And now for the Nontrads. Happy New Year! Hoping for the best for all Nontrads, starting with a BANG in 2018.

Happy New Year (again) .... we are starting with a BANG... and what I plan for this blog in 2018 and more.

More about 2018: And what I am doing this year:

1. Re-starting the Nontrad News (this month)
2. Regularly posting in 2018 on ALL the blogs I have,
3. Re-doing Sites - the Nontraditional Student site, for one...
4. Taking Girl Scout online classes (part of Volunteer Training)
5. Writing some Lesson Plans and etc.
6. Making some Art
7. Keeping up with Politics!

I won't go too much into my politics, but suffice it to say I am following politics very closely. If you have not seen the Rachel Maddow show, it's very good. She also loves to stay up with the very latest political news.

As for being a Nontraditional Student, many of my readers know that I did go back to school as an older student. It was in English and Allied Arts Education. I got my Initial Certification, then taught for one Semester. I made it through the Semester, and then stopped teaching. At least, for pay. I am not sure whether I will do more (in public schools anyway). But I may change my mind later.

Was it worth it? A huge YES to that. I learned so much, and now want to help other students get motivated and do it, too.

I know that this year has its own issues... including what is happening nationwide, with many schools having to cut back on expenses. They are not getting a lot of support from States or Nationally. Here in Kentucky we do have a subsidized (but limited) program to help get students for certain jobs. I will be able to find out more about this program this year too.

Nontraditional Students will also also want to see what happens about:
1. Their student loans (I was lucky, only had 2 years vs. another 4 to pay... plus had low-interest Government Loans plus a Grant to help out...)
2. Credits - will they transfer? (And the current For Profit Schools situation...)
3. Deciding what to take in school (for those on the fence...)
4. Working to try to get a scholarship
5. Many questions about what the classes you take will help you with in the future.
6. The Job Market and Ageism...
7. Online opportunities
8. More.

I hope to delve into the above issues and more this year. Comment below if you want me to post about other things to do with Nontraditional Students too.

To finish up, I hope everyone had a GREAT Holiday and New Year's too. And hope THIS year is great for you.

EAHS
Betsyanne

Who are Nontraditional Students? They are students going back to school after a break, and may be in age anywhere from 24 to 100+. They are re-attending high school, or they are attending college or trade school, community college. They are taking online classes, in-person classes, maybe commuting to school, and going part-time or full-time. Some have families, some do not. So there are a lot of them!

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.

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 

Nontraditional Students... are you in school right now, having doubts, or are you afraid to go back to school?

Some of us have already heard the not-so-good stories of people who went back to school...

They had really bad things happen to them.

1. They didn't get the job they wanted.

2. They flunked out.

3. They changed their major and had to go one or more years longer.

4. They had to quit early.

5. They owed upteen thousands of dollars after going back to school,  and then had to pay it all back, and this was very, very hard.

6. They had zero support from family and/or friends.

7. They lost interest.

Are you afraid of these things happening to you? Are you already in school and are worried you will fail or quit?

Someone on the Nontraditional Student Yahoo group was sorry she went back. She has not yet found a job she wants. The only jobs she can get involve moving, which is easier for younger people than for older ones.

As for me (and you may know this already) I went back for teaching, and only taught for one (count it) ONE semester. Really. But I learned a LOT. And I can use the skills I learned now in many ways.

Others went back to school and got a great job. I think knowing a lot about what you are going back to do can help. Motivation and support can also help. Talking a lot to your school Advisors and teachers can also help. Being in a Nontraditional Student group can help. Having a plan can help.

It's not a be-all and end-all. But going back to school CAN make a major difference in your life. Whether it is graduate school or taking another subject you think you'd be good at, keeping a positive attitude and working hard can help.

Maybe these links will help you or somebody you know.

 Great stories about Nontraditional Students (from the Nontrad website)

A Nontrad Story - Michelle at Cornell

and Be Courageous - and improve your self-esteem.

