The Non-Traditional Student Blog (BA): continuing education

Showing posts with label continuing education. Show all posts

Going back to college or taking classes? There is a LOT out there...

I am considering going back to school - - - again. I already went back once. Will I do it? I am not yet sure.

But I totally forgot that our local University has FREE tuition if you are 65 or older.! This is a BIG plus. I have written about it, but the time is coming nearer for me.

This age is NOT so far away any more, like it used to seem.

I plan to look up my options later on to find out what is available. There is so much I am interested in, so the choice will (again) be hard.

Last time I took English, Drama in the Schools, etc. to get an initial Teaching Degree. As you probably know, this follows up with a Masters later, required by most schools.

I did not follow up - - yet.

But that is one option.

There are other things and classes that sound VERY interesting. Some are good for a business or employment options.

Among them are:

Art - painting, sculpture, pottery, weaving, printmaking... etc...

History

Art Therapy

Art Education

Creative Writing

Business

Folklore

Geneaology

Writing
Counseling

Poetry - - and there are lots more things that sound fabulous - classes, other minors or majors, etc. in my area, and maybe in yours.

Western Kentucky University is the place I will look first. Their Adult Learners page is here: https://www.wku.edu/adultservices/.

More VERY interesting schools follow. These are local, but you also might have similar places in your area.

The local Community Education Enrichment Classes (for Lifelong Learners)

https://www.commed.us/taking-classes/

BG Technical College (Adult Learners Page)

https://www.campusexplorer.com/colleges/F61D7991/Kentucky/Bowling-Green/Bowling-Green-Technical-College-Bowling-Green/

South Central Kentucky Community and Technical College

https://southcentral.kctcs.edu/workforce-solutions/adult-education/index.aspx

I keep seeing other interesting classes to take - online. Some are reasonable in cost. Some are more expensive. I do prefer face-to-face teachers, so we'll see.

I will write HERE when I do decide for sure later on what I plan to do and take.

PS If you are also interested in going back to school, for the first time or again, be sure to find out about how to get help as a Nontraditional Student, too - at this posting from this blog:

https://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2018/10/where-to-get-support-and-help-if-you.html#.Xa4qbpNKhTY

Put your query in the Search Box too, and see what you find out here. Scholarship pages are available, plus more.

10 Great Sites for Nontraditional Students - - via the Betsyanne Nontrad Blog

Some of these sites and links are at our Facebook page (see end of posting) and also featured on the side of this blog.

These sites are GREAT to go visit. Bookmark them!

#1. The Nontraditional Student website - - go to your State page on the site and see if you have a group there. Also, send your group in too, so I can add it there. Check out Scholarship ideas too. This blog posts on this site, so every time there is an update here, it goes over to the first page there.

#2. The Find Scholarships and Grants Blog. http://www.findscholarshipsandgrants.blogspot.com/ Use the Search Box and put in what you are interested in. I write here sometimes, but have lots of previous postings too.

#3. Joe Landsberger's Study Skills site: http://studygs.net/ - Study Guides and Strategies. From the site: "An educational public service helping learners succeed since 1996: over 10.4 million visitors in 39 languages in 2011." This site has help pages that translate into many languages.

#4. The official FAFSA/Federal Student Aid site. https://fafsa.ed.gov/. You check here FIRST when going back to school, for official news, scholarships, grants, and lots more. You should NEVER have to pay for information about government loans and grants. This is a totally FREE site. Apply early when you decide to go back to school.

#5. While you are here (at the FAFSA site) also visit this page: The Federal Student Aid page - https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/. This page includes the pages, How Do I Prepare for College, What Types of Aid can I Get, Do I qualify for Aid, How do I Apply for Aid, and How do I Manage My Loans.

