Determine which subjects interest you. If you want to go back to school so that you can be financially well off and pay the bills, you need to decide on a career field that not only pays well, but is also one you will enjoy. Keep in mind that different positions require a different length of schooling. For instance, in order to become a licensed pharmacist you must earn a Pharm.D. degree from an accredited college or school of pharmacy, which typically takes four years to complete (after a minimum of two years of undergraduate study), and you have to pass several examinations.
Determine what type of degree you want or need. For instance, for some jobs an associate's degree at a community college may suffice, while if you want to work as a pharmacist in a clinical setting, it is often mandatory to obtain further training through 1- or 2-year pharmacy residency programs after obtaining your Pharm.D. degree. If you plan to work in a specialized area of pharmacy, such as in a research laboratory, it is often mandatory to obtain further training through 1- or 2-year pharmacy fellowship programs.
Choose a school. Whether you plan to attend a college or university, or you want to complete your studies online, you need to do some research to find schools that offer the courses you are interested in, and complete the application process. Start this process as early as possible.
Search for scholarships and grants, apply for financial assistance, or take out a student loan to help cover the costs of schooling. Unless you have the money to pay these costs out of your own pocket, you need to take care of the financial issues of going back to school and ensure that you can pay your tuition, books, living accommodations, and other expenses. You can be eligible for partial or full loan forgiveness on your student loan with loan forgiveness programs offered through different organizations, such as AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and the National Guard.