Returning Adult Students
As adult students who are beginning college later than the "traditional" age students, or adult students who "stopped out" of college for a while and are now returning – the challenges are often greater than for younger college students. In addition to research papers, tests, and lengthy reading assignments, you may also be faced with mortgage payments, parenting, and a full- or part-time job! You won't be alone in your pursuits for higher education, though - today, 2 in 5 college students are age 25 and older (ACE's CIP website, Nov. 2004.). In order to provide special assistance for you, and to assist you in finding sources that may be helpful, KC REACHE has developed this online library for your benefit. Please check out any of the links below that you believe may prove beneficial to you in your current situation. Please also check with staff on your home campus, as many of the KC REACHE member institutions have special departments, staff, student organizations, and other resources that have been established specifically for adult students.
The American Council on Education (ACE), along with member institutions, sponsors a "College is Possible" website that can answer many of your questions and provide helpful resources. The website they sponsor for adult students can be found at:
here!
It includes links on:
- Preparing to return
- Choosing the Right Program
- Legitimate Learning
- Applying Yourself
- Credit for Prior Learning
- Myths and Realities about Going to College as an Adult
- Best Sites and Books
Have questions about student aid that may be different from the questions an 18-year-old student may face? The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) website has a special area just for returning adult students, and it's available at:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/returning.jsp
Other available online sites include:
If you check out the Adult Education Help Center at http://www.educationforadults.com/Help-Center/ you will find articles and resources on topics such as financial aid and different ways of earning credit, to information on distance vs. traditional classroom education.
Back 2 College offers a free online newsletter for adult students, plus discussion boards, and links to many learning resources. It is located at: http://www.back2college.com/
http://www.adultstudent.com/ has information for student success, as well as first-hand information on experiences from adult students.
