Just for Non-Trads - - and those who help them: A New Year's Wish

Fireworks!

To the Nontraditional Students out there, who are working towards their dreams:

Don't give up...

Do have hope...

Share your experiences...

and Think of the Big Picture.

And have a GREAT 2020!!

 

Betsyanne

Former and Current Nontraditional Student

Check out our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/nontradstudents/

and our Website here: http://www.nontradstudents.com/.

Good luck in the coming year with everything. XOXO

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!

April 2017 - a post for Nontraditional Students, their friends and supporters.

Here is hoping your year is going well.

For those NOT on Facebook, here are a few links I have shared there you might like (or just want to read):

Student Loan Forgiveness Program Approval Letters May Be Invalid, Education Dept. Says (NY Times)

 Summer Internships at Harvard from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion

60 Unusual College Scholarships You Should Apply For in 2017

MIT Announces $250,000 Reward for Disobedience (NY Post)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Good luck with:

Graduation
Exams
Projects
Decisions
Support
Next Semester's Registration
Scholarships
Finding the school for you
and More.

Use our Search Box to find out about many other topics.

All for now

Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student in Education
Email me at lizann 447 at yahoo dot com.

Does YOUR school have special programs for Non-traditional Students?

Greetings to all nontraditional students, those who help them, AND people thinking of going back to school after a break.

Services for Nontraditional Students
I am just curious. Does YOUR school, or the school you are thinking of attending, have special programs for nontraditional students? I hope so.

Your school may offer: special tutoring classes, or places to study, clubs or organizations, even parties or special events for older students. Other schools have special babysitting services, places to put books in-between classes, special Advisors, and a lot more.

Check out what schools have before going to them, if you can.

Facebook pages
I have noticed online Facebook pages for commuters and Nontraditional Students are really doing a great job and getting the word out on services for Nontraditional Students. You can see these Facebook pages at the FB page for Nontraditional Students here: https://www.facebook.com/nontradstudents/. You can also post at the site.

Article Links for today
Here are a few articles you might want to check out today or when you get time. They are from the blog.

(1) Finding support as a Nontraditional Student 

(2) Non-Traditional Housing - who wants to stay on campus?

(3)  A Non-Trad Story: Michelle at Cornell

Good luck with your studies! And with your dreams.

E. Sheppard
Former Nontraditional Student in Education
Possible Nontraditional Student in Art next!

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

More About me: I sell books and collectibles on Ebay, Amazon, and Etsy. Here are some of my current Ebay listings:

eBay Listings Widget from Auction Nudge

Make friends, study hard, have fun, start a group, and get support....

Life is not all about school and studying. OK, a lot of it is if you are a student, especially if you are going back to school after a break.
But there are other things that can make your experience a lot better.

#1: Make some friends...
This is ALWAYS a good idea if you can do it. You can make friends only around your own age, or you can reach out and make some younger friends too. I did... and now we are Facebook friends. It is so neat to be connected and see photos of marriages, new babies, etc. Plus they are good people to know. Some friends you make in school will move, and some won't. But you are probably used to that.

Here is another posting about that...

Link: <for Nontrads> How to Make Friends in College

Are things the same old, same old? Are you getting tired of the day to day grind of being back in school? Your school may offer lots of extra-curriculars and other activities. Check those out and join a fun group. You will make friends there most probably.

More ideas:
Link: Are you bored with school and want more fun?

Talking about groups, if your school does NOT have a Nontraditional Student group yet, YOU can make one. Just talk to the school people in charge. This can be a great way to get support.

This posting will help you with advice on how to do that.

Link: Form a Nontraditional Student group

AND support is a very good thing. Your school might have all kinds of group and support there already. It's up to you to take advantage of those things. You will need to find out about what your school offers.

There are other places to find support, too, while you are back in school.

Link: What Nontraditional Students need to Have
(includes different kinds of support)

All for now - - comment below!

Some more Nontraditional Student links:

The Nontraditional Student Website (this blog is on there...)

Join Nontrads on Facebook 

Nontrads on Yahoo and

Nontrads on Twitter

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!

Great inspirational quotes and sites for today...

Everyone needs an inspirational quote now and then.  

AND a site or two that is helpful too.

Here are some I like and use.

