Making the decision to return to school can be difficult yet rewarding. Adult education has become one of the fastest-growing populations in higher education. Whether you want to advance within your current position or enter a new field, earning your degree can help you achieve your goals. Continue reading to learn how you can navigate returning to school as an adult and why it’s never too late.
Determine Your Needs
Choosing the right program can help prepare you for the next step in your professional career. At Johnson & Wales University Online (JWU Online), we offer a wide range of program offerings from the associate to doctoral degree level. If you aren’t sure where to start or want to discuss your goals and needs, our brief Request Info form is a great place to start. By completing this form, you’ll be connected with a member of our admissions team who can help get you started and share more about what it means to earn a degree online.
Additionally, the format in which you earn your degree is important. At JWU Online, our asynchronous learning format — meaning you are not required to sign on at a certain day or time — helps ensure you can effectively manage work, personal life and school at the same time.
“JWU Online is super convenient for a working adult. As a single mom to four children, ranging in age from three to almost eighteen, time to do my assignments is at a premium. Learning online made it possible for me to care for my family and meet my work schedule, including overnights in the ICU at the Boston Children’s Hospital.” – Reyna Salcedo ’25
Getting Started
When deciding to pursue your degree, questions may arise throughout the process. Whether you have questions regarding transfer credits, program-specific information, admission requirements, financial aid or anything else, our admissions team has the answers. They’ll work with you from start to finish during the application process to ensure you feel supported throughout the way. Additionally, our Virtual Open Houses are a great opportunity to meet the admissions team and get answers to your questions.
“I chose JWU because the online admissions associate followed up after I requested information and was willing to answer all of my questions.” – Yee Tran ’24
Create A Routine
Adapting to your new schedule may take time; however, creating a routine for yourself can help you stay ahead. First, create a designated workspace for yourself. This dedicated area can help signal that it’s time for you to focus on coursework and complete assignments without distractions. Next, we recommend creating a weekly schedule for yourself to help you stick with a routine. It’s important that at the start of each semester, you review your course syllabus to keep track of assignment deadlines to avoid missing assignments. These few tricks can help you establish an effective routine that helps you adjust to returning to school.
Utilize Resources
As you adjust to coursework and assignment deadlines, it’s important to utilize academic resources to help you stay on track. At JWU Online, you’ll be assigned a dedicated academic advisor. They’re a valuable resource for students, as they’ll help with registering you for courses, assist in helping you navigate the online classroom, serve as a single point of contact for any questions and concerns you may have and more.
At JWU Online. you’ll also have access to the following resources:
- Academic Tutoring
- Writing Support
- Quantitative Support
- Faculty Support
Don’t be afraid to utilize these resources throughout your academic journey. Whether you’re a first-time college student or are returning to school after a long period of time, these resources can help prepare you for success.
“I felt that the 100% online platform of learning at JWU Online fit my lifestyle with work and family. In addition, I felt like the resources available to help students like the Writing Support Center and tutor.com were resources that someone like me, who has been out of the world of academia for over two decades, would benefit from.” – Ajay Patel, MD ’26
Don’t Wait — Start Your JWU Online Journey Today
Returning to school as an adult requires dedication, hard work and perseverance. The JWU Online team is here to help guide you from the application process through commencement to ensure you’re prepared for your future. For more information about earning your degree at JWU Online, complete our brief Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881 or email [email protected].
“At JWU, the message I get from everyone is, ‘You are not alone in this journey — we are here to help.’” – Rasheeda Brooks Johnson ’24
