Never Too Late For College

Dealing With Holiday Stress as an Adult Student

marybabysteps — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0500

College can be stressful for adult students throughout the semester, but particularly so during the busy holiday season. There are so many things going on right now. You're probably trying to stay healthy, and juggle all your household responsibilities, on top of getting ready for finals. Don't freak out. There are steps you can take to manage all the chaos in your life right now.

Keep Some Perspective

Easy to say, I know, but I've been there. There are only 24 hours in a day, and you're only one person. Keep your past successes in mind and focus on the fact that you'll get through this as well. Make a plan and stick to it. Make a list of what absolutely must be done and prioritize that list for each day. Don't forget to reward yourself as you check things off. Even if it's just something small, like a bubble bath or an ice cream cone, that's okay. Taking time for yourself will help to avoid burnout.

Don't Go It Alone

Remember to call on your support system during this time. It's the people closest to you who want to help you out when you're stressed. Be sure to reach out to them and allow them to do so. Call a friend to vent about your big history paper. It'll help to blow off steam, and maybe she'll have some good suggestions for how to find a little more time. Delegate responsibilities. Maybe your spouse could cook dinner for you while you work on your term paper or study for that exam. It doesn't hurt to ask; however, trying to go it alone could have negative consequences like strained relationships and health repercussions.

Change Your Thinking

Stress can often be at its highest due to the way we think about the stressful things in our lives. If we let it build up and convince ourselves that it's too much to handle, we're bound to become overwhelmed. Think about ways that you can reframe your thinking or approach a situation proactively. For example, say you're worrying about the three finals you have coming up in two weeks. In addition to the final exams, you have to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for 25 guests, start your Christmas shopping, and attend the kids' holiday concerts. Yikes, that's a lot! Rather than get upset about how much you have to do, take a moment to be grateful for all that you have in your life. It may seem cliche, but gratitude does wonders to change negative feelings. Once you've reframed your thoughts into something positive, take action to figure out the best way to get things done. Remember the above suggestions and write down all the ways that people can help you, then make an action plan for when you'll do each task. Taking matters into your own hands can be very empowering.

Adult students can be very hard on themselves. We have high expectations for doing well and being successful. That's great, but don't forget to give yourself some slack. The life of a non-traditional student can be very demanding, so be sure to take care of yourself and just do what you can. I hope these tips have helped. Let me know what works for you during stressful times and if you have anything to add to my list. Thanks!

Effective Study Groups

marybabysteps — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:26:40 -0500

Study groups can be very advantageous to learning. That is, if they're done correctly. This isn't to say there are strict, rigid rules for forming study groups, but you'll want to take some guidelines into consideration. There are specific benefits for adult students in studying with a group, so keep this in mind when forming a study plan.

Mix It Up

Find classmates who have a similar study philosophy to your own. Students who are serious and dedicated to doing well will make the best group contributors. This is obvious. However, we know everyone has their own style, so think about asking people to join who are also quite different from you. For example, inviting a quiet classmate to join your more extroverted group may bring a sense of introspection to sessions. Don't just ask your friends; a study group that consists of varied members is most effective and will tend to veer off task less often.

Create Order

Set some ground rules for your group. Not only must everyone participate, but you may want to have each person come to each study session prepared to teach a certain section of material. Teaching others is a great way for everyone to learn new material and to retain the knowledge. Saying and hearing the words out loud is a too often neglected study tool.

Get Comfortable

Find a place to study that is comfortable for everyone and allows you to spread out. Maybe you can invite your group home to your house. Group study time can be great for socializing and getting to know others. Younger classmates may appreciate being able to spend some time in a home-like atmosphere, rather than in the dorm or off-campus apartment. And getting together with other non-traditional students may allow opportunities for child-care sharing and commiseration.

Most importantly, with study groups, don't allow yourselves to get distracted. While it can be great to connect with others, you don't want to defeat the purpose of getting together, which is to improve your study efforts. Working as a group can lead to increased information retention and effectiveness, if done correctly.

Do you have a group study success story? What's worked for you? What hasn't?

Don't Forget the Fun as an Adult Student

marybabysteps — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:06:01 -0400

Yes, you're an adult, but even gorwn-ups are allowed to have some fun every once in a while. It's so easy to get caught up in the routine of studying, going to work, taking care of your family and household obligations, and to burn out mid-semester. Take stock of your life and your approach to college. Are you having any fun or doing anything for yourself? If not, I recommend you start now!