And here are some other recent postings you may like:

My club picnic made me think about nontraditional students - and the clubs they can join

The beginning of Fall Semester, Air Conditioning, and more. School today, now and then.

#10 and final posting in a series: Have you signed up for too many classes?

Betsyanne

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

Nontraditional Students - have you considered going back to school - AGAIN?

I went back to school, after a VERY long break and a career too.








This time, I took Education classes, in preparation for a teaching job. I didn't enjoy it at all, for many reasons. But that is another posting (and hopefully a book too.) But the learning was great. I did enjoy that a lot. And I learned a lot about myself too.

But back to the subject. Has anyone else reading this been back to school, then (after awhile) decided to go back AGAIN? (For another degree, or another whole subject focus?) Were you glad you did it?

It takes courage to change your life and go back to school, nontraditional students.

Photo by S. Khan (geese) on Flickr. Taken near Borough market, Landon.

 
Nontraditional students, you are blazing the trail for others with your courage to go back to school after a break.

It takes courage to change your life, it takes courage to learn new things, and it take courage to keep your goals in mind, class by class, semester by semester.

Here is hoping that more students will go back to school and go for their dreams.

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student, WKU
 
and here is the latest posting from  the Find Scholarships and Grants blog I did today:
The Top Three Scholarship Postings  on the Find Scholarships and Grants Blog for August 2013

And here are some more of my Nontraditional Student links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

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

Hi to all nontraditional students. I hope you are having a terrific summer.

Greetings to all nontraditional students and those who help them.

Well, it's fine weather in Kentucky. We have been hot and sometimes rainy lately.

How is the weather where you live? 

I remember when I went to summer school in college - - the classes were on an excelerated pace, but it went OK.

I wasn't planning to go to summer school, but it just happened.  A talk with an advisor earlier on would have helped, I know. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do, as they say.

To all nontraditional students, going back to school after a break, and those thinking about it, here are some fun sayings you may like.

"You CAN do it."  -Anonymous

To pottery artists: "Remember the beauty of imperfection. In other words, anyone can buy a pot off an assembly line. They are all alike. But an artist makes each pot differently, with that extra something." -Mary Hooper Hirst

"A book is like a garden carried in a pocket." - Chinese Proverb

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities!"  - Norman Vincent Peale

Carry on, fearless nontrads. How is it going? Leave a comment!

Betsyanne
Former Nontrad: Teaching, WKU

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” –Vincent Van Gogh - See more at: http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2012/07/04/students-motivation-quotes/#sthash.b2SPZYmo.dpuf

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” –Vincent Van Gogh - See more at: http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2012/07/04/students-motivation-quotes/#sthash.b2SPZYmo.dpuf

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” –Vincent Van Gogh - See more at: http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2012/07/04/students-motivation-quotes/#sthash.b2SPZYmo.dpuf

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” –Vincent Van Gogh - See more at: http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2012/07/04/students-motivation-quotes/#sthash.b2SPZYmo.d

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

New on my Find Scholarships and Grants page: Research Fellowships at the British Museum for post-doctoral students.

Check out my Nontrad and Scholarship Squidoo pages too: Find Free Scholarships, What is a Nontraditional Student, and Nontraditional Students - Make Friends at College.

You CAN do it. Is IS possible... you can go back to school if you want to.

I know I say it a lot. But it's true. You CAN do it.

You CAN go back to school. For some nontraditional students, it is harder, though. They know they CAN do it, but their family and job hold them back.

It is sometimes impossible to juggle everything at once. A nontrad might be a single parent - - or might be taking care of an elderly relative. Another may have a job that that they really need to keep. At least for now.

The next nontraditional student you see may have hidden problems. He or she is still trying to make life better for him or herself and for his or her family.

It takes some support sometimes to get through school, especially when there isn't a nontraditional student group on campus. A nontraditional student may not even get the chance to meet others, because all his or her classes are online.

Try going to a link below. You will find help there, nontraditional students. Know that you are NOT alone. There are many older students going back to school after a break right now.

