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If you find yourself in search of a new job or thinking about a total career change, you aren’t alone. The job market is tough these days, with loads of layoffs occurring in a variety of industries and many people finding themselves on the hunt for a new position. 

Although it can be difficult to be out of work or unhappy with your current position, you can use this time as an opportunity to learn and grow in new ways. Perhaps it is time to forge a new path for yourself. 

To start, you can discover what the top colleges in the country have to offer. Here are some tips to help you find the right school for your needs when you’re ready to advance your career or make a big change. 

Look for the Safest Campuses in the Country

Sure, there are a host of programs that you can take entirely online, and that can be highly convenient. But if you are planning on attending classes in person, there are several things to consider, one of which is how safe a campus is. It might be hard to believe, but crimes can and do occur on college campuses, so schools are doing what they can to keep their staff and students safe. 

Some colleges and universities are safer than others, so if you want to narrow your options, you can look specifically for those that top the list of the safest ones. Nuwber compiled a list of safe schools that include Liberty University in Virginia and Concord University in West Virginia, as just two examples, so that’s a good place to start your search. 

Do You Need a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree?

Individuals who are planning on advancing their careers can look into master’s degrees that will help them take their skills to the next level. On the other hand, if you are hoping to make a dramatic change in your career and go into an unrelated field, you may need to go back to school for a second bachelor’s degree. 

Whether you need a second bachelor’s or a master’s degree will ultimately depend on what your career goals are and what your new career requires in terms of education. The decision you make can help guide you when searching for the school that will give you the training and credentials you need to qualify for a new or more advanced role in the workplace. 

Ask for Recommendations from Friends, Coworkers, and Family

Ask those you trust for recommendations regarding which school to attend. For example, if you know someone at work who got the degree that you are planning on working towards, you can ask them about the college or university that they attended. 

By evaluating a school’s pros and cons and gathering information from someone who actually went there, you’ll be able to more easily sort through your options to find the one that’s right for you. Plus, there are things that you can learn about a school and its professors that you can’t learn by visiting a website or reading reviews from strangers online.  

Consider Your Time and Flexibility

Finally, consider how long it will take to complete a degree program at a college or university. Some schools might offer accelerated programs that make it possible to get a degree much more quickly, so if that’s what you’re looking for, keep that in mind as you browse your options. Also, consider whether you want to move through a program that provides flexibility in terms of how you complete it – if you need to continue working full-time, this will undoubtedly be helpful.