The Non-Traditional Student Blog (BA): nontraditional students on campus

School is Starting! Here in Bowling Green, Kentucky...

There have been news stories about people moving into their dorms and going through what is called Master Plan at WKU lately.

(Just saw this! It's a M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan just for Commuters! Check it out, Nontrads.)

It was a blast from the past to remember just how HOT it used to be when moving into a dorm room. Students moving in to WKU were hot, hot, hot!

Back when I was first in school, (in the 1970's) some dorm rooms did NOT have air conditioning. But now all of them do. And it makes a huge difference.

There is still the moving in, the lugging of "things", and getting to know roommates, or NOT. (Today college students can choose single rooms.)

Yes, seeing the new Freshman students (and older students) move into dorm rooms on TV lately brings back memories.

Nontrads on Campus
Some nontraditional students, older than first-time students straight out of high school, are also moving back into dorms. Many are much in their late 20's, 30's, or older. Some are taking advantage of new apartments near campus just for students with children.

What a great improvement to have apartments for families and single families. We had Married Student Housing back in the day, and I'm sure some students get apartments like this still.

But sometimes dorms are the cheapest option for single students.

Are there some nontrads moving in to a new place this week? Or perhaps you are commuting.

Whatever your situation, I wish you the very best in luck this semester!

And here are some other postings you may like:

Your college backpack: what is in it?

What to bring your first day of class

My favorite study skills site

Get to know your professors (or any kind of teacher)

-Betsyanne

Some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

When I first went back to school, the nontraditional student in a dorm was always somebody you just heard about...

you know, that older student that kept mostly to him or herself. The ONE student maybe. The one nobody ever saw much. The shy one. The one that might move out the next semester.

The MS office clipart pages

But now, there are more nontraditional students who choose dorm life. Some married students can (again) access married housing too. (They will be able to do this later on at WKU, for one.)

Here are some neat links about that. And a question: are you thinking of going back to school, AND staying in a dorm? There definitely are advantages to it. You can many times incorporate it into your school loans, it is closer to classes, you can save on a car, etc. etc. etc.

You can then do as other (younger) students do, and maybe sign up for a meal plan and even go out for a sorority. Some of them are accepting older pledges today.

I think if I were not married, I would definitely consider living in a dorm while going back to school as an older nontraditional student. I found out already going back to school that some younger students don't mind befriending an older student. And that was a wonderful highlight of my school experience. I think staying in a dorm would mean even more friendship opportunities!

Here is another article from this blog about staying in a dorm:

Nontraditional housing: who wants to stay in a dorm?

(scroll down on this article to find more article links too.)

And here are some more articles you may like:
Nontraditional student experiences dorm life

This article talks about special "quiet floors" for nontrads!

Tranquil dorm life found in Brookman (SD) (that appeals to nontraditional students...)

Deb Peterson at the About.com Continuing Education blog asks, Are you a nontraditional student living in a dorm? and talks about sharing a co-ed bathroom. Here is that link. Would you share a co-ed bathroom? I think I would. It would just be part of the whole experience. But I would definitely lock the door while I was in there.

If you have a story about a nontraditional student in a dorm, or are one yourself, leave a comment! Or leave one anyhow... Thanks.