Page 99 - Marky Stein - Fearless Career Change_ The Fast Track to Success in a New Field (2004)

Strategic Education

You also have to prove that the new occupation you are seeking is
appropriate for you and is likely to result in your getting a job or
being successful in your own business. You can do this by cutting out
newspaper ads or by printing a job description from the Internet and
showing how they indicate your need for additional education.

How to Find “Open” Certificate and
Degree Programs

You don’t have to be laid off to take advantage of the certificate pro-
grams listed in this chapter. You need only contact community col-
leges, vocational schools, adult education programs, or continuing
education programs in your region to find many of these programs.
You can also research your educational choices on the Internet.
Even though the money will be coming out of your own pocket,
remember that you are not necessarily paying for the entire cer-
tificate or degree program. You may be paying for only one class as
a way to catapult yourself into a new category wherein you are more
employable in the new career of your choice.
Another way to utilize strategic education is to enroll at a col-
lege or university in a program of study leading to an associate’s
degree (usually two years), a bachelor’s degree (usually four years),
a master’s degree (usually two additional years from the bachelor’s
degree), or a PhD program (which sometimes requires a bache-
lor’s and other times requires a master’s degree for entrance).
Normally, many schools require that you provide them with
extensive documentation before entrance into one of these degree
programs. The documentation may include a detailed application
with an application fee, letters of recommendation, references, an
essay, or written testing.
There is, however, a way to enter colleges and universities
strategically by choosing institutions that offer open enrollment,
open university, or adult education courses, which do not require
these documents at all. You might also find a university on the
Internet with online distance learning that has the equivalent of
open university. Just be sure that the university is legitimate,
accredited, and reputable.
A legitimate institution should provide you with a list of its
accreditations before you spend your time and money. Make sure

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