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More adults are heading back to the classroom

Gaze into your crystal ball and imagine that you can see the second half of your life.

Do you see yourself in the same profession, working at the same job or living the same kind of life you have today? If you're like many people at midlife, your answer to that question is no.

By the time most of us reach our 40s or 50s, we’ve invested 20 to 30 years in a job, profession or lifestyle that enabled us to own a home, raise a family and make ends meet. But after several decades as adults, many of us begin taking a new look at what we value and care about.

For a growing number of people, these midlife changes involve returning to school — whether to earn a degree or certificate, train for a new career or job, or pursue a passion or hobby.

Adult students are one of the fastest-growing educational demographics. The number of students age 35 and older in degree-granting institutions soared from 823,000 in 1970 to 2.63 million (an impressive 15.8 percent of all college students) in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

And from 2002 to 2014, the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics projects a 19 percent increase in college enrollments among people age 25 and older, outpacing a forecasted 16 percent rise in enrollment for people younger than 25.

You may want to return to school for a range of professional and personal reasons. Perhaps you’d like to update your credentials, skills and knowledge; retrain for a new career or job; or prepare for job advancement. You may be experiencing life changes such as divorce, widowhood, single parenthood, an empty nest or relocation. Or possibly you are seeking personal enrichment or want to pursue a dream or fulfill your potential.

Just as there are diverse reasons for pursuing education, there are equally diverse ways to pursue it. You may want to finish a degree, pursue a second or advanced degree, take a continuing education course or vocational training, attain a certificate or license, attend an online course or take classes at an off-site learning facility. Before you head back to class, consider these tips and ideas:

Choose your school and program carefully. The school closest to your home might not be the best fit for your lifestyle, needs and interests. Take a look at course catalogs, talk with advisers and teachers, and find out what percentage of students are nontraditional learners before picking a school. Flexible admission policies, services for adult learners and flexible schedules can improve your chances for success.

Don’t let admission requirements deter you. Degree-granting programs often require entrance exams and letters of recommendation, which can be sources of anxiety if you haven't attended school in decades. Consider taking preparation classes to get ready for exams. Enroll in classes in your area of interest as a special student to build a current track record and get to know teachers.

With flexible admission policies, you may get credit for life experiences or older coursework, and exam scores could be waived or weighed differently depending on your circumstances.

(Michael Bonevento, who writes for the Ocean County (N.J.) Observer, is registered as a broker/dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers. He can be reached at (732) 292-9262.)