The Fashionable Nontraditional Student - is this you? Some articles and tips.

I have to admit, I don't think I was a fashionable nontraditional student.

Not me.

But I blended in well enough (think: jeans, tops, etc.) mainly because I didn't think I could afford a REAL College Wardrobe as a nontraditional student.

But clothes mattered to me so much more the first time around when I was in college. Not that I had money for them either, but luckily the clothes I had were different and trendy, so I was happy about that. Once in awhile I longed for party attire, but didn't cry about it.

Now, some nontraditional students DO think about fashion. I did find some fun articles about what to wear at college. Of course, a lot depends on what you want to show or not show.

Here are just a couple of article I found today on the subject, in case you are in the market to get a few outfits - - or fake it out with some carefully selected (and on the cheap side) accessories.

There are some cute photos here: (And not just for size zero...)
http://thewelldressedlife.com/

Over 50? And want to look great at an event or special party?
Here are some good photos:
http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2013/mar/29/50-best-dressed-over-50s

How to be a "Glam Grand" - -
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/may/28/glam-grans-over-60s-fashion

Luckily, a pair of nice jeans and a T-shirt are still fashionable for older ladies or gentlemen to wear. But a nice shirt or blouse sometimes is a great choice.

But be on the lookout. Fashions DO change. And many times, you can find something different and cool to wear.

Not that you are ever going to be super fantastically cool as an older student, but you can try if you like. But then, you may be THE "most fascinating man or woman" in the world. But even you know that fashion does help sometimes. 

Some other postings you may like from our archives are:

Must-have supplies for the adult college student

and

Your College Backpack - What is in it?

What are your style tips? Leave a comment here.

My last posting here: A note about lists, and (Nontrads: Just Do It!)

Betsyanne

Get Connected too, Nontrads!

Be sure to check in here at these sites:

The Nontrad website  

Join Nontrads on Facebook 

Nontrads on Yahoo 

and Nontrads on Twitter


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10 Great Study Tips for Nontrads 2015

Going back to school this Fall? Already there? Here are some great study tips to try.

#1. Get and stay organized - - - have a notebook for each class, or just keep your notes and handouts separate somehow. I found having a separate notebook helped.

#2. Form a study group - - it can help you raise your grade. Plus it's kind of nice to have an excuse to make friends.

#3. Form a relationship with your teachers - it can help you if you have to miss a class or if you need extra help. They can point you in the right direction.

#4. Have good study skills. Try to study each subject at least 1/2 hour every other day OR each day. Don't wait until the last minute to start final projects or study for that test.

#5. Make sure you tape or take notes from every class.

#6. Bring enough pens and pencils with you.

#7. Consult the great Joe Landsberger Study Guides and Strategies site here: http://studygs.net/.

Study Guides and Strategies from the Joe Landsberger Site
http://www.studygs.net/ - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html#.VcJwhbdUx3k

#8. Use the Search Box here for this blog (in the upper left side here) and search for specific items like "study", "test taking" etc. - there are many postings about this with even more tips on them.

#9.  Organize your note-taking by being smart about it. Read this posting to find out how:  2-column Notes Page.

#10. Think positive. Visualize success. And when you need help, do not hesitate to ask for it, and use your schools free study help.

Please add your OWN tips as a comment.

#11: (a bonus) See #8 again. There are many articles to help you here.

Clobber your Test Anxiety Midterms and Grades - How to Improve Them 10 Tips for Doing Well on Finals How to Make Sure you are In the Right Class (signing up for next semester) Websites and Tips for Exam Studying Nontraditional Students - 11 More Tips for Success - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html#.VcJwRbdUx3k

Clobber your Test Anxiety Midterms and Grades - How to Improve Them 10 Tips for Doing Well on Finals How to Make Sure you are In the Right Class (signing up for next semester) Websites and Tips for Exam Studying Nontraditional Students - 11 More Tips for Success - See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html#.VcJwRbdUx3k

Good luck with your studying!!!

My last posting: Fall Enrollment, the Pocket App, more.

