Online Distance Learning Forum

Over here in the UK, the 4th of July is pretty much just another day. For my American readers, I know it is quite a big deal! However, even on in holiday periods, some US citizens currently don’t have much to celebrate. I was reading a special feature recently in the New York Times about the difficulties faced by middle class Americans who struggle to stay in the middle classes after losing well-paid manufacturing jobs. The reason - their education goes no higher than a high school diploma. For them, this new “independence” can be a daunting prospect.

In reality, these people have learned as much as, or more than, the average student learns in an online or traditional college degree. Many of them have worked their way up the ladder to managerial positions, only for their plant to close down and them to end up with new jobs paying half of their previous salary. This is a growing problem in the US, and most developed countries. More and more manufacturing processes are either being transferred to the third world, or disappearing completely.

For these middle aged men and women, it may feel too late to undertake an online degree. In reality, using some of their severance pay to improve their employment prospects could be the best thing for them to do. Finding the confidence to start afresh, however, might be more difficult.

Many online degrees make use of, and consolidate, existing experience. Many others offer a completely different path, while recognizing the skills that the more mature candidate has to offer. There is a host of online degrees which would suit middle aged career changers. For example, a manufacturing manager could pursue an online degree in finance management or marketing. Skilled manual workers, with years of experience in dealing with people and physical work, could investigate online associate degrees in a whole range of subjects. Here are some examples:

Online associate’s degree in homeland security;
Online associate’s degree in business administration/office management;
Online associate’s degree in massage therapy.

With programming jobs still on the rise, any of these professionals could also choose to start on the path to IT certification and online IT degrees.
The joy of online degrees is the flexibility they offer. The biggest challenge for the potential mature online degree student might be gaining the confidence to re-enter education after having the rug pulled from under them. If these people are able to take to plunge, there really is so many online degrees on offer, that this change of direction could be as much of a cause for celebration as the 4th of July. Enjoy!

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