Summer is here! The sun is shining, the grass is green, and flowers have bloomed. You’re using your imagination and working hard to make your backyard look picture perfect. After all, you have a knack for planning, design, and creating beautiful outdoor spaces. Friends and neighbors are in awe of your yard and often ask for tips. You may not realize it, but you can turn your hobby into a career. Here’s how you can take the next step with our partner school, the New York Institute of Art and Design and their online Landscape Design Training Program.

You got the kids back to school, now what about yourself? What are you hoping to accomplish this fall?

Put a diploma, career certificate, or degree in your future by making a commitment to furthering your education. You’ll be setting an excellent example for your children (or grandchildren) and advancing your career at the same time.

Going back to school as an adult doesn’t have to be intimidating. You can achieve success with online learning by using these five tips to start off on the right foot.

You’re currently balancing job, family, and kids, and maybe even taking care of parents or pets. Even though you’re busy, you've decided to consider online courses and want to take that next step.

There you are trying to cram during your break at work. You’ve been reading for the last 20 minutes. Suddenly you realize you don’t remember a single thing from the paragraph. Or maybe you’re at your kitchen table, and it dawns on you that you’ve read the same sentence five times. That “What am I reading?” moment happens often with students, especially if you’re an adult who has just gone back to college. An affordable career diploma is great, but you need to guard your time as well as your money.

What’s motivating you to think about going back to college? If you’re considering an online school, like Ashworth College, research says your reason is probably related to your career or a lifelong dream around education.

According to the report Online College Students 2017, one in four adult students said they go back to school online to transition to a new career field.

The other top reasons?