by The Health Sciences Academy — Get free science updates here.
From the time we’re very small, many of us are told that achieving success begins with nursery school and ends with a college degree. And while this still holds true for many, it’s important to point out that this is no longer the only path to professional and personal success.
At The Health Sciences Academy, we value education in all shapes and sizes – but we don’t believe that every single professional journey needs to be struck from the same collegiate mould.
We know that there are a lot of factors that go into the decision to pursue higher education…
Which is why we designed this guide to help you weigh your options and gain an understanding of what checks YOUR boxes.
Keep reading to learn more…
There is no right answer – just the one that’s right for you!
Keep in mind, there is no one-size-fits-all answer here. As much as we love and believe in our certifications, we also value college and encourage our students to learn as much as possible from any source that will help them achieve their goals.
However, we also understand the impact of crippling student loan debt and the difficulty many students face finding work in a narrow field of study. The good news is you have options!
When weighing these options, ask yourself the following:
What level of education will I really need for my career?
The first step involves analysing your career goals and your resources. If you’re visiting this page, there’s a good chance that you want to pursue a career in nutrition (great choice)!
But what does your ideal career in nutrition look like? Is it as a part of a larger corporation in the medical field? Or do you crave professional independence, wanting to start or augment your own company?
A good rule of thumb is to remember that any time that you want to diagnose, prescribe, or give any type of medical advice, you WILL need a college education and corresponding license.
An accredited nutrition certification can provide you the expertise you need to advise clients on nutritional topics, but doesn’t give you the legal authority to cross into the field of medicine or to prescribe a specific diet for any type of medical condition.
Although, high-quality certifications will allow you to advise a wide range of clients on everything from nutrition basics to sleep management. You can share your knowledge and help clients learn to make healthier life choices.
To start your own nutrition advising business, you don’t need to pursue a four-year degree. You can start as soon as you graduate with your first certification!
How much time can I commit?
The majority of working-class adults don’t have a college degree. Many enter the workforce right after high school or choose to pursue trade school or alternative forms of education. And there’s nothing wrong with any of that.
However, this also means that many aren’t in a position to drop their responsibilities and pursue a college degree. While online education has made this more accessible, it still takes a minimum of four years before the student will see any return on their investment.
You need to take a careful inventory of your time resources. Pursuing any type of certification or degree can help you change your life for the better – but having to drop out because life gets in the way can leave you in a worse position than when you started.
Certifications from The Health Sciences Academy remain available to the student for life and don’t penalise students if finishing takes longer (or shorter) than expected.
Again, always do what will work best for you and your circumstances!
Am I financially prepared for student loans?
We know that student loans don’t work the same everywhere – but there’s no hiding the student loan crisis currently impacting many people. Some graduate hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and are forced to operate under the poverty level due to crippling monthly payments.
Deferral programs can only last for so long, and you need to be certain that you’re prepared to pay on these loans for the foreseeable future.
Certifications can cost less than 5-percent of the total cost of a complete college degree and allow students to graduate debt-free and ready to start seeing a financial return right away.
Which provides a higher return on investment?
This is a hard question. With any degree, certification, or profession, you’ll only be as successful as the available market and effort you put in.
What we can tell you is that the right certifications can start to pay off as soon as you graduate – which can take less than 6 months with true dedication and your own business. The return on a degree might take longer and be harder to determine after the cost of student loans.
Some people choose to combine both a degree and certifications, giving them the ability to use one to support the other for the duration of their education.
Is college still required for professional success
To answer this question, just look at Steve Jobs or Ted Turner! There are plenty of extremely successful people that chose to take a different route to financial freedom.
Nutrition certifications and other alternative forms of education are becoming widely accepted as a new generation of entrepreneurs take centre stage. In fact, the higher quality certifications are now becoming standard job requirements – which shows just how seriously they’re taken!
Are you ready to take control of your education and your career?
There’s nothing wrong with taking a traditional educational route, choosing to pursue certifications, or combining both to fulfil your professional goals. And choosing the right high-quality certifications can even help you advance in college at a faster pace!
The only mistake you can make is to let your goals, dreams, and aspirations fall by the wayside.