#1. ThinkExist's Inspiration Quotes
http://thinkexist.com/quotations/inspiration/

Here is a great quote from that site:
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.     
-John Quincy Adams"

#2. Brainy Quotes Quotes Page
http://www.brainyquote.com/

"Believe you can and you're halfway there.

 - Theodore Roosevelt"

#3. And here is the Motivation Page on the Nontraditional Student website. http://www.nontradstudents.com/inspire_motivate.html

It's inspiring to hear how other continuing education students have succeeded.

Are you on the road to a new degree or a new job? It takes a lot of gumption and focus to do this. So you should pat yourself on the back today.

And here are some more postings here on this blog that you may like:

Inspiring Stories from Nontraditional Students, and

Tips for Inspiration - - or how to get moving towards the important things.

And here are some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site 

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

#7 in a series: Are you bored with school? Want more fun? Try these things.

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

#7. School has become boring, or not fun at all.
The short answer I had on the original posting was: See if you can join a Club or Nontraditional Student group at your school. This might help.

It might. But you may not have a group there. Worse yet, you may have other reasons why school is not interesting to you anymore.

Are you having trouble with your classes? Maybe not. If your classes are boring, the good part of that is maybe you know what is going on and will get an A in each boring class. All you have to do is wait for that. And force yourself to attend class, sometimes easier said than done.

If it's become a duty, and you are having no fun at all, that is a really bad thing. It might make you quit if you don't do something about it. Luckily, there are more avenues for nontraditional students nowadays than there used to be. A study group might win a few friends for you (and better marks), but there are now OTHER groups that you might be able to join. Online nontrad groups are available too (see the bottom for these links) but actual Campus Clubs and Organizations are now more open than ever to all ages.

Is there a way you can make school more interesting? A Club may be just the ticket for that. Choose a club that really interests you. Love theater? Join the Theater Club. Or you might want to choose a Sorority or Fraternity. Yes, you heard right. Some now allow older students to join! (Of course, check first).

Try taking notes - - and asking questions of your teachers to make things more interesting. Find out if you can do any extra credit projects to fill up your time if you are bored. And if you decide to add a club to your activities, new friendships and an active social calendar will soon help your boredom - a LOT.

Here are some other past Nontrad Blog postings that might help you.

Study Groups for Nontraditional Students

On-Campus Clubs for the Nontraditional Student

and

10 Motivational Tips for the Non-Traditional Student

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? 


#6. You may want to transfer schools... some things to think about.

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 #8: You wanted A's, you got B's or C's.

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 

Schools with Nontraditional Student Facebook pages, programs, ANTSHE, more.

Does your school help nontraditional students?

About me, and the Nontrad programs at WKU

I attended Western Kentucky University when I was a nontraditional student, about 5-6 years ago now.
Some things I liked about WKU's nontraditional student support were:

1. The lockers you could store books in at WKU.

2. The dedicated lounge at the Technical School, (now SKYCTC: the Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College) and how credits transfered to WKU also. (A great idea!)

3. A new  Nontraditional Student area at WKU now, plus Married Student Housing (now back after a hiatus), and an Adult Learner Services office.

4. An Adult Learner Study Room at WKU and Links to help nontrads too.

Some other schools with terrific Nontraditional student programs have Facebook pages and special programs and more for their nontrads.

Should all schools try to have special programs for their nontraditional students?

I say yes, they should. I think all schools should try to give their older students and students who have taken a break from school a helping hand any way they can. Why? I think it will help them, and in turn, all students succeed. Because everyone has a unique story to tell.

Plus, it's not always easy to acclimate to school if you haven't been a student for awhile. Nontraditional students need some extra motivation and help. It's also good if there is a place they can go to be with other students like them, to connect and feel a part of the school, to feel like they belong.

Here are just a few other Facebook pages for nontraditional students groups:

DANTS at ASU  (D.A.N.T.S. Downtown Association for Non-Traditional Students at ASU) - Arizona State University

Adults Belong in College - from Ohio University Lancastesr Pickerington

UW Oshkosh Adult Student Resources page (Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement)

Nontraditional Students on Facebook can list their groups and link up at the Nontraditional Student Facebook Page too.

Does your school have a Nontraditional Student group?
Check at the Nontraditional Student website, (scroll down to the map) and click on your state. You may add your group there anytime for free.

And if you are in a group, make sure to check out the ANTSHE page. Once you have joined, you can link up to groups across the country.