#6. The Dr. Torres Database - - https://www.fatomei.com/ - from the site: Nationally Coveted College Scholarships - - Graduate Fellowships and Postdoctoral Awards

National and international study abroad, highly competitive and prestigious undergraduate college scholarships, graduate fellowships, education grants, summer jobs & research internships, awards for high school seniors & students, women, minorities, Hispanics, African Americans, nurses, engineers, teachers studying math, science & engineering and health professions from national & international foundations. Free financial aid, student loans, prizes, stipends.

#7. The ProfEval site - - check out your teachers BEFORE you sign up for classes. http://www.profeval.com/home/chooseschool.asp. This site can be really fun. You can also use it at the END of a class, add your comments, and see what others have said.

#8. ANTSHE - - http://www.myantshe.org/ - the Association for Students in Higher Education - - this group can be PAID for if your school is onboard with that. Plus, they have a yearly Convention too. If you have a Nontraditional Student group at your school, just ask about this or bring it up at a meeting.

#9. Son of Citation Machine - http://www.citationmachine.net/ - I really loved this site when writing papers when I was a nontraditional student. It is SO handy. From the site: "Citation Machine automatically generates citations in MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian, and Harvard." And yes, there was another earlier site named Citation Machine... this is the newer site.

#10. Planning and Preparing for College - the C. Herd blog - http://ctherd.blogspot.com/. From the blog: "Planning and Preparing for College (Scholarships, Internships, Etc) - - To prepare students and their parents for college success in areas of academic readiness, community service, internships, summer programs, etc. The blog is to be used as a preparation infrastructure on various areas of college topics." This is a great resource for many different kinds of scholarships. C. Herd concentrates on minority scholarships, but many of these are available for all. She also lists deadlines for each scholarship, which is very handy.

There you go. This list should keep you busy at least all day. Enjoy!!

-Betsyanne

And here are more of my pages:

My Betsyanne page, my Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Best Books and Collectibles (where I put my Selling Pages!), My Ebay Store and my Etsy Store for Betsyanne77.

My other Nontrad pages are here: The Nontrad website, Nontrads on Facebook, Nontrads on Yahoo, and Nontrads on Twitter

Help me get up to 700 readers! Sign up for the Nontrad News below.

A note to myself about lists... and to Nontraditional Students: JUST DO IT!!

I am making a list. AND starting to actually DO things that are on it.

For me, this means a combination of things, blogging, writing, finishing those books, making some pottery and art, and doing some serious scanning and starting of NEW projects. This does not make a complete list either.

For nontraditional students, sometimes a LIST can be something useful to you, too. Are you on the fence? Make a Pro and Con List. Just divide a sheet of paper with a vertical line, and list all the reasons why you DO want to go back to school (and all the positive ramifications), and the Con side (at the right) will list all your reservations and reasons NOT to go back. Keep it up. Which side is bigger?

Tips for Inspiration

Are you wanting to go back to school, but NOT wanting to quit your job? The options are out there for you now, with many courses online and some at great times, to fit your schedule.

Have you been out of school for a long time? That's OK. And you will probably meet (online or in person) many people like you if you choose to go back to school today.

Be courageous - and improve your self-esteem

So... get that pen and paper out. And start LISTING what YOU want to do with your life. Or how you plan to catch up, and start something new. Like maybe school!

Good luck, too. And let me know how it goes!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education
Now helping other Nontrads!

Be sure to check out my other Nontraditional Student and Continuing Education helping sites:

The Nontrad website - for all nontrads and their support systems!

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter

And help me get up to 700 readers. Thanks!

The Many Reasons Nontraditional Students go Back to School, blending in, some words of encouragement, more.

I know there are a great number of reasons nontraditional students go back to school.

Often, I hear, it's to upgrade skills, or to get a better job.

Sometimes it's to explore something you never thought you'd get to learn about. Or to offer a family a better income, after learning a new profession.

Luckily, there are more older students in school now, so if you are an older student, you won't stand out as much. And many younger students do put forth the effort to be friendly too.

