Should I Take That Class?

Going back to school is more than a party with Rodney Dangerfield

At the risk of admitting to marketing errors on my part, it has been my experience that job seekers and most people in transition don’t have a lot of money to spare. However, all of them consider taking a class, a certification course, or enrolling in a graduate degree program as a way out of their situation. It would be nice if I had one answer that fits everyone’s situation, but as you probably guessed: it’s not that simple. Each person’s situation is unique, but I do have some guidelines to consider.

Do You Enjoy Classes?

If taking classes has entertainment value for you, maybe it’s worth trying something. It’s great to receive positive feedback during a difficult time and to gain a sense of mastery and control. Just keep in mind that a weekend intensive in something is not going to make you a sought-after expert in the field or double your income. Take it for fun or for your own interest. Better yet, see if your local library offers free access to The Great Courses through Kanopy and take classes for free.

What Is Your Career Goal?

School doesn’t help anyone define a career goal. Why do you think so many college graduates wander around for years waiting to “fall into” something like their parents did? While it’s true that for most jobs, you don’t actually need any kind of degree to do them (I know I didn’t need a BA to update Excel spreadsheets and answer phones) some degrees will make you a more marketable candidate for certain types of positions.

If you’re considering going back to school, keep in mind that it is a huge investment of your time and money, and it’s important to be clear on what you want to do. The admissions counselor at the school you’re considering may be delightful, but it’s their job to get you to enroll in the program, not to help you figure out what you should do professionally.

I typically use the Strong Interest Inventory College Report when I work with anyone who is considering going back to school and is unsure about what they want to do. The report includes customized recommendations for majors as well as activities to test your interest.

Evaluating Programs

If you need qualifications and training in a field to boost your credibility and you are going into a field that is unrelated to your current field, accreditation is important. Is it a racket? Actually, yes. Schools and programs have to pay a group of people who devised the requirements for accreditation and give them lifetime appointments to fly to campuses, eat catered lunches, and write recommendations that usually include the suggestion of adding a smattering of administrators here and there. I know, I’m cynical, but I worked in higher ed for a long time, and saw a lot of accreditation freak-outs, preparations, evaluations and scandals. Remember San Francisco Community College? Very little of what they struggled with had any direct effect on students or learning outcomes. However, if a program is accredited, it officially meets standard requirements for the format and/or discipline. Also, yes, outside of higher education, accreditation exists and it is also important. Unfortunately, accrediting bodies don’t accredit programs for free and the costs are passed on to you, so oftentimes, accredited programs are more expensive (but not always.)

TL;DR: If you attend a program, make sure it’s accredited. That $200 weekend course is not going to get you closer to your dream career.

Final Thoughts

If you are out of work right now, days can get long, and going back to school can be tempting. If you have part of a bachelor’s degree that you never finished, maybe it is worth wrapping that up. However, if doing so means taking out a second mortgage on your house or otherwise going deep into debt, I wouldn’t do it.

Use a tool like the Salary Finder from CareerOneStop to find out what people with the job title you are considering actually earn in your area. CareerOneStop also has local data on typical levels of education for people in those jobs. Be cautious of sites like PayScale as the data is usually national (not state/local) and it tends to be inflated in general.
Money isn’t everything, but any loans you take out won’t pay themselves. If you’re investing real money in education for career growth, it needs to be something that provides higher income, steadier income, or both.