Stay focused
Even if the initial college admissions process seemed arduous, it's certainly no reason for you to stay in a school or degree program you're not happy with. Rather than struggle to complete coursework that doesn't interest you anymore, consider your options. Is your degree program causing doubts or is it the school? Have your career plans changed since you originally enrolled? Whatever the reason, if you're thinking about transferring, it's important to have a plan. Transferring to another institution isn't a bad thing, but admissions officials will want to see evidence of why transferring will benefit your education and career goals.

"I’m not aware of many universities that will admit transfer students who are entirely undecided about their academic plans," Shawn Abbott, assistant vice president of admissions at a university in New York, told The New York Times. "We expect that transfer students are – at this point in their college career – a little more self-directed and focused."

It's all about you
What works for one student may not necessarily work for another. While some adult learners enroll at a single institution and complete their studies without transferring, others attend two or sometimes even three colleges before they earn their degree. Although it might be tempting to compare your situation to other students in similar positions, remember that your academic path may be different from someone else's.

"The transfer process is an alternative route; not every successful student takes the same path to and through college," Nancy Meislahn, dean of admissions and financial aid at a university in Connecticut, told U.S. News and World Report. "Students need to do as much or maybe even more research the "second time around." And they will be expected to articulate motivation for the transfer and why they see the match with the transfer institution and/or major."

If you're unsure of what the transfer process involves and what it means for you, download BacktoLearn.com's Complete Adult Education Guide today.

Learning through the internet has become immensely popular in recent years. In fact, according to the 2011 Sloan Survey of Online Learning, more than 6.1 million people took at least one online class during the fall semester of last year. If they can do it, so can you, and earning a degree online has never been simpler. Many colleges offer courses covering a range of majors, from business programs to computer programs.

Attitudes toward online degrees have also come a long way in the past few years. Today, employers realize the pressures of modern life often make earning a traditional degree difficult, and qualifications earned online are becoming widely accepted by many employers.

CNN reports that a recent study conducted by polling firm Zogby International revealed that more than 60 percent of chief executives and small business owners were aware of online degree programs. In addition, approximately 83 percent of respondents said online qualifications were as credible as their traditional campus-based counterparts.

For more information on schools that offer online programs, search colleges now with BacktoLearn.com and pursue your professional goals.

New expectations
Once, a high school diploma was all it took to find a decent job and make a living. However, the realities of the modern workplace have meant that job seekers have to do more in order to remain competitive. A bachelor's degree is standard in many of today's better-paid positions, and going back to college as an adult can be a valuable investment in your future.

"The reality is that the economy has changed and we have been slow to address these changes with proper education and training for our workforce," Randy Trask, president and chief executive officer of GED Testing Service, wrote in a blog post for The Huffington Post. "This is why many of us in adult education are working to raise expectations for our adult learners so that they understand that a GED credential is not an endpoint – it needs to be a stepping stone to higher education or job training programs in order to access better jobs."

A range of options
Worried you don't have time to drop everything to attend college? Well, the good news is you don't have to. The prevalence of online education, evening and weekend classes has transformed the educational landscape, and today's nontraditional students have more options available to them than ever before. Sure, it can be tough balancing work, family responsibilities and classes, but it could be the best decision you'll ever make.

"[Adult learners are] juggling work, they’re juggling family and soccer practice, they’re juggling financial restraints," Barbara Leggat, an adult education specialist, told The Highlander. "So the typical adult learner has to be focused, has to be motivated, and they’re often goal-oriented."

Biding your time
Even if you aren't quite ready to take the plunge right now, that doesn't mean you can't start planning. Begin by identifying what's important to you and areas you're interested in. Once you've got a good idea of what you want to get out of your college experience, you can start looking for suitable programs and schools.

To get ready to go back to college as an adult, search colleges now with BacktoLearn.com and change your life for the better.

Aimed at college administrators, the toolkit highlights areas in which schools can help adult learners accomplish their goals, focusing on access, quality and completion. The report outlines strategies such as increasing awareness of financial aid programs in the access section, highlights the value of accountability in colleges as part of the quality guidelines and the importance of providing adult learners with support, encouragement and guidance under the completion section.

