The nature of college as we know it is changing rapidly. Indeed, there are a number of prevailing trends throughout higher education that are beginning to gain traction, from online learning, to standardized test flexibility. Additionally, more and more people are deciding to enroll at universities later on in life. These non-traditional college students typically have jobs, and are over twenty-five years old. Unfortunately, they often face more difficulties in adapting to college life than the “typical” college student who’s arrived straight out of high school. With that in mind, today we’re going to provide three tips so that non-traditional students can excel in college –– and get the most from their college experience:
Communicate with Your Professors
It’s natural to feel a certain amount of apprehension when encountering new teachers. After all, it doesn’t matter if your 18 or 80 –– dealing with authority figures you’ve never met before can be an intimidating experience. The good news is, most college professors are understanding of their students’ obligations outside of school (like work, or paternal care) and are willing to accommodate non-traditional schedules. The key here is to let them know your schedule before classes start. Communicate early and often to eliminate any confusion. If you do so, you’ll likely arrive at an elegant solution to any time-crunch-problems you might encounter.
Maintain Laser-Focus
Traditional students enjoy the advantage of youth. They have plenty of time to explore their options, take speculative classes, and change majors if they want to. However, non-traditional students get no such luxury. In many instances, they’ve gone back to school to earn a higher position at work, or to pick up a vital skill in their industry. As such, they can’t afford to take any classes that aren’t absolutely necessary to their focus area. No matter how tempted you are, don’t enroll in any classes that won’t help you get your degree.
Adapt and Innovate
Because non-traditional students usually have responsibilities like work and familial obligations to contend with, it’s important for them to schedule wisely, and to be willing to adapt to strange conditions. Online courses, or classes held at night, might not sound like the most delightful propositions, but they could offer you the flexibility you need to get the job done.
The Bottom Line
Whether you find yourself going back to school to learn about capillary collection tubes or how to implement SEO at your business, know that you can still have a highly productive and beneficial time at your college of choice. You may have to work hard and improvise, but it’s a small price to pay for a vital degree that could make all the difference for your career.