Some clubs are opening their membership to include different ages. I like this.

I think just having the courage to actually DO IT instead of just thinking about it deserves recognition. Because it is not always easy to go to school. Some people fit it in where they can. And paying back the school loan money can take a long time, too.

If nobody has told you anything good about going back to school, I want to do that right now, right here.

YOU CAN DO IT - AND YOU ARE DOING A GREAT THING.

I know how hard that first step can be. But maybe the next steps in your continuing education won't be quite so hard.

I hope they won't be!

Good luck going back to school.

Here is another recent posting:
10 Great Study Tips for Nontrads: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2015/08/10-great-study-tips-for-nontrads-2015.html

And here are more Nontraditional Student links:

The Nontraditional Student website (add your student group)

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter

Sometimes treading water, doing the same old, same old is NOT a good idea. Making Changes, more.

Summer Plans and Ideas - Fun - Changes - Work and Workspaces - A New Plan

As I write this today, my own plans are up in the air. I have gone back to school before, and have wanted to have my own art studio for a long time. I don't want to go back to school again YET (although I may someday) but I do want to explore my art and have a great place to do it in.

Are you not in a place you like? You can BREAK FREE.

Today, I realize that due to changing circumstances beyond my control, that a new plan for my workspace may happen before long. And I can do it myself. I guess I've been waiting for a sign. Which is good, because I have been wanting to do that, but inertia has prevented it. Today, I feel that sign has arrived. I feel a push coming on to Get Things Done. And that is good, in both the short and the long run of things.

Sometimes you just have to quit "going with the flow" - - because bigger and better things CAN happen if you make a change, even if it's a scary one.

For instance, I DO have room in my garage for some equipment and space, IF I rearrange things and get rid of other things. It would (gasp!) maybe even be FUN, which would be an added bonus. Plus, I do not currently have much room for my equipment OR supplies. There is room out there. I just have to MAKE room and do the needed work.

Which brings me back to my personal nontraditional student experience. AND my writing experience. Both have not been chugging along like I want. I CAN change this.

When I chose to go back to school, it seemed to be something I HAD to do. Fun did not figure in much, but curiosity did. As I know from a teacher I learned a lot from, fun MUST enter into the equation in order to do good work. It helps, anyway.

My question back there was, "Can I find out what teaching is like?" And I DID find out, but not in the same way I would have if I had tried it earlier.

I also found out a lot about myself. I found out what I can put up with, how very resilient I really was (staying when others had quit in the past), and I learned what I enjoyed (vs. just did because I felt I HAD to.)

So, I will be grabbing some opportunities I have had all along, just have not used them.

I CAN make the space and opportunity for creativity I want. It just takes some work and imagination.

AND I CAN experience a student and/or teaching relationship - maybe doing this myself, maybe taking a class or two.

What I like knowing is that I DO have choices. Treading water or doing something because it's available is not always the best way to live.

I don't have to make do with what IS, I can change things for the better. And I don't have to blame myself for how things are either. So stay tuned for what's next.

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A question: Are you also thinking about what is next in your world? Leave a comment and share what you think about it, and about what is going on with YOU right now. :-)

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education
Artist and Writer

Summer Plans, Colleges, Finals, 2 more About.com articles

Spring 2015's most popular blog postings

More articles from About.com

Making a living - - and your Ripple Effect

FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Find Scholarships and Grants Blog, The GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), From the Garden Spot (another Betsyanne blog), and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

I also have a Books and Collectibles selling page here: The Best Books and Collectibles. - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2015/05/sharing-two-more-great-postings-from.html#.VVy-PhdcZ0I

Other recent postings:

Spring 2015's most popular blog postings

More articles from About.com

Making a living - - and your Ripple Effect

FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Find Scholarships and Grants Blog, The GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), From the Garden Spot (another Betsyanne blog), and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

I also have a Books and Collectibles selling page here: The Best Books and Collectibles.
- See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2015/05/sharing-two-more-great-postings-from.html#.VVy-PhdcZ0I

Never too old... that's really true. And the sooner you start, the better.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

-C.S. Lewis

Photo via Morguefile, by Anita Peppers.

