Free education is available at Antioch College for selected students

  Go to school in Ohio for Free - - at Antioch College

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Antioch College by neighborhoods.org on Flickr.

Antioch College in Yellow Spring, Ohio, will offer free tuition to its students next year. Are you a great student with a lot of potential? This could be the school for you.

This article from Yahoo explains that the school recently re-opened in 2011 and has a limited amount of students, with "an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.56 and an average ACT score of 27, which is roughly the equivalent of a 1250 on the SAT."

Do you have what it takes? Your education will include work-study programs, some of them outside the U.S. It sounds like a great school too.

You can find out more about this opportunity at the Yahoo Article:

How to Get a $106,000 College Education for Free

Good luck!


Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student at WKU (Western Kentucky University)
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Do you have a mentor? Here are tips on how to get one.

You may need a mentor to help you navigate your school and career.

Okay. We all know what a mentor is - - somebody we can approach when we have questions about life, about a job, or about our education.

A mentor is somebody who may have "been there and done that" and has a unique perspective on what is important to you. They are someone we can look up to - - generally an older person, but not necessarily.

A good mentor is like a lighthouse. He or she can help you navigate difficult paths, and zero in on where you want to go in your life, training, and/or career.

Nontraditional students can find a mentor in their chosen field of study, or naturally gravitate to somebody, like a teacher or a fellow student who has insight into what you are learning about.

Do you have a mentor? Do you feel a need to have somebody who can steer you in the right direction at school or with your life?

I know I did not seek out a mentor in school. But now I look back and wish I had. And after picking one out, I would have wanted to meet with this person a few times before I completed my studies. So that is one reason for this posting.

Some people consider their therapist a mentor. And this can be their relationship. Not always, but sometimes. I know that some people rely on good advice from their therapist.

Other people are lucky enough to find somebody else who fits the bill for a mentor's role.

How you go about finding a mentor is up to you. Perhaps joining a club or group at school will help you find your mentor. Or maybe your mentor is online right now. Perhaps a favorite teacher or professor will be willing to guide you and be there for you when you have questions.

I had two mentors when I was in school that I could have met with and asked if they would be my mentor. I feel that they probably would have said yes to my question. They happened to be teachers, and were always there for me to ask questions of, or get extra help for class. I felt comfortable around them, which I think is an important requirement for a mentor.

I know they would have been very willing to help me with a personal question or guide me in the right direction for my career.

Do you have a favorite mentor story? I'd love to share it with my readers.

Nontraditionally yours,
Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student at WKU

Find out more: here are some articles to help you find your own personal mentor.

How to Find a Career Mentor by Alison Doyle at About.com

Find a Mentor Online from Project Management Institute

How to Find a Mentor for your Job - from Forbes online (expect a short waiting time to see the web page)

A Self-Improvement Mentor - going back to school

Also - you can find mentors and other nontraditional students here at:
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo  and
Nontrads on Twitter

F2F Students - can you keep your opinion to yourself?

Nontrads and Keeping Quiet Once in Awhile

Admit it, nontraditional students. Sometimes a class is just so interesting you just want to share so badly.

You want to say what only you can - - maybe tell a story about what happened to you when you were younger. Maybe you have an insight from something you have lived through or know. And on and on.

And yes, this does have more to do with students who are in a face-to-face class than online ones, but face it. Sometimes you (the nontraditional student in class)  just have to tell yourself to STOP being the first one with your hand up, the annoying one who has to always say something in class. And goes on and on, using up all the class time, when others would love to enter in.

It's not that you are totally boring, (or maybe...) but other people also want to share once in awhile. That's the jist of it.

Slow down... and let some of the other students say something too. Just saying. I once had this problem, and I have seen other nontraditional students steal the show in class too. It doesn't go over well with other class members.

Some nontraditional students may even want to stay quiet for a change. It might help out - make you more popular AND a lot less annoying to your classmates. And maybe even your instructor.

That's my advice. Take it easy, and sit on your hands once in awhile -- and maybe more often than that.

Betsyanne

Former Nontraditional Student at WKU

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

Nontraditional students - heads up!

Nontraditional students need to do their homework when choosing a school. 

Photo by Sweeneytoad on Flickr.

