Thanksgiving, other Holidays, Taking Time for Yourself...

Sometimes it is all about studying. Even where there are holidays, Fall Breaks, and weekends available.

Well, the word "available' is misleading. Yes, the time might be marked on a calendar. But if you are like I was, you will need that extra time to complete reports, paperwork, and more for classes.

It all depends, then. Some nontraditional student might do as other students do, and head somewhere for the holidays. Or just for a weekend.

But still, if you are a nontraditional student, and even have to work some during the holidays, here are some great tips to help you "study smarter" and maybe get some time off for a change.

Check out the great Study Guides and Strategies website, made by Joe Landsberger. You can check out tips here for lots of different subjects (like Teaching/curriculum, writing, Time/project management, etc.) plus many study guides that help you learn at any age.

You might be able to carve out a few days just for yourself using the tips there.

Then you can:

1. Pamper yourself
2. Get your notes in order
3. Relax with family or friends
4. Reconnect with your pet(s)
5. Make a gourmet meal
6. Wrap presents
7. Send holiday cards to reconnect with friends
 8. Go somewhere for the weekend or longer...

Have a wonderful Fall and holiday season, nontrads! And I hope you can make some time available to just relax too, even if it is just for an afternoon here or there.

Betsyanne

Photo by Ernst Moeksis on Flickr.

And here are some more postings you might like too:

7 tips to take some time for yourself (relaxing on the weekend)

Fall Break Ideas - what are YOUR plans?

And here are some Nontrad links: 

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter

Tips for Nontraditional Students - plus some new articles and links

How are things going, Nontrads? Leave a comment. I hope things are going great.

Here are some tips from past postings.

#1. Keep focused on the big picture. Do your best, but don't get discouraged. You can always take a class over if you want.

#2. Seek out help whenever you can. Ask your teacher or professor if you have a question. Make a study group, or have a study buddy who can take notes for you when you need it.

#3. Believe in yourself! There is a LOT you can do that you are not even aware of.

#4. Talk to other Nontrads! Make some friends of all ages when you are at school, whether online or offline. You'll be glad you did.

And enjoy this time of studying and learning. It's about the journey too...

Betsyanne

PS And here are those new articles and links:

Adult Education Associations and Organizations

Become Known by Professors

Mayo Clinic Summer Internships 

And here are my links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

Are you a Nontrad? There are others. And there IS support out there...

There are new nontraditional students who enter school every semester.

Are you a nontraditional students? As you may know, Nontrads may be older students, some have families, many work full or part-time, and some have been to college before.

Others have taken a short or long break, then have finally gone back to school.

It takes planning and support to go back to school. It's a big step. Some have dreams of a better life, and others have dreamed of learning about a new subject. Some take out loans and some have full or partial scholarships.

Know that there IS support out there. Some support may be at your school, in the form of nontrad clubs or study areas, special classes or times, and dedicated Advising areas.

If you are an online student, some of your fellow students may be nontraditional students too!

Go, nontrad students!

Here are some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter

Do nontraditional students generally talk too much in class? The jury is out.

Some younger students complain that nontraditional students talk too much in class.

I can understand why. I used to WANT to share my experiences. And sometimes it's just an overwhelming WANT - - to share.

I was largely over my shyness and didn't really care what other people in class thought of me anymore either.

So.... when I could, I would raise my hand in class. Then, I started noticing that I was talking TOO MUCH. I had to almost sit on my hand after that.

So you think you might be talking too much? It's not as hard of a problem maybe in online classes, or maybe it is. I like to think that nontraditional students usually SHOW UP more than other students, wherever they are. And they have a wealth of experience. Some people like that. Others also want to share, so I think I learned to appreciate that the more classes I took. I know I could see a change in myself in many ways between the first and second time I went to school.

So, what do you think? Is talking too much in class a problem for you? Or do you see it happening yourself? Do you think older students need to take a back seat sometimes and NOT share too much?

I do. I say, let the other students have a turn! But if they don't have anything to say, jump right in. You have a LOT of interesting things to share.

Betsyanne

Other, recent postings:

12 Tips for Nontraditional Students (Fall 2013)

Back to School (Fall 2013) Popular Postings to help Nontraditional Students Out

Are you a Nontraditional Student? Support Sites for You.

President Obama's talk at the University of New York - plus free colleges - a link from the Find Scholarships and Grants blog - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2013/08/president-obamas-talk-at-university-of.html#sthash.uEZvrfYE.dpuf

President Obama's talk at the University of New York - plus free colleges - a link from the Find Scholarships and Grants blog - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2013/08/president-obamas-talk-at-university-of.html#sthash.uEZvrfYE.dpuf

President Obama's Talk at the University of New York - plus Free Colleges - a link from the Find Scholarships and Grants Blog

Here are some related links:

(This person thinks it's OK for nontrads to talk a lot in class!) No-apology Tips for Nontraditional Students

More blogs from nontraditional students

Study Groups for Nontraditional Students

My Nontrad links: 

The Nontrad site and blog

 Nontrads on Yahoo

Join Nontrads on Facebook

and Nontrads on Twitter

3. Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2013/09/12-tips-for-nontraditional-students.html#sthash.9paLi4ez.dpuf

Getting ready for Fall Semester? Share some nontraditional student blogs.

