Sharon Moran, B.S., M.Ed.
Keywords: college degree, freelance writing, freelance writer
Many individuals who are interested in pursuing freelance writing as a career have pondered the question: Is a college degree necessary? Many seasoned freelance writers offer conflicting advice on this topic and create a dichotomy of ideas, turning this important question into an issue with no clear answer. The answer really is, "It depends."
With a few exceptions, having a college degree is not an accurate measure of professional worth. College-dropout success stories make headlines and garner a lot of attention because they challenge conventional wisdom that a college degree is an essential ingredient necessary for advancement. Many entrepreneurs and CEOs who skipped college to pursue their ideas will attest that a college degree isn't always necessary, so should freelance writing be any different? Freelance writing, once the career of privileged Ivy-league graduates, is now a viable career choice for many individuals, regardless of their college experience.
Society assigns a certain level of status and recognition to a four-year degree. Investing in a college degree is really an investment in yourself as a professional, and having a degree can smooth the transition to freelance writing. This is especially true if you have established valuable relationships with instructors, fellow students and alumni. Not having a degree could restrict access to jobs in journalism and senior publishing positions, but for the overwhelming majority of freelance writing jobs, specifically Web writing, the lack of a degree should have no significant impact.
Writers are most marketable when they have the education credentials to back their work history. If you don't feel at a disadvantage because of a lack of college degree, continue doing what makes you successful, and maintain your competitive edge by not stealing time away from your writing business and clients to return to the classroom. Pursuing a college degree is time-consuming, and it's not easy to manage a full course load and freelance writing assignments unless you are a highly energetic and organized person.
It is advisable to pursue a college degree if you feel it would improve your confidence in your writing skills or your ability to market your writing services effectively. Don't let the cost of getting your college degree deter you from returning to school, though. In recent decades, college tuition has steadily outpaced inflation, and the expected increase in college tuition over the next two decades will not improve in the student's favor. If you return to school now, you'll be paying less for your college degree than if you wait. In addition, the return on your investment will be greater over your lifetime.
Fortunately, many colleges and universities have recognized the growing need for adult education, and it's now easier than ever to get a college degree while working. Look for part-time or evening programs at nearby colleges. You might also consider an online degree program for the sake of convenience.
A college degree can prove valuable when you are new to freelance writing and have no published clips. If you are a freelance writer who has a college or upper level degree, you should take advantage of those credentials and use them to market yourself to select markets. If you're applying for a blogging position as a business writer, emphasize the four advanced accounting courses you took as electives during your undergraduate studies.
Ultimately, your degree status will not be a significant barrier to establishing yourself as a successful freelance writer unless you let it be. Highlight your strengths and focus on your most relevant work experience when going after those freelance assignments.
Sharon Moran is a freelance writer who lives in New Jersey. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and an M.Ed. She is a wordsmith with the Writers by Design team and joined Writers Research Group in 2007.
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