If you're thinking about going back to school or earning a bachelor's degree
for the first time, chances are you're wondering how long it will take.
The answer can depend on three steps. Determining your personal goals,
establishing a starting point and executing a plan to make it happen.
The first step is realizing just how personal earning a degree is.
It's all about you, what your own goals are and what's going on in your life.
For example, do you have the time to commit to being a full-time student on campus?
Or do you have a job and other obligations to schedule your education around?
Just because you're busy doesn't mean it's impossible.
There are options available, such as online degree programs that
can work around everything else going on in your life.
It allows you to move forward to your bachelor's degree.
The next step would be to ask yourself, what's your starting point?
Are you completely new to the college experience or have you earned some
course credits along the way?
If you have credits, be sure to check on a potential school's credit transfer policy.
You want to take full advantage of any credits you have
and be sure the school you choose is transfer friendly.
You'll save time since you won't need to take as many courses and some money too.
Now it's time to put a plan together.
Reach out to the school you're more interested in to determine potential costs, scheduling
and the type of support it will offer you.
Speak to a student financial services team member about the financial options available to you.
Talk to an admission team member about any concerns you have about school work and course expectations.
Ask about the resources and support available to you and where to
turn to when you need help no matter what it is.
If you're satisfied with the school's answers then it's time to register for courses.
Create a schedule that allows for a reasonable workload and the ability to handle the other
responsibilities in your life. Once you've completed a term or two you'll
know what works best for you.
It's only then that you'll be able to assess if
this schedule is feasible for you and adjust it accordingly to meet your needs.
At this point you'll be able to determine a potential timeline to
complete your bachelor's degree.
Understanding these three steps of knowing your personal goals, establishing
a starting point and executing a plan can help you take a potential four year
degree path down to two years. Or it allows you to create a plan over six or
more years. As you define your plans think of this as a simple equation.
You need 120 credits to earn your degree. If the average course is three credits,
then taking 30 credits a year breaks out into a four year period of time.
If you can up the course load to almost 40 credits a year, it breaks down into three years.
It can take you even less time if you are a transfer student and have already
earned some course credits.
The more credits each year the less time it takes and the opposite as well.
Your course load determines the length.
Don't forget to turn to school admission and advising teams for help and let your family and
friends be an important part of your support team so you can move forward and
earn your bachelor's degree.