Why You Should Go Back To School–At Any Age

Portrait of a college student in adult education class. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Many individuals believe that they should stop studying when they have found a career field that they enjoy and have secured a good job. However, an undergraduate degree may not be enough to take someone to the highest levels in their field, and many people find that their best option is to continue on with their education. There are a number of reasons why successful people decide to go back to school at any age.

Changing Careers

The majority of people change careers several times in their working lives. However, it can be difficult to move into a completely different field without a specific educational background that is only possible to obtain through going back to school. In addition, personal and professional circumstances can be a major deciding factor in a person’s wish to start in a new field, and these change as an individual goes through life.

Promotion

Many people start at entry-level jobs in their field and work their way up through the ranks. However, there are a number of industries where individuals at higher levels need a very different skill set than rank-and-file employees. This often involves having an educational background in management in addition to the knowledge needed to successfully complete necessary business processes. The best way for people to gain the management skills that they need is to go back to school and get additional training.

Growth

A large number of individuals complete undergraduate degrees in fields that are related to their career path but not completely in line with it. In addition, they may find that their industry and the technology that they use to get their job done has changed significantly since they received their bachelor’s degree. Teachers and aspiring educators, for example, can benefit from getting a Master’s degree in education online and those who wish to get into a specialized industry can attend trade school to learn a skill. Going back to school allows people to grow both personally and professionally, in addition to gaining skills that can help them get acquainted with the latest technology.

Opportunity

The concept that underlies basically all of the reasons why a person should go back to school even after having established a successful career is increased opportunity. With a larger skill set, people are able to get access to a wider array of potential employment opportunities, and this can help them achieve personal and professional goals that may change over time.

While going back to school may seem like a daunting and time-consuming task for someone who is already successful in the workplace, it can take them to higher levels in their current field and open the door for employment in new industries. With this, it makes sense for many successful people to go back to school at any age.

About the Author: Emma is a writer living in Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2