Adults return to school for a variety of reasons. Some might be spurred by a desire to pursue a new career, while others might go back to school to learn more about their existing field and improve their career prospects. While their reasons for returning to school may differ, many adults find themselves battling some nerves as they begin the process of going back to the classroom.
Feelings of doubt are common among adults returning to school. But there are steps all adult students can take to reduce their anxiety and make the most of the often exciting experience of going back to school.
- Start slow. Unlike more traditional college students, adults returning to school tend to have significant responsibilities, including families and careers. Juggling work and family is difficult on its own, but doing so along with college coursework is even harder. Adult students returning to school after a long layoff would be wise to take things slowly at first so they and their families can gradually adjust to their new schedules. Many schools now offer online courses, which can be especially beneficial for working professionals.
- Have a plan. Many adults only return to school when they know exactly what they want to study or which courses they need to take to complete a degree or earn a certificate. If you have not already mapped out such a plan, do so before enrolling in any classes. The cost of a college education has no doubt increased considerably since you last stepped foot on campus, so you don't want to be signing up for costly classes that will not help you accomplish what you hope to accomplish by returning to school.
- Research your options. Just because you are an adult returning to school does not mean you are ineligible for scholarships or other forms of financial aid. The United States Department of Labor maintains a scholarship search engine at www.careerinfonet.org where students of all ages and academic levels can search for scholarships, grants and other financial aid opportunities to determine if they are eligible for some help paying for tuition. In addition, adults returning to school may want to discuss their plans with their employers, especially if they are looking to continue working in their current fields. Employers may have programs in place to subsidize employees looking to continue their education.
- Don't be discouraged. Many adults mulling a return to school are hesitant to do so because they feel as if they will be the only older students in classrooms filled with millennials. However, the National Center for Education Statistics predicts a 14 percent increase in enrollment of students 25 and older between 2011 and 2021, suggesting that adults going back to school are unlikely to be the only graybeards in their classrooms.
Returning to college as an adult can be both exciting and overwhelming. But adults need not be nervous about returning to the classroom, even if it has been quite some time since they last stepped on a college campus.