Attend Campus Events

Check out your school's Office of Student Life. Some schools offer fabulous activities, events, and performances at a fraction of the cost. You may be able to take your tween daughter or son to a great concert of a well-known pop artist right there on your campus. Or perhaps you'll take in a musical at your school's auditorium. There are also many lectures offered in subjects that may be of interest to you, and sometimes professors will offer extra credit for attending.

Get Involved

Studies show that students who get involved in campus activities or clubs are more likely to remain in college and to graduate. The majority of such studies apply to traditional aged students, but getting involved on campus can be good for adult learners as well. Being a commuter student can make one feel very isolated from what's going on at college. Getting involved in campus activities can help you to feel more a part of your campus and often helps to increase confidence. Check out how you can become part of student government, clubs related to your major, or campus sports and activities that interest you. I've seen adult students benefit greatly from being active in non-traditional student groups and academic honor societies as well. You'll gain leadership skills and make great contacts and support systems that can benefit you now and in future pursuits.

Take Some "You" Time

Don't neglect yourself. We all need some alone time. Time is such a precious commodity as an adult college student, I know. But, believe me, you'll feel more refreshed to tackle everything that's on your plate if you recharge by taking some down time. Read a book or go to a movie. Take up a hobby or activity you once enjoyed, but have found yourself neglecting. I find that I'm tremendously recharged after just taking an hour or two to do some scrapbooking - a hobby I all too often put to the side.

So what are you going to do for fun? Put yourself to the test this weekend, and choose just one activity you can engage in, either alone or with family or friends. You'll be so glad you did.

7 Ways For Adult Students to Stay Healthy

marybabysteps — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:39:39 -0400

Image by smellyknee

I was watching an episode of The Doctors this morning on TV, and they were answering a father's question about whether it was safe for his daughter, a college freshman, to take caffeine pills to help her stay awake during the stressful time of midterms and finals. This led to a discussion on why students shouldn't pull all nighters and how it's bad for their health. I got to thinking about the time I spent working with students at the community college and realized that, more often, it was the adults who were most deprived of sleep throughout the entire semester.

Many non-traditional students are working to support their families while taking classes or are taking care of children or a loved-one. Their time is very limited. I saw students go straight to class after working an 8-hour night shift. While I know that we often must do what we have to do in order to reach our goals and to move ahead in life, I would recommend trying not to sacrifice sleep when pursuing your studies. Here are some ways to stay healthy when time is short and your to-do list is long.

Get Regular Sleep

You knew I would say this, right? But it's the most obvious given the topic at hand. As Travis mentioned on The Doctors, no one can retain information if they're suffering from sleep deprivation. It's just a physiological impossibility. Your brain needs sleep to function optimally, so don't fight it.

Build In Study Time

Like I've said before, it's a really good idea to build study time into your day. You can do this by scheduling an open space between classes. This way, you're already on campus. It's a convenient time ,away from the distractions of home, to just sit down and bang out some studying. Maybe you can have your lunch during this time also.

Eat Well

Speaking of lunch, don't forget to eat a balanced diet. Actually, don't forget to eat at all. I used to see students all the time who would tell me that they didn't have time to eat. Bad idea. Depriving your body of nutrients is like not fueling up your car, it just won't go without putting something into it. Bring along some healthy (or at least relatively healthy) snacks from home that are portable and can be eaten on the go. Bringing your own snacks saves you both money and time.

Socialize

Yes, seriously, socialize. I know you barely have time to breathe. I get it. I do. I also get the burn-out that comes from not doing anything for yourself. A good way to combine study with socializing is to start a study group. Maybe there are some other non-traditional aged students in your toughest class. You could get together to study and talk about the things you all are going through while pursuing your degree. If there aren't other non-trads in your class, start a conversation with some of the younger students near you. Once you get to know a small group, it might be nice to invite them over to your house for a study session. Many students haven't had a home-cooked meal since leaving for school and might appreciate just hanging out in a family atmosphere. And it could help a bit with inter-generational relations. Norma writes more about this at her blog, Back 2 School Moms.