Heads up! :-)

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student
in Education, WKU

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

Nontraditional Students Rock! :-)

Here is a little post of encouragement. I think sometimes nontraditional students don't get enough of that.

I think Nontraditional Students rock. Why? Because many of them are working very hard to get through school.

Nontraditional students:

1. Come from many different backgrounds

2. Can have families and many responsibilities

3. Often work very hard and take school seriously.

4. Appreciate that things they want don't always come easily.

5. Must sometimes confront prejudice against older people, in school or in the workplace.

6. Often have full or part-time jobs along with their school responsibilities.

7. May not have the support they need.

8. Sometimes must "go it alone" in order to get the schooling they need, or feel ostracized in class.

9. May face an uphill battle to find childcare.

10. Rack up many bills and money to pay back in order to attend school.

Do you know a nontraditional student? Maybe that student is YOU. Give them (or yourself!) a pat on the back today.

Have a comment? Leave it below. Thanks!

E. Sheppard
Former Nontraditional Student, WKU
English and Allied Arts, Education

Some Nontrad 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

The Sandwich Generation, Part Two

I was thinking of nontraditional students today (again!)

Photo by Ed Yourdon on Flickr.

Sometimes nontraditional students must be responsible for so much - school, children, and even parents.

Is your parent ill, or needing your help? Do you have children too? An important thing to now is that you are not alone.

This posting is also about The Sandwich Generation - - that's sometimes Baby Boomers, who are just the age to be caregivers for parents, and also have children themselves.

This can make for a lot of stress.

Here is the original article (just click on the yellow link to go there).
The Sandwich Generation

There are some helpful links here, and some sites and advice that can help with the stress and difficulties of being part of this Sandwich Generation.

I know that part of dealing with stress is the attitude you have about it. A hopeless attitude can sometimes only make things worse. (Something you DON'T need at all.)

Being in a support group definitely can help with this, because there are ways of making what seems impossible easier to manage.

After all, there are only so many hours in a day. Nobody expects anyone to be super-human. But guilt and lack of energy, plus depression are real issues that can happen when someone has to deal with a lot of family issues.

I know I felt overwhelmed in the past sometimes when I was taking care of my mother. And when my daughter was  teenager. But I know many people deal with those same feelings every day. Somehow, it helped to know that I was not alone, and that there were places and people online and offline that could help.

I hope these tips from the article can help some nontraditional students today.

Do you also have some tips for people who have a lot to cope with at home or with their family? List your tips as a comment. I'd appreciate that, and so would other nontraditional students.

And my heart goes out to you older students, who often have tough issues to deal with.

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student at WKU
(Education, English and Allied Arts)

And here is my other (latest) article here:
College now and then: ten differences I noticed as a nontraditional student.
 
Here are my other Nontrad links: 
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo (a discussion group)
Nontrads on Twitter

Back to school... here's to happy experiences.

And they are not all happy experiences for everyone...

Raining Stamp from Clker.com

I communicated with another nontraditional student recently, who said she was moving to another area to try being a nontraditional student in another place.

She was disappointed about what had happened to her. She was not through with trying to better herself, though, and would make another try in her new town.

Why? Because she didn't have a good experience at her first school. And she didn't want to try there or live there any more. I heard that she was uncomfortable - - that she had not felt like she belonged there. I wonder what happened.

I can only guess right now, until or if I ever find out what happened.

My guesses (from what I heard and interpolated):

1. She did not feel like she fit in at school.

2. People stared at her and she felt uncomfortable a lot of the time.

3. She was not in a nontraditional student group.

4. She did not have any friends at school, no matter what age.

5. It was such a bad experience, that she felt that it was no use trying again at the same school.

What she did not have was much support, either, from the school, it sounded like.

There are things schools can do to try to keep more nontraditional students from leaving school and/or giving up.

People who help older students who are going back to school after a break call the whole study of keeping older students IN school Nontraditional Student Retention.

