For Unemployed and Career Changers

Explore the career options more education provides.

Should I go back to college?

Well, there are many good reasons to consider returning to college.  Explore the 51 Reasons for Going Back to College compiled by CollegeTransfer.Net  with the intent to help sift through the circumstances that often brings people to this website.  Education can have a pay back if you spend your time and money wisely.   Before going back though, consider these ten important aspects of the decision.

Lost your job or are you threatened by the prospect your employer will outsource your job overseas?

Consider going back to college and applying your focus on these majors to avoid outsourcing.  Many of these jobs are hands on - relying on people and locations specific characteristics - like nursing and accounting.  Explore these majors safe from outsourcing...

Assess yourself and research career interests before you enroll.

Chart a path for going back to finish college or to get another degree. Get credit for life and work experience. Test out of courses saving the time and effort. Change career directions and find your way through further education.  Use the resources and tools right here on CollegeTransfer.Net for free. Our private tools are secure - only you can choose to share things within the Student Passport.

Whether or not you are unemployed, thinking about a career change is an opportunity to reconsider your interests and goals. CollegeTransfer.Net has assembled a set of tools for you to Assess Yourself. You can then use our Career Center tools to explore pathways for new jobs related to your education and background. After review, talk to your advisors and family. Consider requesting professional counseling if you are concerned about your choices. Read more about career strategies and how to maximize your knowledge, education and training.

An article in USA Today on May 11th, reported “that the Obama administration is encouraging states to change their rules so that laid-off workers can enroll in college without giving up unemployment benefits. Ordinarily, states require individuals who are collecting unemployment to look for a new job, which is difficult to do if you're attending college.” This opportunity for job seekers to pursue education was included in President Obama’s February 26th, 2010 address to a joint session of Congress.

The Obama administration has launched a website targeted at unemployed workers who want to go back to school - www.opportunity.gov. The website provides a pathway for unemployed workers to submit for the funding resources they need to go back to school to retool or retrain. The site mentions federal grant aid, such as Pell Grants, which are need-based and depend on the total income of your family. Federal student loans are available regardless of your income level. Financial aid administrators at participating institutions have been urged to take an unemployed person's current economic circumstance into account when determining a student's eligibility for Pell Grants and other student assistance.

Some students complete college level courses over a span of years while accumulating a range of credits across subjects and interests. Some students may have professional training or experience that is determined to be equivalent to classroom courses including work experience. If you have military experiences including training, you may have college credit recommendations to apply toward a degree requirement or program of study. A credit recommendation is a formal review process performed by the American Council on Education, where they have previously reviewed, prepared and published credit recommendations for training and work experience outside of the college classroom.

Related Articles and Topics

Credit for Life Experience: Life is learning. Colleges and universities are giving credit for life experiences that relate to courses they offer. Explore PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) and the growing acceptance of it.
 
Testing Out of College Courses: Think you have to take every course required by your college or university? Think again. If you have the knowledge, take an exam and skip the course. These examinations are well respected and supported by many institutions.
 
I Want to Earn My College Degree: An overview for anyone looking to finish college and earn a degree or credential that will help them achieve their goals. This summary organizes a set of methods and concepts focused on the Adult Learner or Traditional Student in Transition.
Community College is the Right Choice for Me: Maybe you are not ready for a full-time commitment or to dedicate yourself to a major or even an undergraduate degree. Maybe you just need some time to explore and find yourself.
 
51 Reasons for Going Back to College: A different slant with food for thought you may not have considered when making the decision about returning to college. Education really does pay you back.
 
Majors Safe From Outsourcing: Review the top list of programs and majors safe from outsourcing in today's global economy.
 
Fastest Growing Jobs Requiring a College Degree in the US: Check out this quick list of top jobs. This list outlines the growth, salary ranges and links to training/educational levels required. Link to the BLS Database and drill down by state, review occupation profiles and job requirements.
 
Ranked Industry Growth Projections to 2018: The job and employment forecast by the Department of Labor BLS. Review where the jobs will be in the coming years.

I need help assessing my potential.

I don't know what I want to do.
What career is right for me?
What should I major in?

Assessing your values, aptitudes, personality, interests and skills now will help later when it's time to change or choose a career or program of study.

Explore the CollegeTransfer.Net's Self-Assessment Center

How can I relate future employment to my major?

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Explore Industries and the job market.
Profile interests, requirements and tasks.

Research industry growth. Find jobs that match your interests. Compare opportunities..

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I Know My Direction

Now find your Best College or University supporting College Transfer policies making it easier for you to finish your degree faster and get on your way.

 

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Find the Best Colleges and Universities supporting College Transfer policies making it easier for you to finish your degree faster.

Find the Best Majors and Programs offered. Request information and compare. Keep track of your interests.

Find the Best States Supporting Transfer students. Link to College and University Transfer Profiles to review enrollment and transfer policies.

Find the Best Transfer Courses by College and University using the Search For Equivalencies Online. No logging in. Just enter your from and to and compare courses across schools who have published their prior course decisions. There are over 3 million course equivalencies in our database synchronized with our source schools.

Find the Best Transfer Agreements and Transfer Guides using the Search For Transfer Agreements Online. No Logging in. Just enter your from and to and compare agreements that can save you thousands of dollars in tuition and fees if you follow them. There are over 18,000 agreements published in our database.

Open a Student Passport to compile your academic history including course examinations for credit, training and experiential learning credits. Then, find the Best Colleges and Universities that will accept your academic history and prior credits with a push of one button. Save your work and keep it updated. Keep bookmarks of what schools you are considering. Secure and Share your information.




This article was written by AcademyOne's CEO and Founder David K. Moldoff who has worked in higher education for over thirty five years. Mr. Moldoff has been developing student centered enrollment systems since the 70's spanning multiple institutions, policies and practices. Mr. Moldoff graduated from Drexel University through the cooperative education program and majored in economics with a minor in marketing.

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