobs there is. Many parents report that it’s one of the most rewarding times of their lives.

They’ll also tell you that it’s incredibly isolating and exhausting. It also takes a serious bite out of your lifetime earnings even after you go back to work, by taking you out of the latest innovations. (more…)

When you think about going back to school, do you feel a little twinge that you might not measure up against the more traditional, fresh-out-of-high-school 18-year-olds?

Sure, it’s been a little longer since you took calculus or English lit, but you can put those insecurities to rest.  As a nontraditional student, you have a lot of significant advantages over younger students. (more…)

Three reasons why it may be easier than you think:

If you have children, the idea of going back to college might seem too overwhelming to think about. How can you find the time, resources and money to fit school in with all of your other obligations?

It’s certainly not easy, but you may be surprised at the number of resources out there to help you do just that. (more…)