"We must dramatically increase overall rates of educational attainment to ensure the success of individuals in the workplace and safeguard our country’s prosperity in the global economy," Arne Duncan, the U.S. secretary of education, wrote in the toolkit's preface. "To do this, adult learners across America must enter and succeed in postsecondary education in ever greater numbers."

If you're ready to take control of your future and go back to college as an adult, search colleges now with BacktoLearn.com to make your dreams a reality.

Inquiring minds
Before you sign any paperwork, make sure you've completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Without this, you won't be entitled to any federal scholarship funding. Once you've submitted your documentation, discuss your situation with the financial aid office at your prospective schools. They will be able to help you apply for additional funding, as well as provide you with deadlines for applications and other useful information.

A helping hand
Some colleges offer scholarships to nontraditional students and adult learners, but other schools work with independent third-party organizations to provide older individuals who are going back to college with additional funding.

One such organization is the Imagine America Foundation (IAF). To be eligible for a scholarship through the IAF, you must have your high school diploma or GED, be enrolled at a participating college and achieve a passing grade on the National Center for Competency Testing's Educational Success Potential Assessment exam.

Serving those who served
If you're a veteran, there's plenty of financial assistance available to help you go back to college as an adult learner. The Montgomery GI Bill is designed to provide former members of the armed forces with the financial support they need to achieve their academic goals. Eligibility for funding under the GI Bill varies, depending on your experience, financial situation and other factors.

There are also a range of scholarships available from third-party groups, nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations to help veterans go back to college. The American Legion Scholarship, the AMVETS National Scholarship Program and the Pat Tillman Foundation all offer generous financial aid packages to former servicemen and women who qualify.

To find out more about financial aid, scholarships and grants, download BacktoLearn.com's Complete Adult Education Guide to make smart decisions about your academic future – and how to pay for it.

Every step of the way
Founded by Alisa Bell, who dropped out of school to raise her first son at 14, JAMES provides support, encouragement and financial assistance to young mothers who want to go back to college.

"I knew when I went to college I would be able to find a better job," Bell told the news source. "But I had no idea how much my world would open up with a college degree."

To date, JAMES has dispersed approximately $13,000 in financial aid to eight teenage mothers to help them accomplish their goals, and Bell hopes to expand JAMES' operations in the future to help more people go back to college.

Staying focused
JAMES is far from the only organization working to help adult learners go back to college. Teen Moms Dare to Dream (TMDTD) is another nonprofit advocacy group working to help teen mothers achieve their full potential and return to higher education after becoming parents.

Natasha Olivera, a writer, speaker and education advocate, works with TMDTD to promote learning among young women who feel they have few options when it comes to improving their chances of success.

"The truth is though, you do not have to be another statistic," Olivera writes on her official blog. "Teen moms can dare to dream just like everyone else and in the same way you were dreaming before you got pregnant or became a mom. Being a mom just means that you have to make some adjustments. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s definitely not impossible."

Making it happen
For individuals facing demanding schedules and family obligations, going back to college as an adult may seem like an insurmountable goal – but it doesn't have to be. From merit-based financial aid programs like scholarships to the encouragement and support of groups like JAMES and TMDTD, you can return to education as an adult learner and make your dreams of a better life a reality.

Before you commit to any decisions, download BacktoLearn.com's Complete Adult Education Guide to make an informed choice about your education and your future.

The times, they are a-changin'
If you're going back to college as an adult learner, maybe you remember networking events where people exchanged business cards. Well, the truth is that some online services, such as Twitter, function in a similar way. Not only do these platforms enable you to keep up to date with what's happening in the field you're interested in, they also allow you to follow thought-leaders and other experts whom you admire. Once you've started to build a network of followers, new opportunities can present themselves.

"Collecting business cards at conferences and mixers is arduous," wrote George Anders in a blog post for the Harvard Business Review. "It's even harder to do so without being a pest. Twitter offers a better alternative. Lots of recruiters, hiring managers and industry networkers are hanging out on Twitter, swapping job leads and industry updates."

Putting the right foot forward
Sure, Twitter is definitely a useful tool for job searching in the 21st century, but what about specialized networking websites such as LinkedIn? This growing platform is another site you need to be on when you're looking for work after you've completed the business programs at your university.