Get connected with more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad website

 Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter 

-Betsyanne

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

Are you a Nontraditional Student? Here are some support sites for you.

It can be lonely being an older student at college or even while getting your GED.

You can be close in age to other students, OR you may be a lot older.

True, more and more studentgroups are accepting older students. So... you might even be going through rush right now.

If you are like me, you are keeping to yourself a lot, but still making some friends for Study Groups.

But it helps to know that there are  groups either at your school or online that can help you through it.

Here are just a few:
The Nontrad site and blog

Nontrads on Facebook and

Nontrads on Yahoo

Good luck this semester, nontraditional students! Use the search box to find out how to make a nontraditional student group, find out more about yourself, explore other nontrad blogs and sites, and lots more.

Later!

Betsyanne

Former Nontraditional Student in Education

WKU

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

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

Photo credit: Michaelcardus on Flickr.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks,

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

Sources:

Nontraditional Students are the New Majority

Financial Aid for Older and Nontraditional Students at the FinAid site

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

And here are more of my nontraditional student links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter

Do you vacation on the weekend? Or do you stay glued to the books?

Hello again, nontraditional students.

This weekend was Concave, which was held in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was so fun.

Some of the people I knew back the first time I was in college at WKU were there. It was great to see old and new friends.

The Concave welcome sign.

I know that some nontraditional students like science fiction conventions. Others enjoy vacationing, or taking a staycation sometimes.

When I was a nontraditional student, I don't remember ever just taking a weekend off. It is possible I may have once or twice, but I always ALSO took my books with me.

But it's possible to take a break every now and then, especially if you are a good planner.

Spring break is coming up.

Nontrads, do you have Spring Break plans? Do you take weekend trips sometimes and always take your computer and homework?

A beach dream  by virtualphotographystudio on Flickr.

This beach photo looks like a perfect place to vacation. Are you well ahead of your assignments?

Just curious! I hope school is going well.

Here is a quick pep talk for today, and some sites to help you.

If you are stressed, and wondering how to get ahead before Spring Break, focusing on organization can help.

And taking a short stress-relieving break can also help.

Getting a better grade can depend on making a study group, OR just devoting yourself to more study time.

Here are a couple of postings here that may also help from the Nontraditional Student website.

#1. Helpful links for nontraditional students
This page on the Nontrads site helps nontrads set goals, find out more about what you really want from school, and how to make friends too.

#2. The Study Skills page on the Nontrads site features a great website made by Joe Landsberger, which is very helpful in helping nontraditional students and others to focus, get better grades, apply study tips, and lots more.

I have taken some photos of this Concave weekend here if you would like to see them:

The Concave Art Auction 2013

Some Concave Friends

and Concave 34: some Friday pix.

New to this blog or just visiting? Leave a comment. Thanks!

And remember, you CAN do it!

-Betsyanne

Some 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 being a nontraditional student can be hard...but worth it...

 Hi to all nontraditional students and the people that help them.

Today I ran across an article by a nontraditional student going to Stony Brook State University of New York. He is taking a full load of classes, plus helps take care of a child, cooks, does reports, researches, etc. etc.

Here is a quote from the article:

"It’s difficult, but I wouldn’t change anything either.  I know that I have to make an extra effort, but I’m happy because it’s an effort that has a reward."

So true! This resonates with many nontraditional students. I have heard others who also keep their goal in mind, no matter what.

You can read the rest of this article here:
The Difficulties of Being a Nontraditional Student.

Have you run across an article you like? List it here as a comment. Or just let us know how it is going.

Nontraditionally Yours,

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

Winter Term - love it or hate it?

One of the newer trends in higher education is having a Winter Term. This term nestles in-between Fall and Spring terms.

Let me first explain my use of the word "newest."

For people like me, who first attended school more than 20 years ago, this is a new phenomenon. But Winter Terms have been around for years. The term is nestled between Fall and Spring semesters.

For example, Western Kentucky University has their Winter Term is from January 3rd through January 25th. Registration began for this term in October.

