Returning To School

• What are your long-range goals? Some return to college to help them secure a promotion or to re-train for a new career. Others return to fulfill a personal goal or set an example for others. It’s helpful to identify your end goal and make sure that additional schooling will help you get there.
• Do you have the time to invest right now? Let’s face it. There will never be the perfect time to go back to school. There will always be other demands for your time. However, you do need to make sure you will have the time to commit to the coursework. Online classes are a great fit for many busy adults, as you can log-in when it’s convenient for you, but you’ll still need to set aside time each day for your studies.
• Is it worth the financial investment? This goes back to your goals. If going back to school will help you secure a pay bump or get a better job, it makes a lot of financial sense to invest in more education. Don’t forget about financial aid! Federal Student Aid is available for adult learners too.

Many students assume they won’t qualify for financial aid, but over $36 million in student aid goes unclaimed in Utah every year! Applying is quick, easy, and completely confidential. Eligible students can receive as much as $6,195 in Pell Grant money per year. To apply, fill out a FAFSA at fafsa.gov today. If you need help, our financial aid office would be happy to offer assistance.

Financial Aid Office

A few tips when filling out the FAFSA:

• Before sitting down to fill out the FAFSA, make sure you have your tax information for the previous year and your social security number.
• Fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can after it opens.
• Never pay to fill out a FAFSA. It’s a free application and can be found at fafsa.gov.
• Make sure you sign your application at the end. Many FAFSA forms never go through because the student forgot to sign them.

• Log in to your classes early and regularly- Log in to your classes as soon as you can after they open. Read the syllabus and other course materials so you know what to expect over the course of the semester. If you aren’t already familiar with Canvas, don’t be afraid to click around to get familiar with the system.

  Once you get a feel for the class, it’s tempting to just log on once or twice a week when you know an assignment is due. However, just like traditional courses, due dates and assignments can be changed. By logging in more regularly you’ll be sure to never miss an assignment or message from your professor.

• Get organized- Figure out when and where you will do your online classes. Online courses are flexible, but that also means they are easy to put off. Set a specific time for each of your classes and stick to your schedule. Then decide where you will work on your classes. It can be your favorite comfy chair, the kitchen counter, or a quiet corner of the public library. Keep everything you will need in one spot so when it’s study time, you can just grab it and get started. Nothing will derail you faster than spending the first ten minutes of your study time searching for your calculator.
• Check your email and Canvas messages regularly- From time to time there will be information from your professor or the school. These will be sent through email, Canvas messages, or posted on the announcement section of Canvas. It is your responsibility to check regularly so you don’t miss important information.
• Get to know your professor- Even though you may never meet your professor in person, it’s still important to get to know them. Don’t be afraid to send them an email introducing yourself or to ask questions about the course. Make sure that you reach out to them as you have questions or need help throughout the semester. They are there to help.
• Set a goal- It’s not uncommon to have days where you feel like you’ve hit a wall and want to give up. If you have an educational goal set, it’s easier push through the hard times. Is your goal to get an associate degree to be more marketable? Are you taking a few classes to brush up on some of your skills so you can go for that next promotion? Maybe it’s a personal goal to finish the degree that you started so long ago. Whatever your reason, keep it front and center of your mind to help you get through the tough times.