An associate’s degree can be the perfect springboard into higher education. This degree takes half as long as a bachelor’s degree to complete, at a much lower cost. There are some excellent reasons to consider getting your associate’s degree as a step into the world of higher education.
What exactly is an associate’s degree?
An associate’s degree typically takes two years to finish, though students can work on their degrees at their own pace. Some may finish in 18 months and others in three years. You can get an associate’s degree from many places, including community colleges and many traditional four-year universities.
Perhaps the most convenient thing these days is to get your online liberal arts associates degree. With online courses, you have the flexibility to work at your own pace while holding down a job or taking care of family responsibilities, and a liberal arts degree is an excellent way to make yourself attractive to employers.
How can my associate’s degree get me into higher education?
If you were to earn a four-year bachelor degree, you might find that the first half or so of your studies would be made up of general required courses. Considering how inexpensive an associate’s degree is, earning it first allows you to still pursue a bachelor’s degree afterward, skipping many of the basic courses and getting your bachelor’s degree at a lower cost.
In addition, many schools now offer a combination bachelor/master’s degree. These combo degrees tend to take about five years to complete: which is still a shorter period than the six to seven years it normally takes to follow the traditional route.
If you have already earned your associate’s degree and are accepted into one of these combined programs, you could conceivably shave another two or three semesters off your study time and come away with three degrees for a much lower cost.
What else is an associate’s degree good for?
If your high school grades are poor and you don’t know if you can get into the bachelor’s program of your choice, an associate’s degree could help you solve the problem. There are lots of legitimate reasons why you might have poor high school grades that have nothing to do with your capacity as a student. Earning your associate’s degree can erase this and put you back on track.
If you are interested in changing your career, an associate’s degree could be a great option. You can either go into another field entirely or pursue a general degree in the liberal arts in order to expand your abilities, develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, and make yourself more valuable to employers.
Additionally, many employers today have an option for “some college” on applications. An associate’s degree qualifies here and puts you a step above the competition. Getting your associate’s degree can be a cost-effective way of entering the world of higher education or the job market.
How do I know if it’s the right thing for me?
The first step to deciding what degree you need is to consider your current situation. Where are you financially, and what resources do you have for studies? Do you have a job, and will you need to keep your job while you study? Once you know this you can look at degrees that best fit your financial realities.
The second consideration is your future goal. What do you hope to do? Do you have any dreams you would love to see come true or a position you really want to get to? What degree would best facilitate those goals and dreams? Research what kind of qualifications and skills you need to get the position or future you want.