These videos from nontraditional students from 20-30 years old feature their stories and experiences.
They asked me to help put the word out. If you have time, please go here:
The Take America to College Video Voting Page
to vote for who you think should be in the top 5 finalists. I got the word out on Twitter today too. The winners get to be on the website and get the word out about what it is like to be a nontraditional student today.
Good luck, everyone on the Take America to College site!
Nontraditionally Yours,
Betsyanne
PS I hope school is going good for everyone. If you are in school right now, let me know how you are doing, and what you are taking this semester!
Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral
Welcome to the Nontraditional Student blog. Helping commuter students, graduate students, nontraditional students, continuing education students, and more.
No Student Left Behind - information for Adult Students with Disabilities
No Child Left Behind and Special Education
Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
My Squidoo Pages and Join Squidoo with my referral
Most everyone has heard of the No Child Left Behind Act. Students with disabilities were given a new spotlight and it started new discussions about special education, too.
People have different opinions about NCLB
Some teachers and educators didn’t like the No Child Left Behind Act. They said that the law itself was not the major problem, it was the lack of funding behind it. Others applauded the Act, saying that it brought new interest and focus along with new programs to students that needed it.
New thoughts about disabilities, no matter what a student’s age (No Adult left behind?)
Whatever the problems of NCLB, it did bring the whole spectrum of disabilities and what could be done to help to the forefront in people’s minds when they thought about education for all, and what was needed in order to properly teach all students.
What this means for nontraditional students
Adults who are going back to school today have options they didn’t have before. Many high schools, trade schools, and colleges today work with people who have disabilities to make sure that they get the very best education and help that they can give.
Students can request different options today than were available when they first went to school, and these options are usually free for the asking.
Depending on the disability, students can request (and receive) special testing rooms, tutoring, remedial classes, and much more when they go back to school.
How to request services at your school
A good first step may be to have all your medical papers available when you are filling out your official paperwork. If you have a certain diagnosis of special needs, be honest with the school and your school advisor and let them know what physical or mental conditions or learning disabilities you have.
They may be able to help you in many ways today, and make your success much easier, and quicker.
Many schools have special offices and will be very happy to let you know all the services they offer, including testing in many cases.
Getting the proper support can make a huge difference in your success when you go back to school. Also, it’s a win-win situation for many students with disabilities today, because many students who have a disability have great abilities in other areas.
Nontraditionally Yours,
-Betsyanne
Explore more about help for adult students with disabilities today:
No Child Left Behind – an article by the National Education Association:
College Students with disabilities – an article from Answers.com
Friends of Quinn – a site for people with Learning Disabilities to find help and support http://www.friendsofquinn.com/
Find your or someone else’s condition at the Mayo Clinic website http://www.mayoclinic.com/
The Center for Learning Differences – http://www.centerforlearningdifferences.org/students/index.html - This site still has some good links, but some of their website logos do not show up. Also, some of their links don’t work. But the articles look useful.
Universal Design in Education (teaching nontraditional students who have disabilities)
Students with Disabilities, 1994 (from nsf.gov) http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpdse94/chap5/disabils.htm
Connecting Students with Hidden Disabilities to Resources from Southwestern Oregon Community College
Join the AddaptAbilities Fan Club on Squidoo
Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
My Squidoo Pages and Join Squidoo with my referral
Links and tips for getting your GED after a break
Going back for your GED
I write a lot here on the Nontrads blog about going back to school - and most of the time, that school is college. But there are many people who are deciding whether or not to go back to high school after a break too. I think that these people have the same kinds of fears that other nontraditional students have. And it can be worth it to go back. It can take some gumption and some courage too.
Some common questions older people ask when thinking about making this kind of a change are:
1. Should I go back?
2. Am I too old to go back?
3. Have I forgotten study skills?
4. Will it be worth it?
5. Will people make fun of me?
6. Should I just give up on my dreams?
7. How hard will it be to go back?
8. Will I be able to juggle my family responsibilities, my work schedule, and have any free time if I am going back to school?
