Never Too Late For College

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As an adult, there are probably many times in your life that you've set goals. You set professional goals and work to meet them so that you can show your boss how productive you are or to work toward that promotion. You set household goals and work as a family to complete them. You set personal goals such as losing weight or breaking bad habits. It only makes sense to set some goals for the upcoming semester. There is a process to setting goals in order to increase your chances of attaining them. This is what I suggest.

Be Specific

Goals that are too vague rarely get accomplished. For instance, if you simply state that you want to lose some weight, it's likely that you won't know exactly what to work toward. Instead, choose a number of pounds you want to lose and make a plan to do it. Same goes for school. Make your goals specific. Do you want to earn a minimum Grade Point Average? Do you intend to study so many hours each week? Keep specific things in mind when creating your goals.

Write It Down

Writing your goals down makes them more tangible; you're able to see what it is you're working toward. Commiting your goals to paper also helps you to make a plan. An action plan is necessary for successful goal setting. How will you reach that specific GPA? Write down your steps to success.

Set Time Frames

There are long term goals, and there are short term goals. It's important to be aware of both kinds and to break things down based on appropriate time frames. Consider setting semester goals, yearly goals, as well as goals for your entire college career. You'll see that the goals for each are very different. Though you may be very anxious to reach those long term goals, breaking them down allows you to see how the short term goals will eventually lead to the long term. This makes each step of the way more meaningful.

Don't Forget the Personal

Come up with some personal goals as well as academic. As you reach these personal milestones, your confidence will increase, and you'll feel more whole. Though college has become a very big part of your life now, it certainly isn't the only part. Don't neglect your personal life.

Be Realistic

We all have lofty goals every now and then. But being realistic about your goals leads to increased success and an overall better feeling about yourself. Adding college coursework to an already busy life is quite a task. Don't impose crazy expectations upon yourself and be sure to cut yourself some slack.

Take Stock

Always be sure to assess your goals on occassion. This will help you to be sure you're on track, and you'll be able to tweak things  a bit if you find that you've gone off your path. You may even find that you need to change some of your goals all together, and that's okay.

These are some tips to get you started. If you get stuck, visit your academic adviser for some more suggestions. And you can always contact me at marydaviswrites(at)gmail(dot)com with specific questions. I'm happy to help!

I am a huge advocate of meeting with your academic adviser regularly. As a former adviser, I've met with countless students who finally came to see me when their problems were so big that they felt there was nowhere else to turn. So many of these problems could have been avoided if they had visited an adviser in the first place. I know that at some colleges and universities, it may seem hard to touch base with an a adviser, but I promise you it's worth the effort to establish a relationship with someone from your college advising center or even a faculty adviser. Here are some reasons you'll want to see your academic adviser throughout the semester.

Help With Scheduling

An academic adviser can help you schedule your classes. We all know that. But a good adviser will talk to you about your lifestyle and obligations outside of school to help you determine the number of classes that are right for you. He or she can also help you to choose a balanced courseload so that you don't end up taking too many academically intense courses at once.

Monitor Prerequisites

Prerequisites are the classes you need to take before taking advance coursework. Your institution's course catalog should list prerequsites, but it can be overwhelming in the beginning to determine which classes require you to take something beforehand. Sitting down with an adviser will help to ease you into the process of selecting appropriate classes.

Provide Resources

Academic advisers have a wealth of information about campus and community resources. For instance, if you're struggling with your coursework, an adviser can help you to sign up for a tutor. If you're dealing with financial or emotional issues, it's likely your academic adviser will be able to point you in the direction of community organizations that can give you the support you need.

Give Career Guidance

I recommend visiting your school's career center if you are unsure of your major. But if your school doesn't have a career services center or if you have an established relationship with an adviser, it's likely you'll be able to get a good start on career counseling from your academic adviser. He or she can provide you with vocational and personality inventories that will give you insight into your interests. It's likely you can also find information on your careers of interest.

Determine Whether To Drop A Class

It's not always a good idea to drop a class. You may be failing miserably and overwhelmed, but did you know that dropping a class could affect your eligibilty for financial aid? Sometimes it's better to stick it out. Staying in the class allows you to learn as much as you can about the subject, so that if you have to repeat it, you'll be more prepared the next time around. Always talk to your instructor and an academic adviser before dropping a class.

Avoid Costly Mistakes

Spending just a few minutes with an academic adviser each semster can save your lots of money or time. Often times, students take classes they don't even need, either because they misread the catalog or because they made assumptions about the curriculum requirements. An adviser's job is to be familiar with the requirements of each major and to know your school's policies. Ultimately, what you decide to take is your responsibility, but an adviser can help you to make better decisions.

Teach Study Tips

Did you sign up to take a study skills course? I highly recommend these classes to help you get the right start on your college education, but if you didn't, an adviser can often provide good study tips to help make things a little easier for you. College can be tough for adults with kids, jobs, or other obligations. Talking to an adviser can help make things a bit more manageable.

Get the Inside Scoop

College advisers often know the dirt about different professors' teaching styles or workload. They can also explain in more detail than the course catalog provides just what a class is all about. Establishing a relationship with an adviser will also help you to find out about registration deadlines, increasing your chances of getting into the popular classes that fill up fast.

Check Your Progress

An adviser can help you to complete a degree audit once your further along in your studies. This is a checklist that determines how many classes you've completed toward your degree. Checking in periodically will make sure you don't miss anything toward graduation.

These are just a few of the many reasons to see your adviser. Most schools have  some sort of academic center. You can always go there to meet with an adviser, even if you've been assigned to a faculty adviser. Faculty members are great. They know every detail there is to know about your major and can answer all of your career questions, but the academic advisers at your school are experts at school policy, financial aid regulations, general career guidance, and study skills. Find an adviser who you feel comfortable with, and your college experience is sure to be improved!

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Welcome to Never Too Late For College. This is your place to find answers to the questions you have about going back to school. The information here is geared toward adult learners. Your needs and concerns are different from those of traditional aged students. I know what it's like because I've been an adult student. I've also worked as an academic adviser at the community college level, where I helped many adults navigate their way through the ups and downs of college life.

We'll discuss everything here, from the college admissions process and financial aid to study tips especially for busy adults. We'll also take on issues like how to handle nagging self-doubts and ways to deal with the stress that often comes with raising a family, holding down a job, and managing a household - all while working towards your degree.

Please let me know what specific questions you have! I have the practical experience of working as an academic adviser, as well as the academic background of a Master's degree in College Student Personnel, where I studied topics specific to counseling in higher education. If I don't know the answer, I have a wide network of professionals and friends. I'll work to find the answer for you!

Again, welcome to Never Too Late For College. I can't wait to get to know you!