The thought of going to college as an adult can be very stressful, but …

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say you may not know of the advantages you have as an adult going to college over your younger peers…

Some thing’s my student told me, and some I experienced for myself over the years that has helped me understand the great advantages of attending college as an adult.

I can feel the hesitation and the dubious questions, just waiting to jump to the front of your mind.

But hold on… Don’t give into them just yet.

Having been an adult student as well as helping adult students, I’m speaking from experience on two different levels.

You’ll want to high light these for those days when things feel tough, and you need to be encouraged.

So we’ve looked at learning styles, and we know that all of us have individual styles for learning. (Click here if you missed it) http://www.sophiemaddox.com/2009/10/29/unique-learning-styl/

But there’s more there is actually a generational learning style as well that we’re used to which is advantageous to an adult as most of the professor are similar in age so when lectures are given you actually have the advantage.

Here’s how…

1. Funding, financial aid, if you’re over 24 you are an independent student which can make a big difference in your Financial Aid package. Be sure to talk to your Financial Aid Advisor, ask them about what benefits you have as an independent student. For more detailed information click this post, http://www.sophiemaddox.com/2009/11/02/7-fafsa-myth/
2. Flexibility with Learning-Now there is the option to take classes online, which means that you can work college around you, not the other way around. Just a few short years ago this wasn’t an option. Online learning has come a long way and has quite a few benefits including flexibility. See my post on attending college as an online student. (click here) http://www.sophiemaddox.com/2009/11/09/online-college/
3. Generational Learning Styles

 

•                            Boomer Generation learned through a linear progression of the information presented. The information moved from point A to Z in a predictable fashion, so learning followed suit. Take a quick second and think about how television shows, movies and books were structured. Information was acquired by the presentation moving from one point to another and in a steady logical fashion
•                            Generation X was next, and they liked to shake things up a bit, they could relate to information being presented as the prior generation but they could also relate to information being presented out of order, think about television shows in the late seventies and eighties, things changed a bit not everything was presented in a predictable fashion, they can track with intertwined story lines that don’t always start from the beginning, sometimes it would start at the end and work like pieces of a jig saw puzzle, in the end there’s a great picture.
•                             Generation Y learns through bits and pieces of information being presented in short bursts, and they put the story or big picture together in their mind. Look at how commercials and shows are presented now, images and scenes will move and change constantly, you receive short burst of information and all this comes together to present a whole picture, but things are fast, always changing like in a video game, or fast paced movie.  

  

All that to say this, look at whom your professor is often they’ll be in the Boomer or X Generation, and chances are you can relate and understand them because of a narrower generational gap; you can succeed where they struggle simply because of when you were born.

Vital Tip: Use this ability to relate to your advantage, when you have questions and or need special consideration, such as for a family emergency, a relationship with your professor is helpful.

This works hand in hand with another benefit, the ability to reason similarly to the professor, you can understand more quickly and even more thoroughly at times what is required of you to get the grades you want.

Example: One of my students was so very worried about getting into college, and passing the math portion of the entrance exam because it contained Algebra, and she was petrified because Algebra was not required for high school graduation when she was younger so she didn’t take it. I sent her study guides and information to study. She did and when she took the test, I asked her how she felt about it while we were waiting for the results.

I was surprised initially when she told me that it was actually easier than she thought. She admitted to me that the abstract reasoning she needed to take the Algebra test are things she possessed now, so she felt that she could understand what was being asked of her. As a high school student she admitted she wouldn’t have been able to do as well.

Do you know what she passed the test! So even without haven taken Algebra in high school she passed on her first time.

So as an adult you have a better ability to work through problems that require abstract reasoning, this is an Enormous benefit!

 

More encouragement for a rainy day:

• You know what you want
• You can focus easier
• You have life experiences, both good and bad that will really help you get through college
• Don’t forget your experiences can also really help you to get out of some classes  think about CLEP(ing) out of some classes, click here for more details. http://www.sophiemaddox.com/2009/11/12/clep-exam/
• You can figure things out easier; you don’t need someone to tell you what to do.
• Negotiating red tape is easier… if you’re curious about some of the finer points of getting grab a copy of my FREE book.

 

Ahhh, I can feel the questions receding, and a bit of confidence pushing through.   

As an adult you can see the big picture easier, a few months to a few years in college are steps along the way for better options, an opportunities. Sometimes this is harder for someone just out of high school to see.

The ability to see the big picture is truly an advantage in college, your life experiences are a gift that really helps you work through your studies, and graduate.

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