A while back, I wrote about for-profit schools, and warned that nontraditional students must be very careful when taking classes at some of them, because the credits may not transfer to other schools. And they can be very expensive.

Plus (see the link below) some for-profit schools actually tell students that they should take classes that don't work out for them, or give bad advice to students about whether they are a good fit for a certain program.

So... my advice is to be very careful. Make sure that your credits will transfer to other schools when you choose a college or university.

The other day, a news story came out here locally that Daymar schools' credits in Tennessee did not transfer as students had been told. Now these students are taking this college to court.

I added another story about Kaplan University, another for-profit school, in the links below. Are they really paying their executives huge salaries? And who is paying for them? The article also goes into how much each degree costs at these schools - PLUS there are many fees students must also pay.

Heads up, nontrads!

Find out more:
Tennessee students sue for-profit Daymar College
For-Profit Kaplan University Pays Executives a Quarter of Billion Dollars, courtest of Students and Taxpayers

And here are the other articles I think you will want to see:
Education or Exploitation? For-profit schools and working class students
A Nightline Investigation - are for-profit schools telling students the truth?


Betsyanne
Former nontraditional student at WKU
And Lifetime Learner

Do you have some advice for nontraditional students? Leave a comment below!

Some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

A new nontraditional student story from Billings Montana

I love nontraditional student stories.
Here is a recent one about a nontraditional student in Billings, Montana.

This student is 51 and a grandmother. She and other students had several questions to ask about going back to school. Some were:
How do I find a <class> building?
Where do I go for help?
How do I use a computer? and
How do I balance children, work, and school?

I have heard of these questions before from other nontraditional students who attended WKU and other schools.

In this article by Sarah Gravlee, MSU-B (Montana State University, Billings) decided to put on a TRiO free seminar, Return to Learn, to answer these questions and more.

I liked this article, and I think you will too. Here it is:

Nontraditional Students Return to Learn.

Are you returning to school? Leave a comment about your learning journey.

Betsyanne
Former nontraditional student
at Western Kentucky University

Live Blog event for veterans will be Wednesday January 11, 2012

This posting is shared from Antshe on Facebook and the Military.com Advantage pages.

Soldiers in Iraq - from the U.S. Army photos on Flickr.

There will be a live blog discussion with the House Veterans Affairs Committee about the Post-911 G.I. Bill and how it works this Wednesday (January 11th) at 4 p.m. Central time.

This event is being held at the Military Advantage Blog.
This information will directly impact many nontraditional students, who may be leaving the military and wanting to further their education.

Here is their press release, which explains more:

"January 06, 2012 | Terry Howell

GI Bill Q&A – LIVE Blog Event – Wednesday January 11, 2012, members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee staff will be available to answer your questions in a live Q&A chat session on the Military Advantage blog.

The live blog will take place at 5:00pm EST (4:00 Central, 3:00 Mtn, and 2:00 Pacific). The event is free and open to all.

Please note that although every attempt will be made to answer questions about how the Post-9/11 GI Bill works and who is qualified for the benefit, questions regarding specific cases should be directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs at GIBill.VA.Gov or by calling (888) 442-4551.

Read more: http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/01/live-blog-event/#ixzz1itsXtmid"

I like it when online events like this happen, because it opens it up to people across the country who have comments and questions about things.

You can comment below about this posting, how you are doing, or your thoughts about the new GI Bill. 

Betsyanne

Find out more:
The New Post 9/11 G.I. Bill Website
The New G.I. Bill: Calculate Your Benefits
The Dept. of Veterans's Affairs New G.I. Bill Changes page

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Some Nontrad links: 

The Nontrad site and blog 

Join Nontrads on Facebook 

Nontrads on Yahoo 

Nontrads on Twitter

Tell me about your nontraditional student group - online or offline.

Are you in a nontraditional student group?

This original photo is by klk13 on Morguefile.

Are you in a nontraditional student group on or offline? I would love to add you to the BA Nontraditional Student website listed under your state or country. I have a few groups listed already, and more than a few on some state sites.

Just send me information about your group or tell me about it in a comment at the end of this posting. I can contact you that way too.

Having this information online can help your nontraditional student group get more members.

