Beating the Confidence Gap and Earning Your Degree
Are you dreaming of a college degree? The cap? The gown? Your proud family? The new job with better pay? If you’re one of the 9.6 million adults that will go back to school by 2020, you’re probably thinking about that right now. But you might also be thinking about the things that stand in the way: your current job, the need for childcare, your finances. Maybe you weren’t the best student in high school, or maybe all the forms and applications to fill out make you anxious. We call those kinds of concerns the “Confidence Gap,” and we’re here to help you overcome it.
What is the Confidence Gap?
In general, students who start college right out of high school are more confident about their ability to graduate than those who return as adults or start later in life. When you think about it, it’s easy to understand why. Adults tend to have more responsibilities (work, family, etc.), and fewer resources (time, money, support networks) than students who go straight to college from high school.
But you are not alone! Many adult degree seekers also feel this lack of confidence. Abound is here to provide college students like you with the resources and advice you’ll need. Together, we’ll help you find your unique way to academic success and career advancement.
How Abound Helps Address the Confidence Gap
Abound helps adult learners in two main ways: a pre-screened database of colleges, and practical, easy-to-understand expert advice on our blog and social channels. Our database only lists high-quality, accredited, non-profit schools with programs specifically tailored for adult students. For each school, Abound looks for the four A’s: affordability, accessibility, acceleration, and advancement.
Affordability
Financial affordability is one of the biggest obstacles adult learners face when returning to school. As an adult you may have a lot of financial obligations, like rent or a mortgage, a car payment, or raising your children. Abound helps you by listing affordable programs that offer significant financial aid. This saves you time and effort as you search for the right program. We also offer articles, videos, and other media to help you navigate the financial aid process. Abound is here to help you find the tools you need to make your education as affordable as possible.
Accessibility
When Abound evaluates a school for accessibility, we examine several factors. First are the campus’ practical resources like parking, dining options, and childcare. Academic services such as tutoring, libraries, and writing centers are also included in our analysis. Finally, we ensure the school is engaging students in the learning process. This means that students are invited to be a part of the campus culture and the student community.
When you have access to the resources you need to succeed, and are made to feel at home on campus, getting to graduation is much easier.
Acceleration
Like the old saying goes: “Time is money.” When it comes to earning your degree, you may want to do so quickly. That’s why Abound assesses the tools a school offers to help you complete your degree as quickly as you want. Whether it’s through flexible scheduling or intensive, accelerated courses, Abound’s guide helps you determine how quickly you’ll be able to earn your degree.
At Abound we’re with you, supporting you every step of the way. We have resources to help you push past the Confidence Gap, find the right for school for you, and navigate the maze of financial aid.
Advancement
You’re going to school to advance your career, so you’ll want to make sure you’ll be ready for whatever the job market throws your way. In addition to the basic skills and competencies of your major, you’ll gain a breadth of knowledge that will keep your mind flexible and able to adjust to changes in the job market. Our schools also feature great career services to help you find a job once you graduate.
At Abound we’re with you, supporting you every step of the way. We have resources to help you push past the Confidence Gap, navigate the maze of financial aid, and find the right for school for you.
More About Abound: We’re here to help. Abound: Finish College narrows down your options and gets you in touch with schools that we can confirm are Accessible, Affordable, Accelerated, and Advanced. Take a look at the schools we trust and find the program that works for you.
More Helpful Resources:
3 Reasons Why Earning a Degree Will Advance Your Career and Improve Your Life
6 Reasons to Pursue a Bachelor’s After Earning Your Associate’s Degree
Getting College Credit for Life Experience You Already Have
12 Helpful Campus Resources Adult Undergraduates Need to Know About
