| A number of years ago I took the plunge and went | | | | and interests? |
| back to college to complete a night-time degree. | | | | Look at the limitations of your time |
| While it is good to have the qualification and it was | | | | For those with families and other outside |
| certainly beneficial to me in my career, that road is | | | | commitments this is essential. Consider how often |
| fraught with difficulties and it is not one that any | | | | you need to go, the outside work - the homework |
| potential student should take lightly. | | | | and any other projects. How much time will they |
| Study of any kind, done properly, is time-consuming. | | | | take up? Will you actually have the time to do it? |
| Much of the first and second years of my own | | | | Think of the possible effect on family and those |
| course involved organising my life around my studies. | | | | closest to you |
| With many lives taken up with families and careers, | | | | The family and those we spend our lives with, need |
| managing the study becomes yet another task in | | | | reminders that we haven't forgotten them. The |
| your life. | | | | study is about them as well, as they are affected. |
| Before signing up for a course there are some | | | | They will need attention, maybe a bit more than |
| important issues to consider. | | | | usual as you focus on your studies. |
| Take your time deciding what you want or need to | | | | Look after your health |
| do. | | | | For many people stress can be a big problem |
| Signing up to a flower-arranging or a woodworking | | | | particularly as they have probably been out of |
| class for 10 weeks is an easy decision but a 3 or 4 | | | | education for a very long time. They worry about |
| year course needs careful thought. Make sure it's | | | | assignments and other projects. They fret about |
| something you are really interested in. Why do you | | | | their ability. They also have much longer days due to |
| want to do it? Is it for work, pleasure or some other | | | | the classes. Consequently there is a need to look |
| reason? | | | | after your health a little more, with exercise, good |
| Be Realistic | | | | food and enough sleep and all those other |
| Look closely at the course you want to do. There is | | | | recommendations health professionals give us. |
| really no point in taking on an engineering degree if | | | | Is it worth it? Yes I think so. There is a great sense |
| you have always hated maths. | | | | of achievement and it clearly shows that we can |
| Do you think you will be up to the challenge? | | | | take on study at any time in our lives, once we have |
| Do you have the basic abilities to do this course? | | | | the will and the time. |
| What other course might better match your abilities | | | | |