Some questions to answer for an article or going on the webite are: How would somebody join? What kinds of things does your group do together? How many members do you have? and  Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your group?

Some nontraditional student groups at schools have their own meeting area and percs, like lockers, study tables, and computers. Some nontrad groups are also on Facebook and have their own websites.

Many nontraditional student groups are members of ANTSHE, the Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education. They are getting ready for their yearly conference, which is at Eastern Kentucky University this year in 77 days.

Other groups are part of the Pinnacle and Spire Honor Society, which provides recognition and awards to nontraditional students.

If you are not already in a group, and want to be in one, you can often start one yourself at your school too.

Two other articles you may like are:
Starting a Nontraditional Student Group, which tells you more about what is involved in doing this.
and
Are you in a nontraditional student group?

All for now,
Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student
at WKU

Some more nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

Ten Inspiring Nontraditional Student blogs

I am inspired by other nontraditional student blogs.

Plus, I am curious to see what it is like for other people on this kind of an educational journey.

It is fun to see how each student reacts to being back in school. I love it when people share their daily lives and how going back to school is making a difference.

Here are some great new blog discoveries. I am including the first sentence or paragraph of each of these.

#1. A Nontraditional Medical Student's Experience - Hospital Experience - from Ross University School of Medicine and Life.
"After several days of restless sleep, dehydration, and both physical and emotional stress, I have stepped out with more knowledge than ever of the crazy world of the ER and the County Hospital." 

#2. One Nontraditional Student's Journey to Kansas (one blog entry... but a good one).

"“I-L-L…I-N-I.”
That was the college chant I’ve been accustomed to for most of my life and collegiate career. But, as I wrap up my first semester, Kansas has me bleeding blue, and believing in the essence of a bird that doesn’t even physically exist.
Having spent some time as a Jayhawk, I realized that college is a far more different place for non-traditional and transfer students than it is for recent high school graduates."

#3. Life in Vet School and Tips on Getting In. (At UC Davis).
"So you want to become a veterinarian. Now what? Some people say that veterinary school is the hardest type of professional school to get accepted to. I disagree. Getting accepted in to veterinary school is not that hard, but it does take strategy! This blog will: 1) Provide information to aspiring veterinary students that will help them become the most competitive candidate they can be. 2) Provide a glimpse into what veterinary school is like at UC Davis. Enjoy! -Sharon"

#4. Reflections of a Nontraditional Student and Marketer - this person talks about his experience being a nontraditional student in retrospect.
"Next month, I’ll be returning to my alma mater, Columbia University, to give a speech to this year’s Phi Beta Kappa inductees. Reflecting on what I ultimately took away from my time at school, I realized that those life lessons underpin my philosophy of marketing today."

#5. Always the Write Time - this blogger was a nontraditional student in the past. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Writing and Film. She then became an intern and writer.
"Keep updated on my new journey through my weekly posts, and remember: it’s always the write time to learn something new.  ~ cs"


#6. I'm not brave and this is not a battle - Amy Durfee West has cancer, and is also a nontraditional student. Learn more about her feelings about her illness at her latest posting.
"I get it. People don’t really know what to say about cancer, or what to do if someone they know has it. But on Christmas Day I asked those present never to say I lost my battle with cancer if I end up dying from it. 

#7. These look interesting. They are the Top 50 Blogs by Graduate Students as chosen by the BestOnlineMastersDegrees sites. Luckily, these bloggers are not just from online schools.
"From the introduction: "Graduate school can be an interesting adventure. However, it can also be quite challenging, fraught with difficulty. Every graduate degree has its own issues. It can help if you can connect to others who understand your situation.

#8. The Perpetual Student - this blog is written by a woman over 50 who is going back to school to get a college degree.
"Psychology is complete with an A!  And Freud lost to modern theory." 

#9. The 50 Best Blogs Written by PhD Students - this listing is from the PhD in Psychology.org site.
"You've finished high school. You sailed through college. What's your next step? Oftentimes, successful graduates from university will choose to further their love for academia with the pursuit of a Doctorate in Philosophy, also known as a PhD."

