The SNU Adult Education Blog

A doctoral degree signals a high degree of mastery in your chosen field. It also means you’ve contributed novel scholarship via your dissertation. If you’re hoping to ascend a career ladder or break through an earnings ceiling, a doctorate could be the perfect way to do so — particularly in fields that value high levels of education or that have entry-level educational requirements. 

If you’re contemplating a return to higher education, you need a deep understanding of all that a doctoral degree requires. While this advanced training can greatly improve your career prospects, a doctorate is appealing to employers precisely because it’s so challenging.

We know what you’re thinking. How could I possibly add a degree program to everything else I have going on? You’re busy — and “busy” might be an understatement.. Demanding jobs. A young kid or two. Trying to maintain friendships and community. Caretaking for loved ones. Those unfinished projects around the house. Health challenges. A global pandemic. All of these things are probably what come to mind when you think about completing a degree.

A generation ago, college was an immediate post-high school step reserved for young people hoping to get a great start in the world. Now, more and more adults recognize the value of starting or completing a college degree. 

Transitioning to civilian life is no easy feat, even if you’ve been wildly successful as a military service member. In fact, a Pew Research Center survey found that about a quarter of veterans say it was very or somewhat difficult for them to transition to civilian life. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t thrive when you leave the military, though. If you’ve been struggling to find a groove in your new normal, here are some of our favorite places you can turn for support.

College students are more diverse than ever before, bringing hundreds of nationalities and ethnicities, numerous races, and myriad religious beliefs and socioeconomic backgrounds to college campuses across the nation. Diversity and inclusion in higher education is critical to a good college experience that prepares students for jobs, for life, and for success. 

Here’s what you need to know about the critical roles that diversity and inclusion plays in higher education. 

Registrar. Regalia. Provost. Higher education could use its own glossary if you ask us. But here’s a strange word for one of the most important parts of an adult degree program: cohort.

At the end of 2019, no one could have anticipated spending most of the year wearing masks or face shields, fighting to get toilet paper, hoarding hand sanitizer, and avoiding contact with others as much as possible. 2020 fundamentally shifted so much of what we take for granted. 

The typical college graduate pays $393 per month in loans after graduation. Students who attend expensive colleges, who take longer to graduate, or who get multiple loans over many years may end up paying much more. But that’s not to say it isn’t worth it—a college degree is almost always a path to higher earnings. Graduates can expect a median weekly income increase of $415 compared to people who attend but do not graduate college and $502 compared to those with just a high school diploma. 

It’s no secret that your resume is critical to advancing your career. Employers look at hundreds (if not thousands!) of resumes when filling a position, and many use screener software to help them more quickly sift through them all. 

So how do you make yours stand out amidst the crowd? These tips will help you craft the perfect resume so you can get interviews with organizations that you want.

Are you sick of your daily grind? Wish you could move to a better neighborhood with better schools for your kids? Had you hoped to garner more respect in your career? You don’t have to slog through an exhausting work day or feel you’re not living up to your potential forever. The right graduate program can reinvigorate your career, help you earn more money, and turn work into a place you’re excited to go. Whether you’re hoping to change fields entirely or excited to climb the corporate ladder, here are some signs that it’s time to pursue your graduate degree.