A paper called Catalyst v23nd - the Student in Higher Education: Nontraditional Student Retention (written by Betty A. Allen of the University of Alabama) says that students drop out for different reasons. They state that the attrition rate can be as high as  32%.

I find it interesting that nontraditional students stay in school more when they feel valued. Teachers can make some changes that can help older students stay in school too, such as to give assignments a good bit ahead of time. The article also says that sympathetic advisors can help a lot.

It's a good article - I liked it.

To me, it's different for every student. And the older student must take some responsibility for success too. Are you not fitting in as well as you'd like? Sometimes this can happen. Can you still learn in such an environment? Well, yes.

And you yourself can help improve a bad situation sometimes, too - by maybe speaking to another student in class, forming a study group, or maybe even starting a nontraditional student group.

It's food for thought. Every nontrad story is not a success story, that is true. But I hope that one day, all nontraditional students can feel comfortable going back to school.

It's an attitude thing with younger students sometimes, but they are not all prejudiced and unfriendly. I found an opposite reaction from some new friends I made when I was back in school in my late 40's.

And many school now have great support systems. Try the Nontrad Site, find your state, and see if there is a nontraditional student support system at a school there. If there isn't, there will be some day.

I have a good feeling about that!

-Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student
English/Allied Arts Teaching, WKU

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

Fall Break ideas - - what are YOUR plans?

Is Fall Break coming up soon?

Photo credit: This original photo is by byj on Wikimedia Commons.

I looked up Fall Break at Western Kentucky University, and saw that it is October 4th and 5th this year. Of course, the weekend is then tacked on (the 4th and 5th are a Thursday and Friday), but still... Fall Break is not really very long this year.

But fun can definitely be had - - or a report done. That's what I usually wound up doing during MY Fall Break anyhow.

I think of nontraditional students who have kids. I wonder, do their Fall Break days coincide with their kids' dates? I hope so!

Nontraditional students: what are your Fall Break plans? Do you need to scramble to find things for your kids to do during Fall Break?

Do you GET a Fall Break? I hope so.

Betsyanne

Betsyanne is a current (pottery and writing) and former (Education classes) nontraditional student.

Nontraditional students are going back to school after a break. Are you a nontrad? Share your story in a comment too.

Here are some other articles you may like:

Winter Term: Love it or hate it?

10 Study Skills Tips to help you do Great on your Finals

Study Groups for Nontraditional Students

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

You CAN do it, nontraditional students. And here are 10 reasons why...

Here are 10 reasons why nontraditional students CAN go back to school today.

 

1. There is no statute of limitations on when you can go back to school. And many other older students are doing it.

2. There are more class choices today - - in person classes (which I prefer) and online classes, which are handier for some nontraditional students.

3. Students today of any age can go to get their GED, go to college, go to trade school, or go to Community College if they want to.

4.There are still scholarships, grants and loans out there for motivated nontraditional students to find and use.

5. Today's job market is changing. Sometimes the job a nontraditional student is trained for is a bad fit for the future. More training can make a difference in a good career.

6. More and more nontraditional students are going back to school nowadays. Nontrads don't need to feel as alone as before.

7. Schools are actively courting nontraditional students today. Plus, many have nontraditional student groups and special advisors just for them.

8. Training for a good job, or finding out about a long-held dream can improve your self-esteem.

9. In the current job market, local training classes or grants can sometimes be found at places like Employment Centers.

10. Nothing beats the way you will feel when your completion, certification, or degree is in your hands.

Can you think of other good reasons for going back to school? I would love to have them as a comment today.

Betsyanne

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

A new Nontraditional Student logo - tell me if you like it. I will make more later.

Hello, nontraditional students, and those who help them.

Today I am considering making some more nontraditional student logos. I have one already done:

I would like to make some other designs for Nontraditional Students. I think maybe another color, plus maybe a graduation cap OR a staggered design using the letters.

Are there some more ideas out there? I want to make it as "official" as possible, and even kind of like other Fraternal or Sorority logos.