It's that time again. Those who were off from school this summer are now thinking about Fall.

From Flickr - Black Mtn. College Fuller class

Many nontraditional students are waiting for their grant or loan funding to kick in, which happens right before school.

Then it's all about books and schedules, and those butterflies I used to get.

Are you making lists? Getting school supplies?

These nontraditional students (and one professor) are taking and giving classes... and writing about that AND their lives.

This one talks about listening to someone at a party who got his PhD.  It inspired him to keep going with his education.

This person wonders if women over 50 are invisible in this culture.
Makes you wonder. Truthfully, I think women over 50 ARE invisible in this culture... will this change in the near future? Who knows.

One talks about a Stats class.
As I've been told, a statistics class can inspire fear. It's a required class for at least one discipline. I haven't ever taken it, and don't plan to.

A history professor talks about his life and thoughts. 
This person seems to be happy with his job. This is more a personal blog than anything though.

I am looking for interesting fascinating blogs written by nontraditional students. I want to list them on the blog site. If you have one, or know of one, send me the link.

Betsyanne
Former nontraditional student in Education
WKU

Other recent postings you may like:
Fall 2013 Must-haves for Nontrads

Are you ready for Fall semester?

And other ones!
Career and Aptitude Testing

Registration Time (some tips)

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

2013 Popular Postings from the Nontrad Blog - the Top Three

Popular Postings from 2013 at the Nontraditional Student Blog

Here you go with some postings that had that "special something" (hopefully good!) and that people liked.

They are in order of traffic.

#1.  Am I Too Old for Graduate School?

#2. Fall 2013 Back to School Must-have's for Nontraditional Students - What's Hot?

#3. Nontraditional Students: are you ready for Fall Semester?

So... how is Fall Semester shaping up? Are things going smoothly? Share your experiences as a comment.

Thanks!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education, WKU

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter 

My most popular Scholarship Pages: Scholarships page One and Two on the Nontrad site.

Nontraditional students, what is your passion? Here are links for new careers.

Have you wanted to explore another career, but just don't have the time - - or are not sure where to start?

Many people decide to go back to school to take new training, or just find out more about a subject they have always wanted to know about.

You might not be sure what you want to do, but don't really like the job you have right now.

There are ways to find out what job or career is best for you.

Here are some postings that can help you:

What do you want to be when you grow up? This posting points to different career tests online, including the Quintessential Careers Network site and the Fun Education site.

This posting, Another fun article from Career Alley, is also good. It includes 10 Steps to a Successful Career Change.

And here is another one that you may like: Want a new career? Try doing something you love, full or part time.

Like this blog? Leave a comment!

The Nontraditional Student blog is a resource for older students, going back to school after a break. These students face job pressures, money challenges, and lots more on their path towards a brighter tomorrow. Go, Nontrads!

Here are some more Nontrad links:
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo, and
Nontrads on Twitter

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

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

Back to school after Spring Break 2013 - new online articles, more

Back to school! (after Spring Break...)

It's back to school now for my daughter, who is a non-traditional student at the local Technical College, which is linked to WKU.

She is taking pre-nursing classes.

Now is the final push towards the end of Spring Semester. I hope things are going well for all my readers.

Here are some new online articles that may be of interest.

Financial Aid - - Financial Aid is First Step in College Admissions (by Deb Peterson)

I'm Waitlisted: Now What? (The Grad School Wait List) - very short article by Tara Kuther, Ph.D.

Free GMAT Practice Test (from Karen Schweitzer)

A Somber Look at College Tuition Rates (by Rishona)

And don't forget to check out the new Nontraditional Student blogs to the right on this posting. I have put new ones on here for 2013.

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

This blog is for nontraditional students, who are going back to school after a break. Many people who help them also have subscribed.

Nontrads face many difficulties, pressures, and obstacles in their journey back to school.

I like to tell them, Remember, you CAN do it!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student (Education)
The Garden Spot, Kentucky
From the Garden Spot BG, KY events and more
The Moon and the Willow Tree blog

Good luck on Midterms - plus sign up for the Nontrad News

Good luck on Midterms!

Photo credit: CollegeDegrees360 on Flickr.

I am wishing all nontraditional students the best of luck on midterms. And I hope you have a GREAT Spring Break, even if you have to work on projects instead of taking a vacation.

Here are some sites and postings that may help you with studying this semester too.

#1. Midterms and Grades - how to improve them

#2. Nontraditional Students and Midterms - how is it going? Are you in the groove?

#3. My best study tips (and what are yours?) 

PS I need just one more person to sign up for the Nontrads News (below) and then I will make a new issue. Thanks ahead of time!

-Betsyanne

Check out scholarships at the Find Scholarships and Grants Blog too.