Drink Your Water

Yes, it's okay to drink some coffee when you're feeling drowsy, but don't forget to stay hydrated throughout the day with water. We all know it's good for our health, but it's particularly important to stay hydrated in periods of stress and when you're on the go a lot, which is when most of us forget something like this that's so simple.

Know Your Best Time of Day

We all have a certain time of day when we're most energetic. Some of us are early birds, while others are night owls. Use that peak time to your advantage. If you're an early riser, get up before your usual wake-up call. This will allow you to sneak in some extra studying, or even some time for yourself. Remember that little thing called burn-out that I mentioned? You may also want to schedule the bulk of your classes early, when you're most refreshed and alert. Same goes for you night owls. Night classes work great for people like you because they're often offered only once a week. This kind of schedule can sometimes free up time for other commitments. If you don't think your attention span can handle three hours of class, however, you may want to reconsider.

Vent

Yep, sometimes you just have to let it all out. I know college isn't easy. There are so many dynamics involved in adding college to your current lifestyle, it's bound to cause you some aggravation. Your family may not be giving you the support you need. Your hectic lifestyle may be getting to you. Any number of things may send you reeling. Don't keep it inside! Talk to your family about your concerns or talk to an academic adviser. You never know what kinds of solutions you'll come up with by working together and letting it out. You're only human. Don't try to go it alone.

I hope these suggestions help. You can always feel free to ask me any questions you may have about dealing with stress and staying healthy. I'm happy to offer assistance. Remember, if you're not taking care of yourself, you're no good to your studies or to the people around you. Be good to yourself.

A Support Sytem Is Important for Adult College Students

marybabysteps — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:34:32 -0400

Having a support system is crucial when you go back to school. Family and friends play such an important role in your life; it just makes sense that their support, or lack of, can have a tremendous impact on your college success. The following tips may help you as you ease the transition for your loved ones as well as yourself.

Building a Support System

Take a minute to write down everyone you think can help you as you incorporate college into your life. Asking for help is tough for some of us, but the people around you are likely more than willing to lend a hand. You'll need assistance with things like chidcare, household duties, and stress management, as attending class and studying begins to take up more of your time. Don't forget to add support staff from your colege or university, such as academic advisers. These folks can be extremely valuable in providing answers to your questions and providing peaceof mind.

Communication is Key

Open communication with those in your life is the key to making it all work. Talk to you family members before you enroll in college so that they're aware of the reasons you have for wanting to go. Once you're enrolled, be sure to let them know of the changes they can expect, such as the fact that you won't be as avaiable to them as you once were. Reassure them, however, that you will be there when they need you and encourage them to communicate their needs as well. As you go along your college journey, things will come up that will need to be addressed,and changes will need to be made. Just remember to keep the lines of communication open as you go along!

Set Boundries

Setting boundaries with your loved ones and with yourself will help to keep you on the right track. Your famiy may expect you to be as active in the household chores as you once were. Remind them again of the benefits of pursuing your education and that they agreed to be supportive of your efforts. Then delegate some of the household duties to older kids, your spouse, or partner. Before long, everyone will slide into a routine that works for your family. Setting boundaries with yourself is another story.

So often we want to take on more than we can handle. It will be even more important while you're in school to say no to certain requests and to be creative about ways of completing others. For example, when I was going back to school, I often purchased baked goods for my kids' school parties or for summer gatherings, rather than making them from scratch. Though I enjoy baking, it took a lot of pressure off of me to be able to use that time fr studying and just pick something up from the store the next time I was out. Finally, you may be surprised to ind there are some friends who aren't as supportive as you hoped they'd be. Sometimes friends feel threatened by the fact that you're pursuing your education. They may even be jealous. Or they may simply be afraid they're losing you. Take time to reassure them, but don't let them bring you down or steer you away from your dreams.

Altough adding college to your life will be an adjustment, things will eventually settle down. If you've been a student for a while now, what has worked for you? What would you suggest to help new students in forming a support network?

Studying When You Have Children

marybabysteps — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:52:42 -0400

One of the biggest questions and frustrations students with kids have is how to find the time to study. It can be so hard to get anything done when you've got little ones who rely on you to take care of them or even big kids who are busy with lots of activities. I wrote an article on this subject awhile back, and you can read it here

In addition to the tips I gave back then, I'd also recommend that you:

Build It In

You can do this by scheduling empty periods of time into your academic schedule. Adding an extra period or two in between classes gives you time on campus to devote to studying because we all know it becomes more difficult to dedicate the time when you get home. This is a the best way I know of to increase your study time and to make your life as an adult student easier.