Find out more:
Going back to school links from E-How
Getting your GED - an article from the Totally Her site
And this looks interesting: free GED classes from Free-Ed.net
Let me know if you decide to sign up for this, and how it goes. I would love to write an article about it.
GED for free
PBS/KET links for lifelong learning and the GED Connection
GED Practice online from Steck Vaughn Adult Ed
The Info Depot
The free Online Learning Sites page
Get support on your journey towards your GED:
Adult Student Connect (from the Adult Student site)
The Yahoo Nontrads group (for older students, many are college students, but it is also open to older students getting their GED)
Neat articles:
A man goes back for his GED after losing his trucking job
76-year-old woman earns her diploma
GED stories to motivate and inspire
New York GED programs online (some good links are here)
I hope this blog entry about going back for a GED is useful! Please give me your feedback below, and any other sites or links you think other older GED students will like. Thanks!
-Betsyanne
-Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral
Should you go back to school? The debt question and more
Going back to school... should you?
This can be a tough question, especially for nontraditional students, who are generally older than the traditional idea of students in high school or college. Also, these students can have families or job responsibilities that make going back to school a challenge.
Many workers have been laid off, and are naturally thinking about going back to high school, or attending trade school, tech school, a university, or a community college.
Going back to college - the debt equation
A writer at the Students Over 30 site suggests that it may not always be a good choice for some people to go back to school. They cite an REEF article written by Michael Robertson. In the article, according to the Students Over 30 site, Robertson cites student debt as being one drawback to going back to school (college). Working full-time, he says, can mean a huge debt, which can carry on for many years.
Scholarships and Grants
Of course, if you get a scholarship, this can really help, because scholarship or grant money does NOT have to be paid back. It is worth it to try for a scholarship or grant, even though it must be even harder to get one in the current economy. Check below for some links to apply for scholarships for free. And a scholarship may pay for just part of your real costs for going back to school if you are attending college.
Trade Schools, Tech Schools, Community Colleges
Check out your technical schools or community colleges. They can have what you need, at a cheaper cost. But make sure your credits will transfer if you think you may want to attend a college next.
Going back to high school - definitely cheaper
Going back to high school, on the other hand, can be free, depending on the program you choose. Students today can take tests and courses online, freeing up time for work and family. And having a GED will free you up for a better job or to go on with more training.
-- Betsyanne
Find out more:
Older students getting GED's and more in Lafayette , Indiana
Kentucky offers free GED classes
Redding.com believes most students should take some kind of training after high school
Students over 30: Should Everyone go to College?
Forbes.com: Is College Worth the Cost?
Fastweb: Advantages of Attending Community College
Find Scholarships and Grants
Some good scholarship links from the Nontrad site
Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and my referral link
Calling all nontraditional students 20-30: an online Casting Call
You can help other nontraditional students by being part of this project. Take America to College is teaming up with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (among others) and sponsoring this online video series. If you are between 20 and 30, just send in your video and you could win a new video camera and $500.00.
You also will be helping get the word out about how difficult it can be for college students who are also working and have other responsibilities. You can help other nontraditional students achieve their dreams. This project can help a lot of people.
Like Lizz says in the video, "how come so many of us don't cross the finish line?"
This video explains about the project with Take America to College: Lizz's story.
Just CLICK HERE to go to the web page and learn more.
Good luck!
-Betsyanne
Here are some of my links:
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral
You also will be helping get the word out about how difficult it can be for college students who are also working and have other responsibilities. You can help other nontraditional students achieve their dreams. This project can help a lot of people.
Like Lizz says in the video, "how come so many of us don't cross the finish line?"
This video explains about the project with Take America to College: Lizz's story.
Just CLICK HERE to go to the web page and learn more.
Good luck!
-Betsyanne
Here are some of my links:
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral
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