Several close friends and family members of mine have recently taken a big step and decided to go back to school to finish their degrees (or start new, advanced degrees). This has made me wonder whether or not I should do the same.

In order to help me decide, I made a list of the pros and cons of going back to school as an adult. Hopefully this will help you if you are considering the same thing:

Pros:
- More opportunities for jobs. It’s no secret that the job market is tough and competition for a good job is fierce. Going back to school for a degree puts you a step ahead of the competition and makes you stand out as a potential candidate.

- Lots of ways to get your degree. You can go to night classes, attend a traditional campus-based school, or get your degree completely online at your own schedule while working full time or taking care of a family.

Cons:
- Expensive. School is expensive. However, you can get a variety of student loans and grants to help you pay for school. If you qualify for grants, you don’t have to pay them back.

- Time consuming. Getting a degree is time consuming and takes discipline and dedication. If your energy is already going towards a job or a family, it could be hard to find the motivation to work on your classes in your spare time.