Graduate Studies Challenges and Strategies for Success
Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success
James
HCS 504
August 2, 2010
Anne
Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success
Making the decision to go back to school after many years within the workforce was a difficult decision. Before making that decision, I had to research the challenges that graduate students face during their studies. In my research, I have found that three of the most challenging obstacles that will affect my studies during my desire to achieve a higher education will be financial, effective time management, and stress. I will describe effective strategies for managing each of these challenges to achieve success, while pursuing my graduate degree in master's of health administration (MHA).
My first challenge would be the financial means and responsibilities needed to obtain my graduate degree. Especially in today's economy in which adult learners are burdened by the financial responsibilities of day-to-day living such as mortgage, car payments, utilities and food while trying to pay for graduate studies at the same time. A good strategy would be to become familiar with all the financial aid resources available. "Financial aid is offered by various offices and government institutions, as well as universities and individuals" (Jones, 2010, p. 1). Upon my research, I have found that graduate students have four ways they can pay for tuition, which are savings, income, loans, grants, and scholarships. Of the four methods to pay for tuition using "savings" is the hardest. Statistics has shown that the average savings rate is about 0.5% of peoples annual income. Due to this most families don't have the savings to cover the expenses of college (Becker, 2010). When students don't have the money available in savings they then turn to income. In doing this the student must evaluate their financial ability to add the costs of tuition into his or her daily expenses. If this option is not realistic they must proceed to
James
HCS 504
August 2, 2010
Anne
Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success
Making the decision to go back to school after many years within the workforce was a difficult decision. Before making that decision, I had to research the challenges that graduate students face during their studies. In my research, I have found that three of the most challenging obstacles that will affect my studies during my desire to achieve a higher education will be financial, effective time management, and stress. I will describe effective strategies for managing each of these challenges to achieve success, while pursuing my graduate degree in master's of health administration (MHA).
My first challenge would be the financial means and responsibilities needed to obtain my graduate degree. Especially in today's economy in which adult learners are burdened by the financial responsibilities of day-to-day living such as mortgage, car payments, utilities and food while trying to pay for graduate studies at the same time. A good strategy would be to become familiar with all the financial aid resources available. "Financial aid is offered by various offices and government institutions, as well as universities and individuals" (Jones, 2010, p. 1). Upon my research, I have found that graduate students have four ways they can pay for tuition, which are savings, income, loans, grants, and scholarships. Of the four methods to pay for tuition using "savings" is the hardest. Statistics has shown that the average savings rate is about 0.5% of peoples annual income. Due to this most families don't have the savings to cover the expenses of college (Becker, 2010). When students don't have the money available in savings they then turn to income. In doing this the student must evaluate their financial ability to add the costs of tuition into his or her daily expenses. If this option is not realistic they must proceed to
References: Becker, P. (2010, August 1). College Financial Aid - Four Way to Pay For College. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Colleg-Financial-Aid----Four-Ways=to=Pay-For--College&id=4172268 Jones, A. (2010, August 1). Financial Aid For Graduate School - Educational and Financial Aid For Graduate Students. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Financial-Aid-For-Graduate-School---Educational-and -Financial Kramer, L. W. (2007, July/August). A Personal Reflection: Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success. Kimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 26(4), 158-159. Mansfield, P. M., Pinto, M. B., Parente, D. H., & Wortman, T. I. (2009). College Students and Academic Performance: A Case of Taking Control. NASPA Journal, 46(3), 502-518.