What do you do if you're a mid-career linguist considering higher education?

2 What are the options?

There are many options for higher education in linguistics or related fields, depending on your goals, interests, and background. You can choose from different types of degrees, such as a master's, a PhD, or a professional degree, and different modes of delivery, such as online, on-campus, or hybrid. You can also choose from different areas of focus, such as applied linguistics, computational linguistics, sociolinguistics, neurolinguistics, or language documentation and revitalization. You should research the programs that interest you and compare their admission requirements, curriculum, faculty, resources, and outcomes.

3 How to prepare?

Before you apply to any program, you should prepare yourself academically, financially, and mentally. Academically, you should review your previous coursework, update your portfolio, and seek recommendations from your mentors or colleagues. You should also prepare for any standardized tests, such as the GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS, that may be required by your program. Financially, you should plan your budget, look for scholarships, grants, or loans, and consider the opportunity costs of going back to school. Mentally, you should assess your motivation, readiness, and expectations for higher education, and seek support from your family, friends, or peers.

4 How to balance?

One of the biggest challenges of pursuing higher education as a mid-career linguist is balancing your studies with your work and personal life. You may have to juggle multiple responsibilities, such as assignments, deadlines, projects, meetings, family, and hobbies. You may also have to deal with stress, fatigue, isolation, or imposter syndrome. To cope with these challenges, you should prioritize your tasks, manage your time, communicate your needs, set boundaries, delegate or outsource some of your work, and practice self-care. You should also celebrate your achievements and milestones, and connect with other students or professionals who share your goals.

5 How to succeed?

To succeed in higher education as a mid-career linguist, you need to have a clear vision, a strong work ethic, and a flexible mindset. You should have a clear vision of why you are pursuing higher education, what you want to learn, and what you want to achieve. You should also have a strong work ethic, meaning that you are committed, disciplined, and proactive in your studies. You should be willing to work hard, but also smart, by using effective strategies, tools, and resources to optimize your learning. Moreover, you should have a flexible mindset, meaning that you are open to feedback, change, and new opportunities. You should be ready to adapt, learn, and grow as a linguist and as a person.

6 How to benefit?

The benefits of pursuing higher education as a mid-career linguist are not only academic, but also professional and personal. Academically, you will gain more knowledge, skills, and insights into linguistics and related fields. You will also develop your critical thinking, research, writing, and presentation skills. Professionally, you will enhance your career prospects, network, and reputation. You will also have more opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and lead in your field. Personally, you will fulfill your intellectual curiosity, passion, and potential. You will also have more satisfaction, confidence, and fulfillment as a linguist.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?