EDUCATION; Get on Fast Track at Salem State College

This report provided by Salem State College.

Planning to go back to school, but unsure if now is the right time? Returning to school, whether to take a few classes, earn a certificate or start or complete a degree, is a big commitment. Salem State College offers many programs and student services to make it possible.

We know you can be successful. Here are some suggestions to assist you in reaching your academic goal.

Give yourself the time to meet your goal. Adult students are the fastest-growing population in colleges and universities today. As a result, institutions such as Salem State are working to help you – and others like you – fulfill your needs.

Take advantage of Salem State’s evening, weekend and online courses; they make it especially easy to carve out the time necessary to take that class or complete that degree. If it feels like the process is going to take too long, look into the accelerated programs now being offered.

Don’t try to do everything at once. Expect that your courses will carry a substantial amount of outside work, and take them slowly. If you learn to pace yourself, you’ll be more likely to meet your long- term goals than if you try to complete too many classes in a single semester.

Get support from others. Let your family know what you are doing, and ask them for help. Tell your employers that you are continuing your education. Many companies even offer financial support to employees going back to school. Once you start your classes, talk with your classmates and find out their strategies for success.

Juggle your responsibilities to make college a priority. Many adult students do manage the competing demands of family, work and school, and you can too. The trick is to make continuing your education a target that you are determined to meet. Remind yourself of the many doors that will open after you’ve met your academic goals. You’ll not only be more marketable, but more personally fulfilled as well.

Most importantly, remember that this is a goal within your reach. Many working adults are finding ways to continue their education. Salem State is determined to make higher education readily accessible to them. Take advantage of the current trends, and look into our programs now.

Salem State College offers programs and support designed specifically for the adult learner. The Division of Continuing Education, the Graduate School and the Non-Credit Program are all set up to meet the needs of adult students.

Courses are designed to meet the needs of a variety of students. There are undergraduate certificate programs, such as accounting and graphic design, as well as degree programs in many different majors. The graduate program offers a multitude of possibilities, including degrees in occupational therapy, criminal justice and business management, as well as a dual-degree program that permits earning a simultaneous master of arts and master of arts in teaching in English.

There are also numerous noncredit classes on topics such as yoga and one-stroke painting and several noncredit certificate programs such as event management.

Go to our Web site today at www.salemstate.edu or call 978-542- 6309 for information on continuing education, 978-542-6323 for information on the graduate school and 978-542-6331 for information on noncredit programs.