And here are some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog 

Join Nontrads on Facebook 

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

The Busy Educator (Marjan Glavac) is now on Facebook.

Marjan Glavac is now on Facebook.

For those nontraditional students who are taking Education classes, he has a free blog and loves to share his knowledge about the subject.

Here is his new Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TheBusyEducator/

You will need to cut and paste this address (not a hard thing, beginning computer users) until I can figure out how to highlight just this line on my iPad. Ack. (Better yet: I will fix this later on, using a "regular" computer.)

He also has a website here:

http://www.TheBusyEducator.com.

I like it!

Do you have some links you would like other nontraditional students to know about? List them as a comment today. Thanks.

-Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education

And here are some of my other Nontrad links:
 The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter

Why are you going back to school? Some possible reasons.

So why did you decide to go back to school, nontraditional student? I am curious to know!

I will predict that most people will answer that they are going for their dream job, or maybe studying for a promotion at work.

But I could be wrong.

Some people just want to make more money in order to make their lives better. Some others know that "that piece of paper" stands between them and maybe a promotion. What do YOU think?

Leave a comment to let me know what YOUR reasons are.

I had a poll here first, but it would not behave correctly.

Here are the answers I put on the poll. Maybe one of these describes why YOU went back to school. Or maybe not...

- I want to improve my life and achieve my dream job.

- I want to move up the ladder at work.

- I need that "piece of paper" to get the job I want.

- I want to help the world.

- I just want to earn more money. I don't really care what I take at school.

- I have always wanted to change careers. This takes schooling.

- I am undecided which career path I will take. I am deciding later.

- I am only thinking of going back to school. I don't know if I will or not.

- I really don't know why I am back in school.

- I am doing what my family or someone else wants me to do.

 Maybe sometime I will put a poll here on this posting, but today I'll just ask what you think.

I will definitely be VERY interested to see what you think. Can you think of another answer? Please leave it after this posting, as a comment.

-Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student (Education)

And here are some of my Nontrad links:

 The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

Greetings, Nontrads! Here is something about you, and how to find support.

Are you a nontraditional student?

Harvard Band Students - by Benfeing on the Wikimedia website.

And what does "nontraditional student" mean? Being a nontraditional student could mean you are going back to school after a break. It could also mean that you may have a family, are living off-campus, or just consider yourself non-traditional.

You could be going to trade school, college, community college, or going back to school to get your GED.

If you are NOT a nontraditional student, you may read this blog in order to help nontraditional students, or you might be curious about them.

If you are going to school nowadays, though, chances are you have met at least one, and probably more, nontrads.

There are as many types of nontrads as there ARE nontrads. But all students going back to school after a break do have a LOT in common, I feel.

#1. They have gumption. They are brave to go back to school, because it can be harder for them than for other students.

#2. They are going for their dreams, which could be to finish what they already started, to go into another field completely, OR to further their job potential.

#3. They need friend and family support.

How does a nontraditional student find support? Many schools provide support at the school or online, with groups or special advising.

Other students find family support or support from their friends easily. Others need to find this support elsewhere, and that is where the following sites can help.

For instance, The Nontrad site and blog (this one!) is a great place to start.

Just plug in your school or state on the website and see what support or groups are there.

Join Nontrads on Facebook and ask a question or just get to know other nontraditional students there.

Ditto for  Nontrads on Yahoo.

Nontrads on Twitter features great links and advice too.

I hope to see you at one of our other sites, or on the main Nontrad site.

Thanks for visiting my site today!

Betsyanne
Current (art) and former (teaching) nontraditional student.
Bowling Green, Kentucky.

FYI: About us: This is the Nontraditional Student blog. We help nontraditional students by great articles, links to other websites, and communities for nontraditional students. We are all about going back to school after a break. We publish twice a week, and welcome guest posters too. Just email me at lizann447 at yahoo dot com if you would like to be featured as a Guest Poster. It looks great on a resume! :-)

Summer Vacation? What's that?

People think teachers have these.

But often they don't, especially if they are new teachers.

Nontraditional students also may not have them - because some are going to summer school. And others are too busy getting money for next semester, or paying their student loans.

It is SO HOT where I am in South-Central Kentucky (Bowling Green) I know it would be uncomfortable to be walking even from class to class. The neat thing about vacations is that you sometimes might be able to go where it is cool. In a STAY-cation, you can sometimes be in air conditioning and feel good too.

I think vacations ARE important. I know some nontrads can't go on vacation, it's just too hard. But I hope some nontraditional students can go on vacation, maybe by themselves, with a partner, or with their family.

This photo is of Ocean City and is by R2 Productions, LLC.

Doesn't this beach look inviting? Mmmmmm.....

Whether or not you get a "real" vacation this year, I hope you DO get some R & R. Comment below - - did you take some time off for yourself this summer? A curious blogger wants to know!

Thanks for stopping by at my blog today!

Betsyanne

Current and Former Nontraditional Student

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

Defining ourselves as Nontraditional Students

Defining the Nontraditional Student (...what others may think, what I think, and what you think...)