Tips to be successful as a non-traditional college student
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How to be successful as an older college student
Are you considering going to college as a non-traditional student?
Or maybe you are already enrolled and feel out of place at college as an older student.
As a professor, I observed students who felt like they didn’t belong at college simply because of their age. However, I find that it is their perception and not a reality.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
And as colleges see more enrollment from non-traditional students, I’ve noticed that colleges are starting to focus on providing more services targeted to these students.
I am going to give you some ways to fit in, and helpful tips to be successful in college as an older student.
Don’t fret, I’ve got you covered.
How do we define older college students?
Most colleges will define older college students as non-traditional students who are older than 25 years of age. But non-traditional students can also be used to define students who don’t live on campus and commute or students who started college and came back after some time off.
This may be a subjective definition and may vary based upon the college so there aren’t any hard rules here.
And remember, colleges usually categorize older college students as non-traditional students.
Non-traditional students don’t have the ‘expected’ characteristics of most traditional college students like their age (18-24) and campus lifestyle (dormitory living).
Something that is also interesting is that this definition might be targeted more towards undergraduate students. Let me explain why.
Are graduate students older?
Students enrolled in graduate programs are typically non-traditional students because of the circumstances surrounding their education.
If you are a graduate student, you got your bachelor’s degree first. And are most likely starting graduate school at the age of 22 or later.
There are some outliers there, but that’s most common. Sure, there are some college students who zoomed through their bachelor’s degree program and started their graduate school education earlier than 22, but that doesn’t seem like the norm.
And some graduate students go to school even later. Some students might take time off after they received their bachelor’s degree and then return to get their graduate degree later. So it’s not uncommon to see older graduate school students.
Graduate students tend to be non-traditional students.
Don’t be worried about being older as a graduate student. This is typically normal for this enrollment.
When I was in graduate school, most of the students were considered non-traditional.
How common are older college students?
The number of older college students enrolled in college as an undergraduate student varies based upon the type of institution. The data from the National Center for Education Statistics found that most college students were under the age of 25, regardless of the type of institution, except for private for-profit 4-year and 2-year colleges. However, the number of older college students older than 25 was the highest at 4-year private for-profit institutions. Considering all institutions, older college students accounted for roughly 15% of enrolled students. But this was only for full-time undergraduate students.
The National Center for Education Statistics further outlines data on demographics of colleges students, and it appears that older college students may be more common at certain institutions.
Even though younger students are more common at colleges, this data only describes the ages of enrolled college students that are full-time.
Non-traditional college students may be enrolled part-time because of their personal circumstances, so the number is likely more than what is discussed above.
What are some barriers to college success as an older college student?
Older college students might find that they struggle with balancing time between their coursework and spending time with their family. Older college students may also have some concerns surrounding their lifestyle since traditional college students might be spending time on campus and socializing and older college students can’t often participate and may not seem to fit in with the younger college crowd. This may lead to isolation at college.
Balancing work and family life
If you are an older college student, you might be married and have children. This isn’t always the case, but it seems more common among older college students.
You may also have a full-time job because you are supporting your family or you were already settled in a career since you weren’t attending college.
This can make it more complicated to find time to study, go to class, and participate in college events.
You may feel more alienated from your younger peers and you might not attend on-campus events or participate in class discussions.
Communting
Non-traditional students may be more likely commute to campus. These students go directly to class and return home immediately without socializing or spending any additional time on campus.
This leaves little time for you to attend on-campus events and you may feel alone in your college journey.
If you feel this way, it might make you more vulnerable to dropping out of college altogether.
Technology
If you are an older college student, you may not be familiar with some of the technology that is required of you at these institutions.
You may be unfamiliar with the online learning platforms you have to use, or you may find difficulty using the online library databases.
Even some professors use virtual textbooks and platforms. You may have to access the publisher’s website to view your online textbook or complete assignments. It could lead to some frustrations if you don’t feel comfortable navigating this technology.
Colleges will also likely require the use of computers on a regular basis, and you may even submit all assignments online.
Some older college students may have a learning curve when it comes to technology and they may suffer academically because of this disadvantage.
Does this sound like you?
I feel like smartphones, tablets and social media have really kept all generations up-to-date with technology but it might still present some challenges.
What are some advantages to being an older college student?
Money
As an older college student, you may be more financially stable.