I can see how people would want to attend both Winter and Summer terms. It is a chance to catch up on classes, and maybe take a special class that is not offered at other times. Perhaps an important prerequisite is needed, and taking a class during this shorter term is necessary.

Nontraditional students are faced with prerequisite challenges all the time, just like other students. One class MUST be taken before the next one, in order. So they must be careful to plan for that.

Are you in a Winter Term class right now? Do you like it? Would you be interested in going during that time? Do you think the best colleges or schools should offer a Winter Term?

Or are you waiting until a "regular" semester to take a class you need? I am curious as to what other students, interested persons, or former students think about Winter Term.

There are reasons I think people would like Winter Term (such as availablity of courses). The reasons I probably would not like it are:

1. You don't have as much time to learn the material
2. It's cold outside!
3. You don't get a Winter Break then, which can be fun.

There may be other reasons why a Winter Term is good or bad. Write down what you think, as a comment below.

I have a poll here called "Winter Term: Love it or hate it?" I will vote first.  You don't have to love or hate it. There are other choices. I am so curious to see what people will say. :-)

Nontraditionally yours,
Elizabeth Sheppard
"Betsyanne"
Helping Nontraditional Students Get Connected

Here are some of my sites:
The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

Here is another great Nontrads group to join...

You can't join enough really great Nontrad groups.

Here is one I just found lately. It is on Facebook, which makes it really handy for Nontrads who are already on Facebook.

Here is the link:

Non-Traditional College Student Support Group

Here is the description from the group site:
"We are looking for people who have advanced knowledge of:
A&P
Sociology
Psychology
Statistics
Mathematics
Social Problems
Calculus
Trigonometry
College Algebra
Geology
Anthropology
Western Civilization (til 1700 & 1700 to now)
Foreign Language (Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, Russian, etc.)
Nursing Courses of ANY kind

If I missed ANY SUBJECT, please let me know. We will add them as we get them or post a discussion question on the board.

**NOTE** Websites are a must! If someone has questions about a subject and you happen to know a site that will be useful, PLEASE, share it with the group!:)"

I have talked to the group founder and she is really nice. I joined it too!

ES
The Nontrad Yahoo Group
The Nontrad Website
The Nontrad Blog

Ideas for a nontraditional student Spring Break

Some Nontraditional Student ideas for Spring Break

Here are a few things you can do on Spring Break, or on the weekend:

1. Get caught up on your projects and studies. You will feel a lot better when you go back to class being on top of things.
2. Have a Family Day with the kids.
3. Go on a short REAL vacation out of town.
4. Type up your handwritten notes
5. Sleep a lot.
6. Go on a hike.
7. Hang out with your best friend or get a haircut. Try out those masks on the shelf that you have been saving.
8. Journal about being a Nontraditional Student this week and zero in even more on your goals.
9. Go out to eat with your significant other.

More ideas? List them as comments. Thanks!

The Successful Nontraditional Student

Is it you? Are you the next SUCCESSFUL nontraditional student?

Do you have what it takes?

Some people already KNOW that they are going to be successful.

They already may be new nontrad students, just going back to school after a break. Others are reaching out to talk to a college's financial aid office --- and finally going for their dream.

Others may not be sure of themselves. They think they MIGHT not make it, that they AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH to be successful. These students do not ever make that first step towards going back to school. There is just too much fear there.

What can help?

Many authors have written best-selling books about being successful. They wind up on the best-seller lists. Many of these books have the same message: you must BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Some books I like that can help nontraditional students in their quest for self-esteem and courage are:

1. Living Juicy - Daily Morsels for your Creative Soul by Sark (or ANY book by Sark...)
2. What to Say When you Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter
3. Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne Dyer (or ANY book by him...)

Some other GREAT authors you may want to read are Ekhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Iyanla Vanzant, and Dale Carnegie.

Read these other posts about motivation for more ideas about how to KNOW you are going to do well by going back to college:

10 Motivational Tips for the Nontraditional Student
How to Find Motivation
Don't Give Up!
Your Life... Is it time You Changed It?
A Nontraditional Attitude
Non-Traditional Students and Choices