As summer comes to a close, we shift our focus to getting our children ready as they return to school. However, children aren’t the only ones going back to school this fall. An increasing percentage of undergraduate college students are adults who are 25 years and older and are either going to college for the first time or after an extended break from school.
Northern Light Health recently caught up with David Prescott, PhD, a psychologist with Northern Light Acadia Hospital, to discuss how adult nontraditional students can set themselves up for success as they return to the classroom.
Q: What are some of the challenges adult nontraditional students may face when they go back to school?
A: Before thinking about challenges, I encourage adult nontraditional students to celebrate their decision to continue their formal education. I believe we all enjoy learning, although the ways people learn best varies among individuals. From gossip to groundbreaking discoveries, new knowledge excites our natural curiosity.
Common challenges for adult students include finding time to add one more thing to already busy lives, learning how technology has become integrated into education, and having confidence that, as the saying goes, “you still got it!”
Q: Where adult students tend to have other life responsibilities like raising children, earning money, paying rent or a mortgage, what are some ways they can balance school, work, and life?
A: When we were children, preteens, or teenagers, school was basically what we were supposed to be doing. Our years flowed around the school calendar, school breaks, and summer vacation. As an adult it just feels different. That doesn’t mean people don’t learn just as much. Try to accept that the flow of your life has changed, yet you can still be a solid student. Perhaps strive to focus on the moment. When you are with your children, focus on that. When you pay your bills, focus on that. When you do schoolwork, focus on that.
That said, when possible, set aside dedicated time to do schoolwork. For in person classes, a rule of thumb is plan for two hours outside of class for every one hour in class. For online classes, usually in a seven-week session, expect 10 to 15 hours a week per class.
Q: Many of these students have not been in a classroom environment for years. What are some of the ways they could prepare themselves for that return?
A: Two things come to mind. First, adult learners have a lot of life experience that they bring to ongoing education. Try not to underestimate it! Particularly in courses where self-reflection is part of learning, you now have new and better-informed experiences than you did, say, as a 15-year-old. Second, technology is now simply a part of all education. From homework to tests to submitting a paper – today’s education is built around information technology. Lean into it, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Q: How can they communicate effectively with professors and seek accommodations when needed?
A: Professors, as a rule, love to talk about what they teach and love to help students. Truly, just ask. But ask early! The stress and urgency of last-minute communication makes it harder to address.
Education professionals have learned that reasonable accommodations help many students learn and succeed. If you have documented attention deficit disorder, learning disorders, dyslexia, or clinical anxiety, professors often can give you more time on tests or help you obtain things like audiobooks that help accommodate a need.
What would you say to adult students when they experience self-doubt?
A: While I wish I could say one thing and make all this go away, that probably won’t happen. We can all learn, we can all write, we can all do math. Some better than others, but that’s true about almost everything. “What would make sense to do next?” is a better self-statement than “What am I doing here?”
If you’re a nontraditional student faced with returning to the classroom and struggling with how to adjust, consider talking to your primary care physician or a behavioral health expert for additional tips on how to succeed as an adult learner.