Got advice for an adult returning to college?

[auntiem]

Tips with exams:
* Do some math. The exam has however-many points. You have however-many minutes. Therefore there's X minutes per point.
(I actually take five minutes out of that calculation, for calculation time, a final review, and a first-pass read of the exam.)
* If you allow yourself a first-pass read through of the exam, mark each question as 'easy', 'normal' and 'hard'. Consider doing easy, high-mark questions first.
* Don't give any question more than its allocated number of minutes the first time you attempt question-answering. DO show your note-taking. If you're abandoning a question unfinished, leave space for you to finish in later.
* Once you've hit the last question and given it the fair attempt at answering, go back to the highest-mark, easiest-to-finish questions you left unfinished, and try to finish them.
* Continue finishing unfinished answers until five minutes before the end of the exam. (Or you run out of unfinished answers.)
* Go through and double-check, triple-check, that you attempted every question. Even ones you 'know' you don't know the answer to.
* IF there is time left, spell-check and legibility-check and proofread your work.
* IF there is time left, take a moment or two to breathe and relax, and repeat the check of your work.
* Turn the exam in.

* NOTE: with essay questions, do a bullet-point outline of the essay you intend to write. You can get partial marks for the bullet points. You CAN'T get partial marks for thoughts you never wrote down.

I'm so printing this out and taking it to study group on Friday!

I'm a returning student in my 40's - taking a certificate in a completly different field than my BA. Here are some of my suggestions:
Assemble a "team" - get to know who is good at what and who needs help with what - get their phone #s and email and give them yours. My "team" is awesome. Some are just for pure support, but most know they can call me or ask me in the computer lab for help / to check assignments / find out how hard a class they are about to register for is and so on. I know I can do the same. It helps me to learn if I can teach, it helps me to know who to ask/ go to when I'm ready to tear my hair out over something.
I agree with taxguykarl - test out of any class you think you can - talk to the instuctor beforehand for advice if possible, but testing out saves a ton of time and money that you can better use elsewhere.
Get signed up for a tutor pronto if you think you need one - around my school the tutors book up fast.
If you have to go to a computer lab anyways for a class - check to see if they have a copy of the textbook avail. for check out while in the lab. I saved a bunch of money on books this way. (This doesn't work that well for books you need to read / study alot). But there was no way I was going to spend $47 (used) on a tiny textbook for my ten-key class.
Good luck!
You can always PM me if you need help in English.

[SuperRTL]

No matter how much you want to, don't smack the freshmen. Odds are, half of them won't be back next semester. You are, however, allowed to poke them with a sharp stick if you can make it look like an accident.

Good luck!

[Seshat]

I'm so printing this out and taking it to study group on Friday!

Thank you.

'testing well' is a skill. The list of tricks I just quoted is all the aspects of that skill that I'm consciously aware of.

I 'test well'. Or I did when I was doing formal education. I'd get nearly-perfect or perfect scores on exams, and do more poorly on assignments. Especially assignments which required things like people skills. (I developed 'people skills' very slowly. CLASSIC geek.)

[fireheart]

If you use a laptop like I do/did at uni, a few things:

1) ALWAYS have your charger and headphones on you. Even if they're just cheap earbuds. Makes it a lot easier for you to "block" out any distracting noises so you can study.
2) Resist the temptation to use the Wi-Fi during lectures .

My only other suggestion: colour-code EVERYTHING. Means that you don't accidentally end up with all your notes from Class 101 crammed into class 102's folder and vice versa.

[Sapphire Silk]

So here's the deal. I'm a little over 30, and I'm going to school in January. I dropped out halfway through college, for a number of reasons.

So, for anyone who's attended college in recent years, but especially those who were returning adults, what can I learn from you instead of figuring it out the hard way? I'm all ears!

Congratulations on returning to school! It is well worth the effort.

Many colleges and universities have learned to value the Older Than Average student. Check with the Student Services office or something similar to see what they offer to help you be successful.

Others here gave some GREAT suggestions. Seshat's essay on how to write an essay is WONDERFUL! I am so going to steal that

One thing that has been left out that I always tell my students: make time for you! Even if it's an hour a week. If X Factor is your thing, set that time aside. Don't try to study during it. That's your time. Enjoy it! All work and no play really does make Jack a dull boy. Let yourself recharge the batteries every once in awhile.

Eat right. Students tend to eat very poorly, but this just makes your metabolism all screwed up. Eat right.

Exercise. Exercise sends more oxygen to the brain, which helps it process information better. Exercise.

Work on time management. Someone mentioned a big calendar; a good suggestion. I used to make a weekly schedule in Word and block out my time in color: when I had class, when I had work, when study time was.

Don't try to memorize the text book. it won't work. Learn to read for the key points. Read the intro and conclusion of a chapter, and skim the rest for the key points.

Don't highlight the whole chapter. If you are, then you are not understanding what the key points are.

