Going back to school is a good option in a bad economy

Many people are out of work, laid off, furloughed, or just working part time. The economy does not seem to be getting better soon. Did you know that going back to college is a good idea and investment?

Adults who have Bachelors degrees already should think about graduate school. You can borrow up to about $20,000 to pay for grad school. There are other loans available as well. >Graduate school admission and financial aid.

Graduate school can help you get more marketable skills and experience to secure a higher paying job. That's a given. But one more thing it can do during a bad economy, is put of a job search until times are better.

You have a win-win situation. You don't have to look for a job, and you are getting more skills for when you do!

Teaching is almost recession-proof. Yes, there are teacher layoffs all over, but there are still plenty of jobs for the right teacher. Math and science teachers are always high in demand. Chances are less to be laid off if you teach one of these subjects. Special Education is another high demand teacher. Normally, there are more jobs for these teachers than there are teachers. Again, this makes for less chances of being laid off. Because of the budget cuts, they are increasing class size in K-3. That means, those grades will have fewer jobs, more chance to be laid off.

The bigger the state and district, the more need there is for teachers.

Don't think you have time for school? Going to school online is a great time saver. Also, online classes are usually cheaper.

The hidden costs of college can make college very expensive

When college students think college expenses, they usually think tuition. Then maybe room and board. And they think that's it. Unfortunately, many students get whacked with fees and expenses that they did not think about. Or even know about. When calculating the true cost of college, you have got to factor in the "hidden" costs of college.

Textbooks: Of all the expenses of college, this one can jump up and bit you. Hard. If you take a full time schedule, math, science classes, chances are very good that you will pay over $100 for a textbook. Four classes it is not uncommon to spend $300 each term on textbooks. Maybe more. That alone could add $600-$1000 a year to the cost of college.

Fees: Many colleges charge a fee for all sorts of things. Health, student activities, lab fees, and materials fees. These are only a few. While some are known up front, you may not realize that lab class has an extra cost.

Transportation: Do you own a car and will be using it at college? You will need to pay for a parking pass. This could be as high as $40 a month. And you still have to pay for car insurance. Do you live off campus? How much is bus fare?

Food and drinks: You may think that you have a meal plan and that solves the food problem. Not really. Many times the cafeteria will be closed, or you will find yourself off campus and hungry. Purchasing extra food and drinks can add up fast. How many times do you think you will be eating fast food off campus? Or even on campus? If your meal plan is on a prepaid card, you need to watch how much you use it. If there is one expense you can't eliminate, it's food and drink.

The Dorm: You may think the dorm is done. But a dorm room is a sterile environment until you customize it. You will probably need a lot of personal items, like towels, sheets, pillows, and accessories to make it livable. Not to mention personal items like soap, shampoo, deodorant, make up, and more.

Remember, if you have never lived on your own, you have no idea how expensive it can be to maintain your lifestyle. So before heading off to college in the fall, factor in the hidden costs of college.