| If you are over the age of thirty and | | | | alter your work schedule during exam |
| thinking about returning to college, you | | | | weeks. Most of them will. |
| should know that you are not alone. Far | | | | 6. If a course you need is offered at |
| from it! | | | | inconvenient time, take it at a nearby |
| Not that long ago, college students who | | | | college. Afterward transfer the course |
| were older than twenty-five were | | | | credit back to your primary college |
| frequently described by educators and | | | | program. All colleges offer and accept |
| college admissions officers as | | | | transfer course credits. |
| "non-traditional," but now more and more | | | | 7. Do you need financial aid? There are |
| adult students are returning to college | | | | many sources of scholarships, grants, |
| than ever before. | | | | and low cost loans for adult students. |
| In fact, according to the F.A.Q. | | | | Inquire." |
| (Frequently Asked Questions) page of | | | | It's also a good idea to review internet |
| Back2College.com, in 1970, "28 percent | | | | resources that are specifically designed |
| of all college students were 25 years of | | | | to serve the needs of adult learners, |
| age or older." | | | | (such as Professor Seibert's site, and |
| In 1998 the number of adult learners had | | | | Professors Deeply Value Classroom |
| increased to 41 percent. | | | | Contributions of Adult Students |
| The number of students age 35 and older | | | | One of the best aspects of returning to |
| in degree-granting institutions has | | | | college a little later in life is that |
| soared from about 823,000 in 1970 to an | | | | many professors greatly enjoy having |
| estimated 2.9 million in 2001 - doubling | | | | adult learners in their classrooms. For |
| from 9.6% of total students to 19.2%, | | | | instance, in a recent interview, Robert |
| according to the National Center for | | | | W. Greene, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of |
| Education Statistics." | | | | French at the State University of New |
| Seven Valuable Tips for Returning to | | | | York at Albany, stated that adult |
| College | | | | learners genuinely "want to be where |
| Professor Al Seibert, who has taught | | | | they are, sitting in a classroom taking |
| adult education and management | | | | courses toward a degree." |
| psychology courses for over thirty years | | | | In his 30-plus years of teaching |
| at Portland State University in Oregon, | | | | experience, he observed that the adult |
| is the Director of The Resiliency Center | | | | learners in his classroom tended to |
| and the co-author, along with Mary Karr, | | | | "develop good study habits quickly, come |
| of The Adult Student's Guide to Survival | | | | to class prepared and seek to learn as |
| & Success, 5th Edition. | | | | much as they can in a course. In a word, |
| He frequently speaks to groups of newly | | | | they are motivated, thus are a pleasure |
| enrolled adult learners, and in a recent | | | | to teach." |
| e-mail interview, he outlined seven | | | | Greene also feels that adult students |
| useful tips that he always shares with | | | | often "show their younger classmates |
| them: | | | | that being committed to learning is a |
| "1. If you have fears and concerns write | | | | deeply satisfying way to live." |
| them down. Then look to see how | | | | Throughout his teaching career, |
| realistic they are and develop a plan | | | | Professor Greene found that a great deal |
| for overcoming each one. For example, if | | | | of learning took place in his classes |
| you feel like you won't be able to study | | | | that were composed of both younger |
| and compete with younger, traditional | | | | students and adult learners. Just as his |
| students, that is an unrealistic fear. | | | | younger students benefited enormously |
| After the first several class meetings, | | | | from the wisdom of their adult peers, |
| adult students calm their initial fears | | | | Greene also observed that the younger |
| and typically do better in their courses | | | | students were sometimes able to remind |
| than most of the younger students. | | | | their adult classmates "just how |
| 2. If you feel concerned about being | | | | exciting first intellectual stirrings |
| able to pass tests, go to the college | | | | are. Witnessing this kind of mutual |
| bookstore and look in the book section | | | | intellectual enrichment in a classroom |
| on "Study Skills." These books have | | | | is particularly gratifying for the |
| practical guidelines on how to study and | | | | professor." |
| pass tests with high grades. Study | | | | Greene acknowledges that adult students |
| skills books also show how to write | | | | often have specific concerns. |
| excellent term papers. | | | | For instance, sometimes they "feel |
| 3. Are you uncertain about a new career | | | | nervous about returning to the classroom |
| direction to take? The colleges in your | | | | after having been away from formal study |
| area all have free career counseling | | | | for some years." Whenever he sensed this |
| services. | | | | particular anxiety in his adult |
| 4. If you worry about how much your | | | | students, Professor Greene would point |
| spouse and family will support your new | | | | out to them that "their maturity was |
| life as a college student, some books | | | | more of an advantage than a disadvantage |
| and websites have guidelines on how to | | | | to them, and that their very presence in |
| gain their cooperation, support, and | | | | the classroom demonstrated to one and |
| encouragement. | | | | all that their passion to learn and to |
| 5. If you are working while taking | | | | succeed in their studies was real. |
| college courses, ask your employer to | | | | |