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Adults returning to college: A great market for adult education

In America, more people than ever before are earning their first post-high-school degree when they are older than the traditional college age (18-24). A large number of Baby Boomers, especially, are heading back to school to become more learned, or to increase their current incomes. Accelerated adult education, such as the type offered at Potomac College, is a popular choice for these individuals. They can more easily balance work and school, or family life and school.

At Potomac College's Washington, DC and Virginia campuses, our adult students have all sorts of reasons for returning to school. Below are just a few of many possible reasons why our adult students select Potomac:

They require skills -- and don't yet have them

Thousands of people each year are underemployed. Underemployment can either mean that a person is not working enough hours to make ends meet, or he or she is not employed in a sector of the economy that utilizes his or her talents. If, for example, you are a very good singer, but cannot find a job singing -- and, so, have to settle on a part-time, low-wage job in a supermarket -- you are considered to be underemployed, money-wise and skills-wise.

Adult learning solutions can bridge the talent/employment gap. Potomac College offers courses and degrees in hot skills, such as accounting, cyber-security, business, and information systems solutions. Completing one of Potomac College's associates or bachelors degree programs will arm an adult student with skills appropriate for professional employment.

They need a degree to compete

Some of our students have gotten a start in their current professions by working their way up, but find that they face wage and advancement ceilings because they lack a degree. For example, a Potomac College information systems student might have already been working in an IT job for five or ten years, but might desire a promotion, or a higher position requiring enhanced skills and a degree. That student can opt to take Potomac's module classes at night, while working during the day.

The advantage to the Potomac College adult learning system is that it supports individuals who work full-time. There is no need to worry about rushing out of work early to get to class on time -- and, more importantly, students can enhance their professional credentials while practicing classroom skills on the job.

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Want to make a complete career change

Some students already have degrees in other subject areas, but want to make complete career changes. Reasons for desiring change can include boredom, salary stagnation, and too much job stress. For example, a former journalist with an English degree might come to Potomac College to complete an information systems or business degree. Upon graduation, that journalist then might prepared to seek technical writing or professional business writing jobs, positions that often pay higher wages and have less erratic hours than a newspaper job does.

Whether students already have a degree or not when they come to Potomac College, they can use what they learn in their chosen programs of study to explore other options, and make career changes that are right for them.

Want to make a lifestyle change

Some individuals never had the chance to explore higher education past high school. They might be tired of dead end jobs with irregular hours and scant or nonexistent benefits. They might want to make a complete career AND lifestyle change. Others might have put family first, and were unable to seek higher education until the kids were grown. Still other students might have lived in one city or country for all of their lives. They might be bored with the same-old, same-old, and desire a change of location to go along with a new job change.

Potomac College is a great place for someone who wants to change things up a bit. The flexible module schedule leaves students free to try different jobs out, learn at their own pace -- and, if they are new to the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area, explore their new home.

Want to learn for the pleasure of it

Potomac College welcomes adults who enroll for the sheer joy of learning. These adults, who can range in age from people in their mid-20s to senior citizens, often make the best students, because they are inquisitive and observant. They truly love coming to class, and look forward to embracing the many new subjects they will learn while enrolled at Potomac College. Individuals passionate about computers, accounting, business, or international careers, for example, might take delight in learning new concepts at Potomac.

Need to balance school with work or with family

This is one of the most common reasons adult learners choose Potomac College. They might be working 40-60 hours a week, or might be raising kids. Many students are parents and full-time professionals. Despite the hectic demands of their lifestyles, they know that a college degree is a top priority for personal career development and enhancement.

Potomac College offers flexible class modules that suit parents and guardians, too. These classes meet on Saturdays as well as weekday nights -- so students can finish up work, find a babysitter or relative to watch the kids, and head out to class. By letting adult learners make their own education scheduling decisions, the schooling experience at Potomac College becomes an attractive addition to a busy adult life, rather than just another item on a "To-Do" list.

• Some adult learners in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia want to enhance their business, accounting, or information systems careers with new skills.
• Others want the types of career responsibilities or promotions that only degrees will afford them
• Some students are balancing careers and family time
• Still other Potomac College students want to learn for the fun of it, or desire complete lifestyle makeovers.

*NOTICE* NOT ALL PROGRAMS OFFERED AT BOTH CAMPUSES

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