But I may use this one (maybe with red inside the letters?) for awhile and then make another one, or maybe five more, and have my readers vote on them.

Blue is my new favorite color. It used to be violet or purple.

If you like this one, let me know with a comment. Thanks!!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student (Teaching)
Current Nontraditional Student (Pottery and Writing)
The Garden Spot, Kentucky

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

A note to Nontraditional Students about rising tuition - some money-saving tips

Hello, nontraditional students. Is your tuition rising?

I'll bet you have been keeping a close eye on your local tuition. My school, WKU (Western Kentucky University) has raised tuition again this year.

Other schools have, too. But also, some schools have frozen fees for the next year, which does help all students.

But economic facts are facts. Some schools are not getting the help they need from their states. They must increase their fees to cover their expenses.

So how do you feel about this? I know there is not much you can do, except maybe switch schools. But there are some tips to help you save money as you complete your degree.

Some tips to help nontraditional students save money (As tuition rises...)

#1. Consider a work-study position. This is something you can do right on campus, if you are in face to face classes. It may add much-needed money to your bank account. You may be able to fit in a part-time job, if you can find one that works with your schedule.

#2. Make sure to take advantage of student loans by applying early to the official FAFSA site. They may also let you know of local grants and scholarships too. 

#3. If you have not already taken general classes, you may be able to take some of your classes in a technical college affiliated with a university, and then transfer your credits in a few years if you want. 

You will find many technical colleges have much lower fees, which will be easier to repay in the future. Make sure to double-check if these credits will transfer to the second school before you enroll.

#4. Use the preferred government loan system (Stafford and Perkins) and read the fine print about them. These loan programs are set up just for college students, and you don't have to start paying them until you graduate. Borrowing from a private credit card can be death to your finances, now or later.

#5. Don't use your loan money to buy things like clothing, furniture, etc. - try to just use it for books, tuition, etc. Save as much of it as possible. 

#6. Save money in the small ways if you can, like packing your lunch, buying your own soft drinks or packing water, and cut back on entertainment, travel, etc. etc. Small savings can really add up.

#7.  Shop around if you can - - which colleges are the better deal? Make sure that the credits will transfer too (see #3).

#8.  Plan your schedule so that you graduate in as few years as possible. Use the services of a school advisor and double-check your requirements to get your requirements done in order, and be able to save a semester or more of fees.

#9. If you have to, go to school part-time and work in order to have more money to live on. You will still graduate or get your certification eventually, just not as fast.

#10. Stay positive! People with positive attitudes can do more in a day, and don't let minor things bother them. This will help you with your classes, your studying, and your grades too.

Maine Community College System freezes suition 2012-13

Budget with tuition increase, online class fee approved (for WKU)

The official FAFSA site

Positive Qualities of Nontraditional Students (from the Nontrad blog)

Student Aid on the Web (student aid.gov)

Comment below - - how do you feel about rising tuition? What is your plan (if any) to change how you are doing things? I am curious to know. Thanks!

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student (Teaching)
Current Nontraditional Student (Pottery)

The Garden Spot, Kentucky

And here are some Nontrad links:

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

Motivational quotes from the Student Doctor Network

I really like these motivational quotes. It's true that sometimes everyone needs a hand up and some motivational sayings really can help.

I found a great page today which is a real gold mine at the Student Doctor Network discussion boards. People there share their own favorite motivational quotes on the page that is called "A Dose of Nontrad Motivation (Quotes)". One is "Desiderata-Max Ehrmann 1927" which has a lot more verses than I remember. You may also remember the first part of this beautiful and inspiring poem.

Here are just a few of the quotes shared. You can go to the Student Doctor Network Discussion board page <"A Dose of Nontrad Motivation (Quotes)"> to read the rest.

" 'Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. -- Calvin Coolidge' "

" 'Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." ~Confucius' "

“ 'When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'” --Erma Bombeck' "

 There are also some videos there about failure that are extremely motivating to the poster. Here is one about Lincoln and other famous people who have failed in life. You will be surprised who is listed here. (thanks, PreMedical...)



So.. how is school going? Are you seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel? Share, friend, share, by commenting at the end of this blog.

Sincerely and nontraditionally yours,
Betsyanne
Former and current nontraditional student
from Kentucky

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

Sometimes a nontraditional student is on his or her own

Are you on your own? Or maybe you know somebody who is?

Does your family not agree with your going back to school? Do you feel like you always have to explain yourself to others? Maybe you know somebody in this situation too.

Sometimes it's hard to be a nontraditional student. I feel that this blog and the Nontrad website (along with the Facebook and Yahoo groups) are places that nontraditional students can find help and support. (And if that is what you are looking for, check out the links at the bottom of this posting.)

What is important is that you or somebody else are both doing what you feel is right. You or they are following a dream. Don't let the negativity out there bring you or others down.

Try a positive affirmation or two, like "I am working towards my future" and "I really don't want to hang around negative people anymore" become part of your life.

Do you know somebody that is on their own and is also a nontraditional student, or plans to be? Be that person's helpful friend, and just be there for them. You will be doing a lot to help that person succeed.

Betsyanne

Former and current Nontraditional Student

Leave a comment! I would love to hear from you.

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

Guilt and the nontraditional student - is it healthy?

Guilty Feelings and Nontraditional Students...

Yes, nontraditional students DO feel guilty about being back in school sometimes.

Some nontraditional students feel guilty because they seldom get enough time with their kids or family.

And if they do their homework or projects, home projects and family get the back burner.

Women seem to have this guilt more than others, and have even more the more traditional their role is in the family.

From the J. Benshoff and H. Lewis article, women who are going back to school can worry about these things:

"*feeling guilty about not "being there" for their children;

*concerns about quality and expense of childcare;

*feelings of responsibility for maintaining their role within the family;

*making compromises in careers due to family considerations;

*minimal individual free time;

*perceived lack of credibility when returning to college;(and)

*insufficient support from family for returning to school."

Cyr, who was a nontraditional student with a child, worried about her daughter being affected by her being back in school. She remarked, 

" I also have huge guilt over not being able to put her sports or scouts or some other extra-curricular activity with some of her friends, but I'd never be able to take a class if I did. I just keep telling myself that when I'm done, there will still be plenty of time for her to do all those things and things will be better for all of us in the long run." (From the CollegeNet Forum).

Amber Stephens at the Fisher College of Business hits on another point. She says that other people (and even pets!) can try to make nontraditional students feel guilty about going back to school too.

"Even when you’re not at school, you are still in school. There is always something to do. This means the ones you love will see less of you. They’ll be supportive. They’ll also find ways to make you feel guilty, even if they don’t mean to intentionally. Even my German shepherd works the guilt card, running to be with me whenever I’m home, always trying to burst in the door to sit by my feet. It’s pitiful, but I miss him too. I miss everyone. So plan your get togethers, picnics, parties and coffee klatches before school starts. Afterward, it’s a crap shoot."

She goes on to say that it's important to think about relaxing or having fun when you are back in school. I love it when she says: "Remember how much fun school used to be, like when we were kids in the ’80s…or whatever your decade of choice might be. After all, we’re never too old to be students again."

I can add to that. I think that feeling guilty is a huge time-waster. Nontraditional students need some times to just have fun and take some time off from studies.

Participate in some fun activities AT school just for fun, or go to a nontraditional student meeting once in awhile.

Taking some time for yourself may be a new thing, but I think it's healthy.

After all, feeling guilty can be a choice, and a time-wasting one at that.

Your thoughts? Leave them below as a comment. Thanks!

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


Article/Posting resources:


Nontraditional Students by James M. Benshoff, and Henry A. Lewis via Eric Education Reports

Guilt - from the 2003 issue of the Non-traditional Student News at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg

Cyr's comments at the CollegeNet Forum  

Nontraditional Student? Here's What I Wish I Knew by Amber Stephens


The photo of a nontraditional student with a headache is from the Microsoft Clipart pages.