And here are some more related Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo, and

Nontrads on Twitter 

The Nontrad News: 

I will be publishing a Winter Nontrad News soon. I decided NOT to wait until there were more signups. If you have an idea of what YOU would like me to write about, leave a comment.

Thank you!

Related Postings You may like:

Are you in a Nontraditional Student Group?

Five Ways for Nontraditional Students to Get Connected

The Sandwich Generation - - taking care of kids AND parents

Via Yahoo: 3 Common Questions From Nontraditional Students Answered

This article is worth a look.

Here are the three questions it answers:

#1. Is the FAFSA a waste of my time?

#2. Can I get financial aid as a part-time student?

and #3. Does the school help with day care?

I liked reading about Day Care options at several schools.  I wish all schools and college would offer subsidized Child Care! It would make such a huge difference to nontraditional students. And I had forgotten about financial aid for part-time students. I was full time when I went back, like many nontraditional students.

I have to agree that filling out your FAFSA form is a great idea, and worth the time you take to fill it out and get your ID. They don't just have Federal aid, they have State aid, school aid, and scholarship information too.

ALWAYS important to remember is to go only to the OFFICIAL FAFSA site, which is here.

And here are some other related articles here you might like:

The Bionic FAFSA - 2012-13

Child Care and the Nontraditional Student

Thinking about Graduate School?


Have a great week, nontrads and freinds!

Betsyanne
 
Some Nontrad links:

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

When my Newsletter signups reach 700, I will make a new issue. Thanks!

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.

Tips from other Blogs - - and some Holiday Wishes

I hope all nontraditional students are well-organized right now and zooming towards a great finish this semester.

I have posted some FREE links for Control Journals on another blog, the Moon and the Willow Tree. One of them is just for students who live in a dorm. You can download it on the Flylady Control Journal page here: FlyLady College Student Control Journal. 

You probably won't need the Dorm Room hints OR the hints on how to keep your room clean for yourself, but the other forms available on this FlyLady page do have some good hints on them.

Come to think of it, this College Student Form is a GREAT form to give YOUR college-age son or daughter.

The Teacher form is a good one, and may help some Teacher Education students or teachers keep their classroom more organized. Check out the others, and see if they fit your needs. They are free, and download in PDF form to your computer.

On my Find Scholarships and Grants blog, I have listed some useful blogs that send you updates via email. It is called Great Scholarship blogs - subscribe and get the scholarship news on time.

Things going well? Final projects getting done? Studies winding down? Grades OK? I hope things are going great now at the end of the semester.

Here are a couple of other blog postings from right here that you might like:

Get Organized for Finals

10 Study Tips for nontraditional students

And if you need extra help (and who doesn't!) on hard classes, or you just want to get your grades up, you might consider starting a study group.

Here is a posting to help you do that:

Study Groups for Non-traditional Students

How are things going, nontraditional students? Take a minute, leave a comment, and let me know.

And have a GREAT holiday.

Thanks!

-Betsyanne 

And here are some more of my Nontrad links:  

The Nontrad site and blog

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

A reminder: Get connected, nontraditional students!

Hi to all nontraditional students!

Nontraditional students are a growing group across the country and abroad. Older students are realizing that they can change their lives and go for their dreams.

There are many nontraditional student blogs and websites online to help them in their educational journey.

I have several that may be helpful to you. Along with this blog for nontraditional students, there is also the Nontraditional Student website, Nontraditional students on Facebook, the Nontraditional Student Yahoo Group, and a Twitter site.

The Nontraditional Student website has different state pages where people can look up nontraditional student groups in their state. They can also submit their group to the site.

Nontraditional students on Facebook has 538 Likes.  Members can post to the Wall, and there are links and interesting cartoons and articles listed there.

Nontraditional Student Yahoo Group has 278 members. Three just joined recently. Right now, there is an introduction for a new member from Texas. I like the fact that the group is diverse and has people from all over in it. Members give advice and share how they are doing as nontraditional students or people helping them or thinking about going back to school soon.

The Twitter site shares web links and links to interesting sites for nontraditional students. There is also a site for scholarship and grant seekers at the ScholarsGrants Twitter page.

Here are some more links you may enjoy:
The Nontraditional Student blog Big List of Nontrad Links

Later!

Betsyanne
Former and current Nontraditional Student