#10.  This is a 2007 article. I tried to find more about getting a GED, but many sites were just question-and-answer sites. Until I found this one. It is called Getting my GED While I'm Sleeping Outside. I wonder how many people do this?
"It is the first day of class, and I arrived at 5:45 p.m., a full forty-five minutes early. I thought I wouldn’t make it to school on the east side of San Jose, coming from downtown on the city bus. It’s actually good I have some extra time before class starts, since the trip over was tiring." 

Do you have a favorite nontraditional student blog?

Until later - Remember: You CAN do it!
 
Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student
WKU

Some more Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

Just curious... do you keep your books?

I have been curious about this for awhile. 

Do you keep your books after you complete a class?

This photo is by Mr. Thomas on Flickr.

I know of people who always sell their books. I guess I think I may need my books someday, so I keep them. I guess I am thinking if I win the lottery or get a scholarship, I may want to take more advanced classes, go for my Master's or Doctorate someday?

I may be keeping my books for sentimental reasons, to remember my classes and teachers, or how it felt to be a nontraditional student going back to school after a break.

I did finally get rid of some old school books that I knew would never be used again last year. I felt good about that. But so far, I haven't felt the need to get rid of the newer ones.

What do you think? Should people keep their class books?

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student
WKU

Another thought: Even though some people get their books online or rent them nowadays, I like the feeling of a real book in my hands, so even if they were expensive (which they are) I think as long as there is an option of getting the book, I will. What do you think?

Nontraditional Students - New Hope in the New Year

Hello, all nontraditional students. Happy New Year!

Did you watch the New Year's festivities in New York City for New Year's Eve? They had two hosts, Ryan Seacrest and the original host, Dick Clark, who had a stroke in 2004, and now speaks in a much lower voice register. I personally remember him from many years of New Year's Eve telecasts.

Dick Clark, 1990. Photo by Alan Light on Flickr.

I got used to hearing him speak during the event with his new, slower bass voice, but still could not help but notice the difference between his old voice and his new one. I admired him for even trying it. I also admired him for his tenacity and bravery.

It's not everyone who could actually do this. Dick Clark has gone through some huge changes. I also commend the TV station for having him participate.

An article on ThirdAge.com interviewed Mark Shapiro, who is Chief Executive of Dick Clark Productions. Shapiro called Dick Clark a "beacon of light" and also said that his continued presence on the show could serve as an "inspiration" to others.

I think that Dick Clark and his comeback directly relates to the bravery and problems many nontraditional students must overcome in their educational journey.

I think a big reason some nontraditional students do NOT go back to school, and stay in jobs that are perhaps unfulfilling is that they do not believe in themselves, or do not believe that they can overcome what they think of as a disability - their age.  I think that Dick Clark never lost his faith in himself. That is what helped him be there for the event last night. It took so much practice and gumption, but he did it anyway.

Times Square 07, from Mike Schmid on Flickr.

He didn't let it get to him that he was older, or had a stroke. I suspect that some people could have spoken out against having him there.

Would it alienate new audiences? Would he still help make the event exciting? Was he "too old" to be there? Sometimes it is age alone that makes older performers  and employees be first on the list to leave. Is that fair? No, but it is something that happens.

Though it is true (I believe) that age discrimination is alive and well in the U.S. still today, the very fact that more and more nontraditional students are going back to school today proves that things can change and are changing for the better for older students going back to school after a break. Otherwise, older students would not have the self-esteem or the courage to even try to go back.

I say Go, Nontrads! This new year, 2012, is another chance for many older people to go for their dreams by going back to school and learning new things. My imaginary hat tips out to all of them.

This cool hat art is from Jody McNary Photography on Flickr.

Share your story! Are you a nontraditional student? Are you back in school, or thinking about it? Leave a comment or contact me about your story.

I'd love to hear it and perhaps even feature you and your story here on the Nontrad Blog, or even on a Tweet, our Facebook page, or on the Nontraditional Student website.

Later!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student
Western Kentucky University



Read more - Story Articles: 
Dick Clark and "Rockin' Eve" Reach 40th Anniversary
Dick Clark hopes 'Rockin' Eve' 40th anniversary is not his last
Nontraditional College Students: America's Most Important Group by Daniel Luzer / Washington Monthly
Opinion: We Need to Fight Age Bias; Jack Gross on Workplace Discrimination (AARP)
The Gray Matters Coalition - Ending Age Discrimination

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter