May 1st is the time you need to know where you are going to college

So... where are YOU going to college?

A new article from About.com College Admissions says that you should know where you are going to college by May 1st.

Of course, if you are continuing, you probably already have done your FAFSA (official site here) and are going to the same college next year.

But if you are going to transfer, now's the time to get things in order.

This article explains it further.

About College Admissions: US - May 1st is an Important Date.

Other articles covered on this page are Top Engineering Programs and ACT Scores for the April 13th Exam Now Available.

About.com has some wonderful pages that are great for Nontraditional students.

Here are some more to check out:

About.com Graduate School

About.com Tips for Adult Students

About.com Internships

About.com Distance Learning

About.com Continuing Education

About.com College

About.com College Admissions

About.com Senior Living

There are more here.

I want to wish all my fabulous readers good luck on finals, next year, and more.

-Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student, WKU
The Garden Spot, KY

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

Good luck on Finals. And start thinking about joining a student group. Really!

Rah Rah, Sis Boom Bah, etc. etc.

Friends at a Garden Party. Via Canadian Film Centre on Flickr.

Do you have time to join a student group?

Okay, I know. It's finals week. But those nontraditional students who intend to take a summer class or two, OR return in the Fall may want to think about joining or starting a student group next year.

There are usually many kinds of student groups to join if you are on campus. There are also groups you can join OFF campus or online.

I have some of my groups listed below. Groups at colleges, universities, trade schools, and other campuses include service groups, Sororities and Fraternities, Green groups, and lots more.

Many are now admitting nontraditional students like never before. Another added benefit to joining groups while you are in school is the Networking Factor, especially if you are in a club in our major, a business group, or a networking group.

If in doubt, look up the contact information and ask one of the leaders of each group you want to join. You can also contact the Student Services at your school. You can join one group to see what it is like. You can also join more than one group, depending on how much time you can spare.

Being in a group can add a dimension of richness and even friendship to your educational experience.

Oh - and good luck on finals!!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education
Bowling Green, Kentucky
at the Garden Spot

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

Nontraditional students come in many varieties, and the group is growing. Are you one?

A nontraditional student used to be a rarity. But no longer.

Photo credit: Michaelcardus on Flickr.

In a March 2012 article, Steven Bell, a librarian at Temple University, states that "Thirty-eight percent of those enrolled in higher education are over the age of 25 and 25 percent are over the age of 30. The share of all students who are over age 25 is projected to increase another twenty-three percent by 2019."

The number of non-traditional undergraduates is rising for many reasons. 

I believe those reasons include wanting to get a better job, raise family income, and change careers. Some nontraditional students have lost their jobs due to downsizing or the economy and are training for a second, or even third career.

More and more schools are catering to nontraditional students, who are often older and going back to school after a break. I have seen Nontraditional Student clubs, special advising, and more choices in class times in the last five years or so, and I believe this trend will gain traction in the years to come.

Schools are offering more financial aid for older students too. And younger students are generally starting to be more accepting of older students.

As the numbers of nontraditional students goes up, I believe that younger students will welcome them more and more into groups and clubs, which will increase retention for these students who need it the most.

I also believe that more online and face-to-face classes will be offered at more times all across the country, helping many nontraditional students with time constraints.

More dedicated advisors just for nontraditional students, more generalized majors, more financial help, and a more flexible attitude towards child care and assistance in making up classes will be prevalent in the future.

What thoughts do you have on being a nontraditional student today or helping them? Leave a comment today.

Thanks,

-Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education at WKU
The Garden Spot, Kentucky

Sources:

Nontraditional Students are the New Majority

Financial Aid for Older and Nontraditional Students at the FinAid site

University using online classes, virtual library to cater to 'non-traditional' students

And here are more of my nontraditional student links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter

Henry Winkler's talk about dyslexia, and about life: doing what you are good at.

I got to listen to a great actor and a sensitive human being today.

He was at the Southern Kentucky Festival of Books here in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Henry Winkler giving an interview for a local TV show.

It was Henry Winkler, famous actor (think: The Fonz on Happy Days). He gave an hour-long free talk about his life, his new book, and about having dyslexia. He went through much of his life not feeling good about himself. It was when he came into his own with acting that things started going better.

As he shared about finding out later in life that he had dyslexia, I know that many audience members were touched about what he shared. His parents thought that he was not working up to his potential. His teachers were not always sympathetic.

Henry Winkler being introduced.

No matter how hard he worked, reading was super hard for him, and almost made him give up on doing well in life. He heard many negative messages.

Well, as you and I know, Henry Winkler has done really well in life. Not only did he succeed in acting, he also has become a director and best-selling author. Some of his advice to others is to find out what YOU do well, and just do it.

Another piece of advice I got from his talk was to believe in yourself, and don't listen to people who tell you that you CAN'T do something. Sometimes it takes awhile to find out what you are meant to do, he says. That goes for all ages too. I found his message of hope inspiring, and I know others did too.

And even though he is a Dog Person and doesn't like cats, I will shrug that away, and say:

Great job, Henry Winkler!! Ayyyyyyyy!!!

Betsyanne

Some Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

A new Nontraditional student scholarship, ten most popular postings from the blog.

Hello, nontraditional students and everyone who helps them out.

Here are the ten most popular postings here for this week.

#1. Finding Scholarships and Grants

#2. 10 Advantages of Face to Face Classes

#3. The Writing Center - do you have one?

#4. 10 Tips for Doing Well on Final Exams

#5. Are you in a Nontrad Student Group?

#6. Ivy League Schools are Beckoning to Nontraditional Students

#7. Introduction to Law School for Nontraditional Students

#8. Nontraditional Students Tips and Links

#9. Final Project Excitement - Are you Excited? This can help.

#10. Nontraditional Students in the Dorm - - Really??

AND here is a brand-new scholarship just for nontraditional students. I wrote about it on my Find Scholarships and Grants blog today.

Here is that link too: From the Find Scholarships and Grants Blog: A New Scholarship for Nontraditional Students.

Good luck on finals, and have a GREAT summer. Share your nontraditional journey as a comment here. Later!

Betsyanne

And here are more Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

Springtime.... the end of the semester is in sight, final projects, summer classes, tips for now, plus handy article links

The end of Spring Semester is in sight. 

Sailing into the future. Photo credit: htemske on Flickr.

Now is the time to work on Final Projects, study for tests and exams, and plan for next year.

Some nontraditional students are thinking about taking the summer off. Others want to get some more classes in this summer.

Pros and Cons of Summer Classes
When I took summer classes, it was not planned. I found out I needed some more credits (the CLEP didn't take!)

I liked the fact that I COULD take them and not have to take a whole semester more just for two classes (PRO)

But I didn't like the weather that summer (really hot) and the condensed nature of the classes made them more of a chore than a pleasure.

Here is a short list of things to think about for now, Summer and next year:

1. Have you gotten in touch with your advisor? Not doing this could make a (bad) difference later on.

2.  Are you taking the summer off? If not, are you going to get a job and put it towards your school expenses? Or maybe you just want to take a breather.

3. Are you keeping a calendar for those important papers and projects (due soon...)? It can really help.

4. Have you made a decision on a major or course of study? Those who have may have less stress.

5. Are you already registered for next Fall? (if applicable)

6. If you are graduating, did you already contact somebody about the ceremony, get your robe (if needed) etc.?

What important things did I leave out?

Leave a comment, nontraditional student friends. And those who help them.

-Betsyanne
Former Nontrad: Education
BA, English, Minor in Art, WKU

And here are some related postings you may like:

Five Calendar Tips for Nontraditional Students

10 Study Tips for Nontraditional Students

Get Organized for Finals

Study Groups for Nontraditional Students

More about Study Groups

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

Do you blog? Are you a nontraditional student? Comment below.

 
I am following several great nontraditional blogs.

They are listed to the right here on this blog.

Some of the other ones I used to follow have graduated. Some kept up their blogs, some didn't.

I love hearing about the experiences of many different students who are going back to school after a break.

What is YOUR story? Do you know a nontraditional student?

I am looking forward to finding more nontraditional student blogs this year. You can click on a blog you like here, and follow their journeys. You won't be disappointed!

And share your experiences here too.

All for now
E. Sheppard
Former Nontraditional Student (Teaching)
Current Student (Writer and Artist)

And here is another interesting blog posting:

The big list of Nontrad Sites- Version C

And here are some of my other nontraditional student links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

Nontrads, are you in a Nontrad Student Group?

First off, I know some nontraditional students are going back to school online.

Others are combining on and offline classes.

Photo Credit

But if you have a chance to join a Nontraditional Student Group at your school, I would say to do it. You can make some friends there, learn about your school, and get support too.

Some groups have babysitting services or address lists, others have Nontraditional Student events on or off campus. Some schools support their Nontrad groups by offering memberships to Pinnacle and Spire or to ANTSHE.

I like the schools that offer group support with mentors and advisors. These groups can be so helpful.

You can check to see if your group has a Nontraditional Student group at two sites: the Nontrad Website and also at ANTSHE.

If your school does not have a group, you can form one.

Here is a posting about how to do that.

Forming a Nontraditional Student Group

You can also join an online Nontraditional Student discussion group here: Nontrads on Yahoo.

And here are some more nontraditional student postings you may enjoy:

Five Ways for Nontraditional Students to Get Connected

Child Care and the Nontraditional Student

Joining Groups in School - is it for you?

Nontraditionally yours,

-Betsyanne

Former Nontrad and "homeschooling" online student

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

The Writing Center - - do you have one? They are very handy.

The Writing Center - - a Great Resource for Nontrads and all Students.

When I was first in school, help was available for students who were writing papers of all kinds. Other students could tutor you for pay (#1), or you could ask someone in your class for help for free (#2) or you could ask your teachers for help (#3).

Today, you can also go to the internet for help. But the internet is not the only resource for students who need a little help with papers of all kinds.

Western Kentucky University's Help Center is called the Writing Center.

Here is that web link: The Writing Center, WKU.

Other colleges or schools probably have other names for this helpful place. Other students critique papers, help with sentence structure, narrowing down a topic, making an outline, or generally guiding other students towards a successful paper on any topic or for any class.

This resource is free, and open to all students. I have a feeling free help is available in many other schools, and not just for English papers.

Get familiar with the free resources at your school. Your school library is a good place to start looking. Also, these kinds of places may also be listed on your school's website.

Ask around and find out about where the Labs or Resource Centers are at your school, and take advantage of the free help there.

And have the best of good luck on your nontraditional student journey!

-Betsyanne 

And here are some more Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter