A non-traditional student is someone who does not fall within the
category of a person who is 22 years of age or younger. Many may be
going to college for the first time, while some may be returning to
enhance or change their careers. Most do not have access to the same
financial resources, such as family.
Funding
Older
students are concerned about funding their education and there are many
financial options for non-traditional students. Colleges at all levels
offer programs for returning or late blooming students. There are work
experience scholarships and other special types of funding available.
Find out about them from local school counselors and Financial Aid
Offices. Try Financial Aid Foundations and associations to find unique
scholarship and grant programs. Contact your community colleges for
information on U.S. Government awards for retraining. Check with your
employers for assistance with tuition payment programs.
Performance Anxiety
Many
non-traditional students confront the fact that they have been out of
school for awhile and therefore, may need time to get up to speed on
attending classes, turning in assignments and interacting in a student
environment. Some are afraid that they will not do well because of this,
which is inaccurate. The truth is that life and work experience greatly
enhances education and that most non-traditional students earn higher
grades in college than if they had gone straight from high school.
Ageism
There
exists a great deal of ageism in society. Non-traditional students are
often concerned that they will be treated unfairly due to their age,
both by other students and instructors. Much of the time, this is an
incorrect assumption. It is a fact that many younger students consider
it an advantage to have someone older to converse with for different
perspectives. Professors generally appreciate the wealth of experience
that an older student can bring to the table.
Work-Life Balance
Time
management is another consideration for non-traditional students. To
avoid conflict with jobs, non-traditional students can find classes at
night, on weekends and through distance education opportunities. Also,
with technological advances, college courses are often scheduled online
and instructors are accessible in a variety of ways.
Grading Competition
One
of the greatest issues a non-traditional student faces is grading. Many
students fear that regular students will establish curves that increase
an instructor's expectations to an unreasonable degree. Interestingly,
this is the same concern of the regular student as to the
non-traditional student. The reality is that they both can work on the
same level easily enough for it not to matter.
Other Considerations
Try
obtaining funding at public colleges and universities. The costs can be
considerably lower with more attendance options. Community colleges are
great resources with a wealth of information and courses geared toward
the non-traditional student. Some even have partnerships with local
employers. Consider the idea of attending on a part-time basis at first,
to ease back into school. Taking on a heavy load at first could be
daunting. Sign up for one or two classes initially to get your feet wet.
This will also allow you to prevent overload.
How to Go to College as a Non-Traditional Student