Don't try to write down every word from the instructor. You can't possibly keep up and you'll miss key points.

Consider taping lectures, IF your instructor allows it (some don't, I do). But don't bother if you're not going to listen to them. Burn them to a CD and listen to them on the way to and from school.

If your instructor uses podcasts, listen to them on the way to and from school. My students do this with my podcasts and they LOVE it.

Get plenty of regular rest. 7-8 hours a night. Do this especially before an exam. Do NOT try to cram the night before! Study a little bit every day and you won't have to cram. Cramming does not work. Eat breakfast before an exam.

If you are feeling anxious, lavender and peppermint are great relaxers. My students eat peppermints like crack cocaine right before the exam

Sit in front.

Keep an eye on classmates in ALL your classes who show up early, pay attention, ask pertinent questions. It may not matter in English 101, but when you get into group projects in senior level courses you won't be scrambling to find people who will carry their share.

Start papers right away and finish them early. Cramming is bad enough, but few things in college are more stressful than typing on the last day a paper is due.

Three great pieces of advice, QFT.

When I'm the student, I always sit front and center. It allows me to ignore my peers during lecture and focus on the instructor, and helps the instructor get to know me as an individual, which goes great lengths towards building a good relationship when you need help; the instructor will remember your name and face.

Group work sucks rocks. I hate group work. But instructors love to assign it, and there's always one slacker in every group. If you take the advice on learning who the serious students are and getting into their groups, you can avoid this problem (just don't turn into the slacker yourself).

If you start a paper early, then you have the advantage of taking it to the Writing Center and asking a tutor to review your work with you for content and style. I always encourage my students to take their papers to the Writing Center before turning them in.

School is hard work, but the rewards are well worth it. You will have the tools to get a better job and a better standard of living. Stick it out and get that degree!

[Aethian]

Maria, if you need advice from a soon to be 70 year old who went back to school...I'm sure Mom would love to talk with you. Well maybe after exams are over...

[Seshat]

Others here gave some GREAT suggestions. Seshat's essay on how to write an essay is WONDERFUL! I am so going to steal that

You're welcome.

I can expand on it, and on the test-taking; but in both cases I covered the key points.

And I am absolutely serious when I say that in an exam-essay, list your bullet points. You can get part marks for that. You can even bullet and sub-bullet:

* This section is about cheese

- Soft cheeses

- with whey
- without whey

- Hard cheeses

- cheddered
- waxed
- other

- Processed cheeses

- genuine cheese
- faux 'cheese'

... get the point?

[Sapphire Silk]

Maria, if you need advice from a soon to be 70 year old who went back to school...I'm sure Mom would love to talk with you. Well maybe after exams are over...

My Dad got his Master's in Management at the age of 72 He was driving Mom crazy after he retired, and took a swimming class at my suggestion at the community college because he needed to lose weight. It got him out of her hair a few hours a week He took another class. Then another. Then an instructor told him he should go to grad school . . . so Dad did. By taking the one free class a semester seniors were allowed at the University, he got his MS for free

Then he went right back to driving Mom crazy after he was done. Seems he couldn't take PhD classes for free, so he quit school.

One of my recent nursing grads finished our program at the age of 63. She's still working in local hospital and loves her job.

You're never too old

[PepperElf]

i went back at age... oh 36.

I picked a community college that fit what I wanted and got an apartment nearby so I could walk if I wanted. Sure I could have gotten a room there but... honestly i'd rather not live like a teenager so i had my own place.


i would suggest...
- you know your own shortcomings already. try to plan around those.
- don't bite off more than you can chew, cos... you should hopefully know how much you can handle
- don't be afraid to ask for help
- try to find some classmates who are in the same situation as you, or at least have similar attitudes. it's easier when you work with people who have the same goals and level of maturity.
- don't feel bad if one of the kids does better than you. they're fresh out of high school and are still in "learning mode" while you are trying to get back into it.


and of course do your homework.

[kansasgal]

I went back to school at 49, and am 3 semesters from my degree at 51. It's tough, but there are organizations at the school (almost every school) that can help. Look for an org called TRIO, which is for Non-Traditional (older) students. They have programs and tutors to help, as well as scholarships. Also, depending on what school you are going to, ask if they have a Non-Traditional program (which should also have scholarships).

Check the college website for scholarships and also check for scholarships just generally, because there are a lot out there for non-trad students. These can help you write, as you normally have to do an essay for them.

The younger students will see you as a resource because of your knowledge from life, so use that as you can get information from them as to what to expect from teachers in the college.

If you are going to a community college, look up Phi Theta Kappa, an honor's program for students, they offer scholarships and help as well.

Good luck! I know that it's a big step, but you will do well and succeed.

[kansasgal]

With bags:

Seriously consider getting a properly fitted hiking backpack. The difference is incredible.

A rolling backpack is even better. I don't have to carry it, just roll it behind me and it really makes a difference as well!