Sneak It In

You'll have to get creative with finding time to study. I know lots of people who have used any small windows of time during the day to read a chapter or review their notes. If your older kid is at karate practice, you may want to take that hour and sit in your car or at a nearby coffee shop and study. I have a good friends who sneaks in writing time while her small children are taking their bath. She sits in the bathroom beside them and scribbles ideas for her writing. Another recommendation I've heard is to use time waiting for doctor's or service appointments to squeeze in some study time.

Schedule It In

Another suggestion I have is to add specific time into your schedule each day for studying. Write it in your calendar or planner. You'll learn lots of time management techniques as you go along or if you take a study skills course. One tip is to add important activities like studying to your planner. Treat it as part of your day or act as though studying is your job, and you'll find it becomes a natural part of your everyday routine.

Do you have any study tips you'd like to recommend? What works for you?

Why It's Okay To Take Remedial Classes in College

marybabysteps — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:55:07 -0400

As a returning adult college student, it's likely you're worried that some of your academic skills may be rusty. And you know what? They may very well be. That's to be expected, and it's okay. You probably had to take a placement test in Math, English, and Reading to determine your level of preparation for each subject. How'd you do? If your score placed you in a remedial or developmental class, it's really nothing to be concerned about. This is in no way a reflection of your capabilities as a student. According to an article in USA Today, about 40% of students entering community college must enroll in at least one remedial class.

It's Been a Long Time

Maybe it's been years since you've been in school.. Chances are, there are many academic skills you haven't used in ages. Take, for example, algebra. As an academic counselor, I could nearly always predict when a student would test into either Preparatory Algebra or Developmental Math just by talking to them for a while about their academic history. Many students fresh out of high school had difficulty with the algebra test. Do you know why? It's because algebra skills are not used every day. It's easy for us to forget the kinds of concepts we may have learned in high school Algebra class.

Concepts Build Upon Each Other

Developmental classes usually don't count for credit. Lots of students panic about having to take a class that doesn't count and fear they'll fall behind on completing their degree. The truth is, developmental classes teach the skills you'll need to build a foundation for higher level coursework. It's these very skills that will increase your chances of doing well in your upper level English, math, and science courses. Without taking the time to refresh your skills, it's likely that you would struggle greatly or even fail such classes, costing you more time and money in the long run.

You'll Learn Other Skills

Often, developmental classes teach other skills like time management and study skills, which are fundamental to the life of all college students. These skills are especially crucial to busy adults with families, households, and jobs to manage on top of their education. Those you've learned some of these skills through life experience, tailoring them to the college experience will help you to begin to apply them right away.

Seriously, please don't worry if you have to take a developmental class or two. It's likely you're already seeing the benefit of them. If not, you will by semester's end. I can tell you countless stories of students who've gone on to excel academically after taking remedial courses in their first semester. Drop me a line if you'd like to hear some of the stories!

Project Working Moms Scholarship Open Until 9/30/09

marybabysteps — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:32:48 -0400

An initiative through eLearners and participating institutions is currently accepting applications for a $4000 scholarship toward online learning. This initiative is called Project Working Moms...and Dads Too!, and it's amazing. I wrote about the program last year, and I later had the chance to talk to the first scholarship recipient about how her life has changed since winning the scholarship. Her story was inspiring. It seems that the program has changed a bit. Once, a few full ride scholarships were granted, and now it appears that one $4000 scholarship is awarded each month. Not too shabby!

The Project Working Moms site is full of resources for adults returning to college. You can search for online degrees, learn about paying for college as well as budgeting, and connect with other moms and read articles about the issues facing them. My favorite part of the site is the resources page that links to articles on everything from time management to study skills; the information here is for everyone, not just moms! And there's even a page just for dads.

So go check it out and explore a little. You'll find tons of great information to help you, whether you're just thinking about going back to school or are currently enrolled. And be sure to apply for the next scholarship - the deadline is September 30th!

Please let me know what kind of information you come across that's most valuable to you.

Welcome!

marybabysteps — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:27:08 -0400

Photo by mckaysavage

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!