Okay. You have already enrolled in school. Perhaps you are in your first year back or even our first semester. Somehow it is harder than you thought it would be. Just getting okay grades is an intense effort. And you are looking at more semesters, just as hard as this.
Don’t give up!
Here is some anti-dropout advice.
It is true that higher education, whether it is going back to high school, college, trade school, or graduate school, can be very difficult, especially if you have taken time out to have a family, pursue a trade, or just work to get by for many years.
You may just now, in your middle or senior years, have the time or gumption or help from a significant other to pursue a dream.
Is the dream really difficult? Is it really something you just can not do, or is it just uncomfortable and difficult? Do you fear student loan payments later on? Or did you maybe fail a class?
There are solutions to some of these problems, and other problems just take a leap of faith, OR some research. For example: do you think that there will be a job market for what you are taking? Maybe you should have a backup plan: a job you are sure you can get plus training for your dream job – both at the same time.
Failing a class is not the end of the world, either. You can always retake the class. Many schools will allow this.
The student loan fear can be real, but you do NOT have to make payments on these loans until you are out of school. If you qualify for a grant or scholarship, this can help. Also, check out the link below from a CNN article for information on how to apply for different programs to help you pay student loans if you have income problems later on.
To wrap it up, staying in school is a personal decision only YOU can make. But know that there is support for you out there, from your family and friends, to a support group they may have at school, to online support groups and sites that can help you stay motivated or help you work smarter to get more done in less time.
Learn more:
Stay or Leave? A student talks about grades at the Student Doctor Network:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=580415
Education – the key to success in the workforce
http://www.uwec.edu/cj/projects/Working/changdoc.htm
Three nontraditional student stories from Grand Valley State University:
http://www.gvsu.edu/nontraditional/just-for-you-25.htm
How to get relief from student loans (different programs and information)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/05/student.loans/
Support for students going back to school:
Common Concerns of returning students (from the Sallie Mae site)
http://salliemae.com/before_college/students_plan/select_school/school_options/continuing_ed/concerns.htm
Some other support groups:
Returning to school: http://maturestudent.ning.com/
Return to college: http://returntocollege.ning.com/
The Nontrad Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Non-trads/
Nontrads on MySpace: http://groups.myspace.com/nontradstudents
Nontrads on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/lfq38z
Get motivated!
Motivate yourself to go back to school:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4904638_motivate-yourself-backtoschool.html
Get Motivated – and the Power Of Rewards video (from my Nontrads site):
http://www.nontradstudents.com/inspire_motivate.html
The Improving your world site says: get back in school!
http://bit.ly/5WsZPT
Please put YOUR tips for helping older students stay in school by commenting below.
Thank you!
Some of my links:
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral
Making a committment to college is hard.
ReplyDeleteI know you've heard the saying
"if it was easy everyone would do it," well its especially true for college. The reason so many don't get a degree is because its hard.
When you accomplish a difficult class, semester, or year take encouragement. As you get through tough things, the next task will be easier.
You'll be better prepared to handle tough decisions in life.
I know many of us have had a difficult year with the economy, each day can seem like a struggle for a while, but that makes other things we used to think of as hard or challenging seem much easier.
Keep in mind just like Betsyanne said, if you don't pass a class or a term it's not the end of the world. It may feel tough but there are ways to work around it. I've helped many students over come a failed class or semester.
Many are grateful later that they did fail because of what they learned academically and personally. Although it certainly wasn't something always appreciated at the time.
Keep the big picture in mind, and take one day at a time. This will help you work through the challenges you are facing or will face.
Turn to your support to help you.
*Talk to a professor you relate to,
* A close friend or family member,
* Or other students
I found this very helpful when I found myself wanting to just quit.
Keep checking out blogs like this to find the support you need as well.
We can help you get through to graduation.
Sophie
Thanks for leaving the post on my blog - i started internet marketing a year ago and i can can say is that its the best education i have had.
ReplyDeletei have studied part time and found despite achieving high grades in good quals in the uk they always seem to favour experience over education. not sure about the states though
I have had many thoughts of quitting due to how much everything seems a little more harder now then it did when I first started college right after high school. The thing that makes me push on is my kids and thinking how hard I have already worked to this point and what I have left to finish. Accomplishing to get my degree is what I'm striding for and to show that I'm not a quitter and I can do this. Thanks for the post.
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