How true this is. When I went back to school, I met an older woman who was taking art courses. She had wanted to do this for a long time. And finally, she was doing what she had dreamed of. She was very happy, she said, and planned to continue with other classes.

At WKU, people can take classes after age 65 and do not have to pay tuition. Maybe a school near you has this program.

And sometimes you can take classes online for no charge. Plus, you can also audit classes for less money.

However you swing it, going back to school may be just what you have been wanting to do for a long time.

If you are not yet back in school, try it out - you might like it!

-Betsyanne

Some Nontrad links: The Nontraditional Student website

(and check out the Scholarships Page One and Page Two pages there too)

More: Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

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And here are some more of my blogs:
FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Find Scholarships and Grants Blog, The GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), From the Garden Spot (another Betsyanne blog), and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

Nontraditional Students - they are VERY diverse, but they all have gumption.

Nontraditional Students come in many forms.
And most have a LOT of gumption.

Some have not been out of school for long. Others have been out of school for many years.

They come from all over, and are all shapes and sizes. Some have supportive families, others are going it alone.

One thing they have in common is GUMPTION.

Merriam-Webster online defines gumption as:

": courage and confidence

Full Definition of GUMPTION

chiefly dialect : common sense, horse sense

: enterprise, initiative <lacked the gumption to try>"

Are you going back to school? You have gumption.

If you are just THINKING about it, I hope you have the gumption to try.

Betsyanne

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site

Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

Get connected, nontrads. Here are some of my other blogs and sites: The Nontraditional Student website, The Nontraditional Student Facebook page, The Moon and the Willow Tree (a Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, From the Garden Spot (another Betsyanne blog), and The Teacher Tree website (I will hopefully be working more on this one later this year).

The Nontraditional Student site of the day: The ProfEval site

Oh, this one is fun. Find out at ProfEval if a teacher is the best one, or not.

There used to be more of these sites, but now the ProfEval site is the latest one I used when going back to school some years ago.

This is a site where you can go and see what kind of professor or teacher is teaching the class you want to take. Of course, not all schools are here, but the one I went to is (Western Kentucky University).

I went to try this site out again, and found it is a little slower than I remember. However, it does still work.

I went to my State, then my School, and selected "English" which had a few different choices. If I were doing a BIG search, I'd try every variety of that term.

The most recent posting seemed to be 2013. Some went back to 2015.

I think sometimes students WILL put bad reviews on here if they got a bad grade (and deserved it) or simply had a personality clash. SO, sometimes a teacher will be OK. So keep that in mind.

I did enjoy looking around here. I would personally check before deciding between, say, two different teachers. It might help a lot. You can also find out (sometimes) when a teacher gives tests, etc. which can be handy too.

Comment if you have used the site, and how you like it too.

Thanks!

Betsyanne

And here are some more Nontrad links: The Nontrad site

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

The Nontraditional Student Site of the Day for Jan. 27, 2015: The Mike Grasso Nontraditional Medical Student Site

Are you a Nontraditional Medical Student, or thinking about becoming one?

I like this site. It features links to Motivation, Planning, Requirements, the MCAT, about applying (Where to Apply, The Waiting Game, and Second Chance), and also talks about Mike's personal journey, how to best determine if Medical School is right for you, and has links to useful books and links.

Here is the link: Nontraditional Medical Student.

From the site: "The purpose of this web site is to discuss how to get into medical school as an older, nontraditional student. I became interested in this subject when I went through the application process myself at age 37. During that time, I read several books on this subject. However, I found little information that addressed in detail the unique challenges of applying to medical school later in life."

It's definitely worth a look at this site if Medical School is a field you are interested in exploring. It has won several awards, too, which are on the first page.

