How To Get Ready In January To Go Back To College In September

New Year’s resolutions are a cliche for a good reason - when you start to plan in January to go back to college in September, you have enough time to apply and enroll for the next school year. Here is a list of easy steps to take to decide which college to attend, apply, and enroll in time to start your program:

- Evaluate your current educational credentials. While in the past credits that were more than a decade old and not included in a degree often were considered expired by educational institutions, today many colleges are willing to accept them as transfer credits, which can drastically reduce the number of classes you have to take to achieve your degree. If you no longer have your old transcript, request one to ensure that your grades will not pull down your new GPA before you even enroll.

- Consider why you want to return to college: Is it to grow in your current career, or attempt a new one - or is it to satisfy a desire to learn more about a topic? Speak with admissions counselors at your area community and four year colleges to determine what degree you need to achieve your professional aspirations.

- Create your own checklist of application materials, since you will have to submit paperwork ranging from high school transcripts to an essay, and even letters of recommendation - and missing even one of the required items will delay your application and possible cost you your admission.

- While most colleges make admissions interviews optional, an interview can be the difference between an acceptance and a rejection letter. Dress to impress, and be ready to talk about yourself!

- Once you have been accepted to college, and have decided which school to attend, take advantage of your new college adviser to map out a plan to take all required courses in a time frame that you are comfortable with.