print this pageTips for Returning Students
Today, education is for everyone. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 90 million individuals participate in some form of adult education each year, including training and basic education offered outside traditional higher education. To serve this immense market, most colleges have structured programs and services specifically for adult learners. Forty percent of American college students, or almost 6 million people, are 25 years of age or older.
The first step to finding the right program and type of school for you is to evaluate your interests. This self-assessment will help you examine your interests and goals, and offers some ideas about fields of study and careers that might be right for you.
General Education Development (GED) Certificate
If you'd like to go to college but you don't have a high school diploma, find out about taking the GED. More than 800,000 adults each year take the GED. For more information on the GED visit the official GED website.
Once you have assessed your interests and determined what type of program you want to enroll in, you may be required to take one or more standardized tests. Here you will find more information about common standardized tests and what you need to do to prepare for them.
Once you have an idea of what your interests are, it's time to figure out what kinds of schools offer programs that match those interests. Whether you are looking at 2-year, 4-year, or trade schools, make sure that the school is accredited. If you anticipate receiving federal student aid while in school, you'll want to make sure that the school is Title IV participating. Otherwise, you may not be eligible for federal student aid.
There are hundreds of points that should be taken into consideration while you are making decisions about what to do when returning to school. Here are a few points to take into account before you commit to a school.
Most people believe that college is much more expensive than it really is. Although some colleges are expensive, the costs of many colleges are within financial reach.
The Federal Student Aid Programs are the largest source of student aid in America. These programs provide over $60 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance. If you are interested in financial aid, you've come to the right place.
If you are enrolled as a full- or part-time student and need to find out more about your educational loans, you'll find all the information you need right here.
After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you generally have six months before you begin repayment of your student loan. You will receive information about repayment and will be notified by your Loan Provider of the date Loan Repayment begins.
About Federal Student Aid for College or Career School
The U.S. Department of Education provides grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to eligible students attending participating colleges or career schools. The Department is the source of nearly 70 percent of all student aid awarded in the U.S. each year. The vast majority of the Department's aid is not based on academic merit. For further information and an online application, visit the Department's Web site at www.studentaid.ed.gov. Alternatively, you may call the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll free: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). TTY for the hearing-impaired is 1-800-730-8913.