"Your LinkedIn profile can read just like your résumé, but it doesn't have to," Liz Ryan, a human resources expert and Fortune 500 consultant, told Businessweek. "You can stretch the envelope a bit and use a more human voice to showcase your professional passions and drivers. In particular, make sure that your 'headline' field, the one just under your name on your LinkedIn profile, lets the world know your purpose."

A helping hand
Of course, it's all well and good recommending Twitter as a valuable resource for adult learners hoping to find some leads for new employment opportunities, but where do you start? Well, online tech news blog Mashable has put together a very helpful list of influential movers and shakers for you to follow, which should be more than enough to get you started.

Once you've mastered these social media tools, search colleges now with BacktoLearn.com to find the school – and program – that will help you achieve your career goals.

21st-century skills
Before you start thinking about what you plan on studying, it pays to identify why you're going back to college in the first place. Are you trying to improve your employment prospects or switch career paths? Knowing what you want to get out of school before you commit to any decisions can save you time, energy and maybe even money in the long run.

"There are a lot of ways to build the skills but, if you don’t know what those are, how do you know whether to go to school or not?" said Angie Grainger, a certified public accountant, as quoted by Fox Business.

Searching for support
Once you've figured out what you want to accomplish by going back to college, you can start researching potential schools and which courses can help you achieve your academic and professional goals, whether they are computer programs or business programs.

What you might not know, however, is how much support is available for nontraditional students who are thinking of going back to college. According to KTVB News, the TRiO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) in Boise, Idaho, provides adult learners with tips and help on how to identify programs that interest them, as well as assistance with the college application process.

"What we really try to do also is motivate them and support them," Meg Stephenson, director of the TRiO EOC, told the news source. "They just don't believe that they can do this, they never visioned they could go to college."

Making it happen
So, you've identified why you want to go back to college as an adult, you've got a plan and you're ready to make it happen – now what? Well, now it's time to start looking for schools in your area – or online – that offer the degree program you're interested in.

One way to make this process a lot easier is to search colleges now with BacktoLearn.com and make your dreams a reality.

However, rather than let his house arrest prevent him from succeeding, Deering decided to go back to college as an adult, enrolling in a local community college's construction technology program. Currently, he is completing his fourth semester and struggling to avoid letting his past dictate his present.

"I don't want to be judged by my past," Deering told the news source. "It is what it is, and I can't deny that, but I don't want that to define me."

Every year, countless adults like Deering decide to overcome their personal obstacles and earn a college degree, whether they enroll in trade programs or arts programs. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, about 40 percent of all college students are 25 or older, and this figure is growing each year.  

For more advice on going back to college as an adult, download BacktoLearn.com's Complete Adult Education Guide.

A common hurdle
Most students who want to enroll in business programs at the graduate level, such as master of business administration degree programs, take the GMAT. Recently, the GMAC made several changes to the test to reflect the modern business world and align more closely with employers' expectations. Some schools don't require candidates to submit GMAT scores, but many do. A good result on the GMAT can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

"Today’s global students – who may be a citizen of one country, study in second and choose to work in a third – recognize the significance and the superiority of the GMAT exam in gaining admission to the best management programs around the world," said David Wilson, president and chief executive officer of the GMAC. "The record volume reflects an increase in graduate-level business and management programs that use GMAT exam to support their admissions decisions, in both MBA and other programs."

Historic highs
Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, the number of people who took the GMAT increased by 11 percent over figures reported during the previous year, 8 percent higher than the record of 265,613 observed in 2009. If you're looking at graduate-level business degrees, you may have already thought about taking the GMAT. With numbers of candidates taking the test at an all-time high, it's difficult to imagine gaining admission to a good business school without taking the GMAT.

However, although the number of people taking the GMAT has risen, many business schools across the U.S. have reported a decline in the number of applications for the MBA and other business programs. According to The Financial Times, 62 percent of MBA degree programs in the U.S. have seen a decrease in the volume of applications received, meaning now could be an ideal time for individuals who are thinking about going back to college as an adult to apply.

If you're planning to study business but are unsure of where to start, search colleges now with BacktoLearn.com and achieve your academic and professional goals.