Also from the site: Courage is daring to take that first step, or different path. It is the decision to place your dreams above your fears. - Source Unknown

I like this!

Betsyanne

And here are my other Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site

Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter

Join me there. Later! - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/#sthash.stcbIgGf.dpuf

Betsyanne

And here are my other Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site

Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter

Later.

And here are other Sites of the Day for 2015.

Jan. 25, 2015: ANTSHE

Jan. 2015: The Planning and Preparing for College Blog

What some schools have for nontraditional students - can you ask for them?

Talking points - what some schools offer nontraditional students - and what to look and ask for.

And yes, you CAN ask for these things. Your school may already have them, or they might be already thinking of providing these things. Your questions can only help. Plus, you can pick the best school for you, if you know what can be offered at each one. Here are some things schools are offering now:

#1. Special online pages to help Nontraditional students register, to find out how a nontraditional student is defined, and/or helping nontrads to learn what classes to take. Many colleges now have special pages and sections on their website especially to make it easier for nontraditional students to enroll. For example, Rutgers University's Nontraditional Student page (Elizabeth Kaiser David Degree program) explains that a special Dean will help nontrads, and talks about scholarship opportunities too. Make sure to search at your school's website to find what pages or programs are offered there.

#2. Special scholarships that are offered only to nontraditional, older, or commuter students. The U.S. News education pages have some links listed on their 2014 article here, including scholarships for Moms, an AAUW grant is available, also low-income scholarships.

You can find more scholarships at the Nontrad Scholarship pages One and Two also, including DAR scholarships and free scholarship search sites. My favorite sites here are Fastweb and the Dr. Torres Database, also known as the Fatomei site.

#3. Cutting edge nontraditional student benefits are starting to be available across the country. These benefits can include:
A. Special lockers for nontraditional students
B. Dedicated study areas or lounges, and Study Labs just for nontrads,
C. On-campus living apartments or special dorm rooms
D. Advisors who understand nontraditional student needs
E. Special classes at different times to help nontrads attend
F. Choices - both Online and in-person classes
G. Career Services
H. Nontraditional Student groups (such as O.W.L. groups or NTSO's just for students going back to school after a break.)
I. Special Awards (such as Pinnacle and Spire awards)
J. Membership in the National Nontraditional Student Society, ANTSHE
K. Veteran's Assistance

Some colleges offer Academic Amnesty now too, I found out. The University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh does. They say, "Academic amnesty is an opportunity to remove grades from previous semesters from your grade-point average and start fresh." This sounds great.

How can you find resources and where to go to school? Check the State and Country Pages at the Nontraditional Student website. (scroll down for the map and links). If no special programs or schools are listed, send this information in when you find out about it.

Ask schools you are interested in attending if they offer special programs for nontraditional students too. The more nontrads ask for these special services, the more they will be added. Because people want and need them!

-Betsyanne

And here are some more of my Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter

Nontraditional students are students who are going back to school after a break. They are going back to better their lives and the lives of their families, and go after their dreams. It is never too late to go back to school. Go, Nontrads!

Many interests, and how it can mess you up as a nontraditional student. Also: aptitude tests online.

Do you have lots of interests? I think that is a good thing.

I know I do. I have things I want to do eventually, things I do every day, and things I want to learn how to do. Zeroing in on just one is problematic. It can take time away from being natural and spontaneous.

And something worse can happen: you can't decide, so you NEVER go back to school at all.

I will list a few interests of mine, and perhaps you will list yours as a comment. Or you can write about them on YOUR blog and share that blog address as a comment.

#1. Writing (this can translate to English, Teaching, more)

#2. Art (Can also lead to teaching or one KIND of art-making...)

#3. Hobbies - - collecting, crafts, Scouting, books, more.

If you are like me, it's hard to select just ONE thing to focus on. And I know that many nontraditional students feel that same way.

