Scheduling is Everything for Non-Traditional Students

Guest Blog by Susan Elliott

Non-Traditional Student on Campus

Stepping onto a campus, of any size, after several years absence, or for the first time ever, can be a bit overwhelming. Fear is normal. It is also normal to feel like all the younger students are staring at you, and that you will never fit in. Don’t worry. You don’t have to fit in or be popular, this is not high school. You are in college to learn, fulfill your dreams and start anew. Relax, the chances are you will excel in your new environment.

Scheduling is Everything

Before you ever begin a class you have to create your schedule. Many students find this preparation the most confusing time of their school career. Non-traditional students must consider two things when selecting their class schedules, what else is going on in their life, and can they be reasonably sure that they can make it to their classes.

Children, spouses and work all make big impacts on your schedule. Many classes require a lot of outside studying. Can you commit to the hours needed for class preparation, projects and activities? If not, you better select a different class. Some teachers are more lenient towards non-traditional students, but they will still expect your best efforts. If you can’t give them, don’t bother.

Also, consider you time constraints. Do you have to be somewhere every Thursday, does PTO meet on Mondays? What about driving time, carpool? Does the class you’re considering conflict with any of these things? If so, you may want to choose a different class, or make a commitment determining what things you are going to give up during that particular class time. Don’t make these decisions on impulse. Carefully consider all your options before committing to a class.

Confidence Determines Success

The very first day of class the pressure may seem unbearable. Walk into class with your head held high, and with your most inviting smile on your lips. A smile can actually break the tension in the class. There are many students that are just as scared as you are.

Make eye contact with people. This eye contact may actually help you make friends. A person’s response will also help you to decide if he is a possible partner for any group projects that may be assigned during the class.

Notes are Key

On the first day of class you will always have an A. It is your job to keep it. Properly formulated notes can be the key to keeping high marks. Consider what the teacher is saying. You do not have to record everything he says.

If your teacher is fond of telling pointless stories, don’t take write them into your notes. It is a waste of paper, and it will also waste your studying time. Leafing through pages of notes to find a few lines of pertinent information is never fun. Record things that are related to the class or the things that the teacher says will be on the test.

Develop Your Own Note Taking System

Make use of colored pens, highlighters or computer software to keep track of important information. Programs like Microsoft OneNote are perfect for recording notes and important facts. The OneNote program allows the user to create folders for individual classes, as well as daily pages under a class heading.

Remember, you will succeed as a non-traditional student. Be your biggest cheerleader and keep on trucking!

From the Beginning

In January 1998, I embarked on one of the most frightening and exhiliarating journey of my life: higher education. With one child married (one grandchild), and the other engaged to be married, I decided it was time--it was a leap of faith, in that I was not really sure I could succeed at this new venture. After completing a BS in Computer Information Systems, I started working full-time as a computer programmer. Shortly thereafter, I started on an online masters program. As both a non-traditional face-to-face student and a non-traditional online student, I learned how to navigate the educational highway, so to speak.

This blog will be dedicated to non-traditional students everywhere. Know this, you CAN do this if you want it badly enough. There will be frustrations, fears, accomplishments, successes, and failures, but it is possible to get through them all to the completion of a degree. Over the next few months, I will be posting content that is designed to aid non-traditional students in navigating the higher education system. This blog is not about me. The only reason I told you so much about me is to assure you that I do know what I am writing about. I have been there. I can help you get through it, too.

I will try to update this blog weekly, starting in January 2009. If you have questions you would like answered, you may email moderator@studentagain.com.

The Web site, http://www.studentagain.com/, is not yet officially launched. It will be a site dedicated to non-traditional student concerns, and will offer help files as well as links to other Web sites that would be useful to non-traditional students.

Until later,

Linda