Answers to the "Why Go Back" Poll

Welcome, readers, to the Nontraditional Student blog. I just copied this result page (below) from the Bravenet Poll site.

I've had 13 people answer the "Why Go Back" poll. I must say I am surprised so far. Here are the answers:

 

The winners so far are I want to achieve my dreams and I have many different reasons for going back to school. I guess I thought more people would say they were going back for money or to completely change their lives. Oh well! I will run this poll again later on, maybe with more answers. And why are you going back to school - or are you thinking about it? Did you already go? You can also take the poll.

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

Asking the "Why" question - nontraditional students: why go back?

Hi, fellow nontraditional students!

I'm just curious today. WHY are you going back or thinking of going back to school? Or (for former students) WHY did you go back to school?

Here is a fun poll to take. I'll be checking to see how people answer these questions later. Add your reason to the mix!

I will be back to check your answers. Thanks for being part of this poll!

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

The new Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts movie features a nontraditional student!

Tom Hanks is the nontraditional student and Julia Roberts his teacher in the new film, Larry Crowne.

Here is a preview from YouTube:



I think it sounds great! I will most likely be going to see it. I am a fan of both of these A-list actors. Plus, I love it that he plays a nontraditional student! Also, the film looks funny. I love to laugh at a good movie.

If you have seen it, let everyone know if you liked it by leaving a comment at the end of this post. Just don't give away any of the film's details or surprises.

Here are some more links about it:

Why Tom Hanks thinks Julia Roberts is too busy to promote the film
http://showbizspy.com/article/233643/tom-hanks-says-julia-roberts-is-too-busy-to-promote-movie.html

Tom Hanks launches new film at London premiere
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13775966

The Times of India article reveals that Tom Hanks wrote this script and directed this film himself. I didn't know that!
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-13/news-interviews/28143900_1_tom-hanks-back-to-back-best-actor-larry-crowne

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

Nontraditional students: It's time for Summer School and Summer Classes

Nontraditional students and others are taking some classes this summer during Summer Sessions.

Is this you?

WKU (where I was a nontraditional student) did offer summer classes when I was first in school, and still does. They also offer a new Winter Session and a May Session too.

Because there is not as much time to complete class assignments, summer classes are sometimes very much harder than comparable Fall or Spring classes. But they can also be fun. Most important, they can also be very welcome in fulfilling requirements and may be the only choice for some nontrads.

The poll I posted in May here on the Nontrad Blog shows that 33% of the nontraditional student who responded are going to summer school. Many also have part-time jobs.

The Students over 30 blog site has many more disadvantages listed in their list of Pros and cons of Taking College Summer Courses. I must say I do agree with the point that vacations are more fun than school in the summer, but face it: sometimes you just have to bit that bullet.

Are you going to summer school? How is it going? Were you able to have any time off between Spring Semester and Summer School?

Let me and my readers know by posting a comment. Thanks!

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

What do you want to be when you grow up? Try some free career tests online

About career and aptitude testing

Okay. Maybe you are already grown up. Do you feel like you are going to be in your career forever? Or are you training for another job? To say it another way, is your work your life? Can you live without your job? Do you want to change your work life? Have you been laid off and can't decide what to do next?

Deciding on a change can take some time. It can also take knowing yourself and what you like. If you have a job that is fun, the saying goes, you won't work a day in your life. That sounds great, doesn't it?

In order to start your journey towards another career, you need to find alternatives to what you have already done. One way of learning about choices that are right for you  is by taking an aptitude test.

There are plenty of PAY sites online too that help you do this. Other places you can access FREE career testing or aptitude testing is at a high school OR guidance office at a school you wish to attend.

Some career or aptitude tests can be fun to take. They can clarify what you are qualified to do in a second or third career. These tests can point out some areas you yourself might not have thought. I think that a good new career can be fun and also can utilize what YOU are good at.

Here are some links and sites that may be interesting to you:
The Quintessential Careers Network of Career Sites
The Fun Education Free Career Personality Assessment
The Test Q Site
50 free tests from the CollegeTimes site

Are you changing careers? I have done that at least twice. For those who are doing that, write about it! And send me the link or put it here as a comment.

Some related postings:
Nontraditional Students and Choices
Want a new career?
Some fellow nontrad students - links to sites

Later!

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

Article Sources:
Free Assessment Tools
Online Support Staff tools
About.com Career Aptitude Tests

This neat Work-Life art is from the Microsoft Clipart pages.