One thing to do to select something to do as a JOB is to take a quiz or test about it. Or sometimes people just KNOW what they want to do. OR you can talk to a school guidance counselor or advisor.

One rule of thumb can be that selecting a field where you can actually make a living can make your other interests possible.

Here are another posting to help you decide on what you like the most, or want to do the most.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Some aptitude tests online.

And here are some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo and

Nontrads on Twitter

Just checking in - how are you doing, nontraditional students? A bit about that first job.

Once in awhile, I like to check in and write a quick blog posting here and try to give some pointers.

After all, I was once a nontraditional student (for teacher education, in English and Allied Arts).

I consider going back AGAIN sometimes. It was challenging, but worth it.

Nowadays, some students worry that there may not be a job for them when they get out of school. It's a valid worry. Some ask their advisors about it... and I would say that's a good idea. There are also some sites online that tell what kinds of jobs are in demand.

Of course, you should like what you are doing. I have heard that some graduates are so valuable they actually are recruited and don't even need to apply for a job. But those graduate areas are hard to find, at least they were for me.

My personal experience, at first, then later: I found that there WERE jobs out there, but not always the optimal ones.

Some advice I'd give new graduates: don't settle for the first job you get... IF you can help it. Do your homework first. Seriously.

Of course, if you need to start working at your chosen job right away, sometimes you DO need to take the first job that accepts you. And then just take your chances. BUT you might get more than one offer. And one might be way better than the other.

I found at my first job (as a "regular" graduate) that waiting a little while to check out positions could be worth it. This is hindsight, because I only realized that AFTER I was working at the other place. If you find out that one place is better, it's OK to let the other place know about it before you start working there. You CAN change your mind.

Ask around at the place you are thinking of working. Get an idea of what happened to the last person that had your job. Did they quit early? Why? Does the company or place you want to work at have a good reputation in the community? What is the boss like? Are they fair?

Yes, luck does have something to do with finding a great job, that is fulfilling and makes you actually WANT to be there. It can be kind of scary to ask people at the workplace what they think of it. It makes me nervous just thinking of doing that. But next time, if I do that again, that's EXACTLY what I plan to do.

Betsyanne

My last posting:
Tests, Quizzes, Pop Quizzes, Papers, Reports, Ack! OH - and Fall Break too.

And you may also like these postings:

Fall Break ideas - - what are YOUR plans?

10 Study Tips for Nontraditional Students

And here are the 5 most popular postings right now via Statcounter.

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

Bite your tongue, nontraditional student! Plus a few more tips for classroom success.

Are you in a face-to-face class? Do you sit in front and ALWAYS raise your hand? Just stop. Really.

Other people want to be able to answer questions too. It can be really annoying to WANT to enter into the classroom conversation and always be waiting around for the older student to stop talking.

Try being quiet for a change. You might find it helps everyone.

Some other things to consider:

1. When asked to share about something, try to keep it short and sweet. Though it's true that your story about meeting a bear in the woods and living through it is oh-so-interesting at parties, chances are that your fellow students just want the teacher to go over the 15 more test questions before the end of class. Don't be annoying or a know-it-all (even if you think you DO know more about some things...)

2. Try making a few friends - - just ask about (maybe) starting a study group or if you can share info. just in case one of you has to miss class sometime.

3. Smile at your neighbor in class sometimes. Carry extra pencils or pens. You yourself might need to borrow one sometime.

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Other blog postings you might like:

10 Motivational Tips for Nontraditional Students

The Sandwich Generation - what is it?

and

10 Nontrad Tips - plus solutions

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Get Connected, and get more info.

The Nontrad site

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter

#6 in a series: You may want to transfer schools.... some things to think about.

This posting is an Expanded continuation of a posting called: More Tips for Nontraditional Students: 10 situations, plus possible solutions.

#6. You may want to transfer schools.

#6. You may want to transfer schools.