You likely have a job, and hopefully a full-time job, or at least a steady income.
Since you are more financially stable, you can pay cash for your college classes and supplies.
If you are financially stable, you won’t have debt and can be financially independent compared to most other college students that take on student loan debt.
According to Emma Kerr and Sarah Wood (2021), most college students have around $30,000 in student loan debt.
If you can avoid this pitfall because you have the financial means to pay upfront and not take on debt, you’re doing better than most other college students.
Instead of focusing on paying off your student loan debt, you’ll be able to focus on your career after you complete your degree.
Experience
Because of your age, you may be wiser than younger college students.
And you might learn the material faster than your peers because of your cognitive abilities.
It is quite possible that you could also be more focused and dedicated to your studies than your younger peers. While younger college students may be focused on socializing and sleeping-in, you are primarily focused on your education. You’ll have little to get in the way, unless you have a family and a full-time job.
And lastly, simply having more life experiences could prepare you for the ups and downs of a college education. You might be more resilient.
Confidence
Since you are older, you may have a better idea of who you are as a person. Because of this confidence, you may be more likely to participate in class discussions, talk to your professor, or look for opportunities to engage professionals in your field. This can get you access to other professional opportunities.
Tuition reimbursement
If you are working, which seems to be common among older college students, check with your employer to see if they offer tuition reimbursement.
You might get lucky and find out that they will pay for some or all of your college education.
Use your circumstances to your favor.
How to be successful as an older college student?
If you want to be successful as an older college student, you should find ways to socialize with your peers, engage with your professors, and get support through the college’s services to assist you in your college journey. Consider joining student organizations, visiting your professor during office hours, and getting assistance from a reference librarian to learn how to access the online library.
When thinking about some of the barriers that older students might face in their academic career, I have a few suggestions for you to consider to help you be more successful attending college as an older student.
Find student organizations
Since you might not live on campus, and have a very different lifestyle than most of your younger peers, you could get involved in a student organization to socialize and meet people.
You should consider student organizations that are most aligned with your career goals, and even think about nominating yourself for a leadership position. This would be great for your resume and experience.
And if you really want to be bold, how about creating a student organization specifically for older college students so that you can meet others just like you and form a bond to support each other on this unique journey.
Look for internships
Some older college students may be trying to enter a new career after learning that they aren’t happy in their current career. Or you may have been a stay-at-home parent and are trying to join the workforce.
In this case, you should try and get an internship so that you can gain experience in your field, and network.
PRO TIP : See if your university offers college credit for completing an internship. Some colleges will allow you to earn credit hours for participating in an internship.
Talk to your professor
As an older college student, you might feel more comfortable going to visit your professor during their office hours. I have noticed that older college students will spend more time talking to their professors about their career goals and how to attain them. They aren’t as bashful.
So, don’t be apprehensive to approach your professors about what you are trying to achieve because it will make you stand out and you’ll definitely WOW them that you are trying to succeed.
And you never know when you’ll need a recommendation.
Apply for scholarships
There are several scholarships for non-traditional students so definitely check out all the available scholarships to see if you qualify.
Use your age to your advantage and apply to every scholarship you can. There is free money out there and it may be yours. Don’t leave it on the table.
Get help (technology, reference librarian, etc.)
As a non-traditional college student, you should consider your technological abilities.
Do you have trouble doing work on a computer?
Are you struggling to upload assignments online and take quizzes in your learning management system?
Maybe you are confused on how to find sources online.
If any of these apply to you, find help. Don’t wait until you are stressed out.
Most colleges will have some support services for their students.
They may call them technical services, learning centers, writing centers, reference librarians, etc.
Either way, find help and don’t struggle. You don’t have to do this alone.
Let your professor know that you need help.
Key takeaways
Full-time non-traditional students makeup around 15% of the college population for undergraduate studies.
Non-traditional students may have barriers to their success, but these can easily be overcome.
There may be many advantages to starting college as an older student.
As a non-traditional student, you may be eligible for certain scholarships and there is likely less competition for these scholarships. Go get ‘em.
If you feel like you don’t fit in, find a student organization to join. Or create one yourself.
And finally, remember that this is only a few years of your life. Don’t stress too much about being an older college student because you’ll be finished in no time.
You got this.
Kerr, E., Wood, S., (2021). See Ten Years of Average Total Student Loan Debt. U.S. News & World Report.
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