No problem - - but make sure that the new school accepts credits from your other school. AND make sure you can get in the following semester. Check and see if you are in-state too. - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-tips-for-nontraditional-students.html#.U7W_bKjGJow

No problem - - you may have a GREAT reason to switch schools. But make sure that the new school accepts credits from your other school.

Some For Profit schools will tell you that YES, your credits will transfer, but they don't. Check your new school too. You may decide to go to another school in the future too.

AND make sure you can get in the following semester. Find out the deadlines for applying.

So... is your present school an accredited school? Will your credits transfer? Find out by asking the school you want to transfer to.

Check and see if you are in-state too. It can make a huge difference.

Here are some other postings that might help you.

The Nightline Investigation: Are For-Profit Schools telling students the truth? (video)

Going for it (about making a change...)

and...

Thinking about graduate school? 5 questions to ask.

Here are the "Expanded answers to the Advice Posting so far:

#1: Were your grades great, or would you like a redo of them, nontraditional students?

#2: Not enough credits to graduate, CLEP, addition, accreditation, transfers, more.

#3. Are you taking the courses you want to take? Or is it time to change course?

#4. You don't know if you want to continue, for any reason. Can you continue on?

#5. Are your student loans adding up too fast?

Here is the original posting again you might like to check out: More Tips for Nontraditional Students: 10 situations, plus possible solutions.

My next posting will talk about #7: School has become boring, not fun at all.

Again, good luck this summer, whether you are in school, on vacation, at a job, or whatever you are choosing to do.

#5. You have Student Loans that seem to be adding up too fast. - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-tips-for-nontraditional-students.html#.U59gn6jGJox

Betsyanne

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook, Nontrads on Yahoo, and Nontrads on Twitter

#5 of 10 - More Tips for Nontraditional Students: are your student loans adding up too fast?

This posting is an Expanded continuation of a posting called: More Tips for Nontraditional Students: 10 situations, plus possible solutions.

#5. You have Student Loans that seem to be adding up too fast. My old answer on the original posting was short and sweet. "Consider getting a part-time job to help you pay for more things yourself. OR a summer job. There are also some work-study programs available at some schools."

Sure, these things might help. But with the minimum wage not even enough right now to pay bills (NOT a living wage!) there is no way working even full-time for awhile will make a very big dent.

But hopefully there is help for student loans around the corner. There was a recent push for lower interest rates. Unfortunately, this did not pass to become law. But I am hopeful this will eventually happen.

In the meantime, try some other ways to save money on your student loans.

A. Only take out the amount of loan that you need.
B. Save money by having room-mates, sharing an apartment, maybe even living on campus.
C. Save money by not eating out as much. Do you REALLY need that new outfit too?
D. "Shop" for your student loans, using the official FAFSA site, and the cheapest loans possible, NOT a credit card, if possible.
E. Try to take all your prerequisites you can, in order, and plan out your semester's work with the help of an advisor. (You MIGHT save 1-2 semester's worth of loans that way...)
F. Look into a Loan Forgiveness program in your major. Is there a way of "giving back" that you could access? Ask about this, and do the research too.
G. Invest time in a possible Internship Program that could get you more connections to a job to pay back your student loan quicker.

What other possible Save Money tips do you have? List them as a comment.

Consider getting a part-time job to help you pay for more things yourself. OR a summer job. There are also some work-study programs available at some schools. - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-tips-for-nontraditional-students.html#.U6r3O6igKtp

#5. You have Student Loans that seem to be adding up too fast. Consider getting a part-time job to help you pay for more things yourself. OR a summer job. There are also some work-study programs available at some schools. - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-tips-for-nontraditional-students.html#.U6r3O6igKtp

Here are some other postings that might help you.

10 Tips for Saving Money at School

Student Loans - What you should know, plus tips

And here is are two recent news stories you may like:

Senate blocks Warren's Student-Loan Refinancing Measure

Student loan forgiveness: What you don't know (but should) via USA Today

Here are the "Expanded answers to the Advice Posting so far:

#1: Were your grades great, or would you like a redo of them, nontraditional students?

#2: Not enough credits to graduate, CLEP, addition, accreditation, transfers, more.

#3. Are you taking the courses you want to take? Or is it time to change course?

#4. You don't know if you want to continue, for any reason. Can you continue on?

Here is the original posting again you might like to check out: More Tips for Nontraditional Students: 10 situations, plus possible solutions.

My next posting will talk about #6: You may want to transfer schools.

Again, good luck this summer, whether you are in school, on vacation, at a job, or whatever you are choosing to do.

#5. You have Student Loans that seem to be adding up too fast. - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-tips-for-nontraditional-students.html#.U59gn6jGJox

Betsyanne

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook, Nontrads on Yahoo, and Nontrads on Twitter

Nontrads, get connected! Plus a link to wacky scholarships.

There are many ways to do this.

If you are attending school after a break, sometimes it is nice to connect with other nontraditional students.

Friends - from Tony Alter on Flickr.

Does your school have a nontraditional student group? Some do. If you are not sure, check with Student Affairs. You can even start your own group if you want to.

And here is a posting from my Find Scholarships and Grants blog you may like too:
Unusual, Odd, Wacky, and Unknown Scholarship postings for 2014

Click here to read more »

An Artist - - and a Nontraditional Student

The Older Artist

I was back on campus at WKU taking teaching classes, when I met an older lady with white hair in the Student Lounge in the Art Department. If I had to guess her age, I would say she was in her 70's.

Of course, I had to ask her what she was taking there, and why she decided to be a nontraditional student.

Click here to read more »

Pets, Family, the Holidays, Projects, Whew! Time for a break.

I shared this website today on Facebook.
It is a website for people who are grieving the loss of a pet. Here it is: http://rainbowbridge.com/.

The Rainbow Bridge site is one I saw a long time ago. I am glad it is still there. I know some Nontraditional Students have pets. In fact, I'll bet more nontrads than traditional students have pets. Students living in dorms can't always have a pet.

Family can be so helpful

...this time of year (the Holidays...) But they can also be stressed out, much like some nontrads are. But still, it's a special time of year. I hope it's not too stressful for my readers.

Projects

I've been talking a lot this year about doing projects while on Fall Break or Winter Break at school. It's true, sometimes I used to just use every holiday to be doing a project that was due at school. I felt like it was the only way I could keep up. If things are like that for you, hold on. The holidays won't last forever, and then things will get back to a more normal pace.

Time for a break
I hope you can have a little bit of a break this season! Enjoy this time of year. Let time slow down a little for you if you can.

XOXOXOXOXO and lots of holiday cheer to everyone. And thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas - Happy Hannukah - Happy Yule! Enjoy the holidays, everyone.

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student - in Education (English and Allied Arts, High School and Middle School)
Now: Writer, Blogger, and Artist

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

Don't give up, Nontraditional Students! Stay the course, and keep your eye on the goal.

Some days are just naturally harder than others, I think.

For instance, some days you wake up late, you aren't feeling good, you have to run to class, or perhaps you are not quite ready for that pop quiz.

But you get through it. You borrow some notes, you get a study group together for a hard class, and you soldier on.

I think there are heros out there who are nontraditional students. They deal with being part of a "Sandwich Generation" of people who are caring for parents AND kids. Yet they are brave enough to be going back to school after a break to improve their lives and often, the lives of others too.

Take a "congratulation" today and pat yourself on the back. Take some time for yourself, and take care of yourself properly.

You deserve it.

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student, in Education (English and Allied Arts)
B.A., English, and a minor in Art (the first time!)

Other related postings:

The Sandwich Generation

The Sandwich Generation, Part Two

Nontraditional Students - Don't Give Up!

And here are some more of my Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
and Nontrads on Twitter