Show Oldest Students Becoming N Newest ewest M. M Majority p if ii By Suzanne I am one of many people who are discovering that there is nothing novel about going back to school traditional Non-traditional students are quickly becoming the new tradition Changing economic and population demographics indicate a cultural reversal and recent surveys show that the average returning student is likely to be female about 26 years of age although at one campus in California the average age is 30 Not only are there fewer young people around many of them cannot afford four years of college time full-time so they opt for two years after which they may drop out some without even considering go going ng on in the future At the same time huge numbers of older people find all kinds of reasons reasons to return to school Some want to simply change tracks many had to defer earlier educational goals and a considerable number are back as a way to redefine themselves after a divorce or other personal crisis But many are back for the sheer pleasure of learning Today's educational institutions welcome the traditional non-traditional students with open arms It isn't just that they need their dollars they also need their seriousness and enthusiasm Older students keep the teaching staff on their toes They insist on dialogue and that definitely adds greater dimension to work in inthe inthe inthe the classroom Surveys taken of reentering reentering reentering re- re entering students have found them to be e good students academically They have maturity experience concentration skills and a motivation that comes right out of the need to succeed They understand understand understand under under- stand as young students may not always the direct relationship between hard work and future rewards Because older students are becoming such a presence on campus many colleges and universities universities universities uni uni- uni- uni now make heroic efforts to accommodate them Admissions offices are becoming more flexible in their requirements and frequently a job hobby or even volunteer work can be converted to academic credits saving substantial amounts of time and tuition money in the process The financial picture for nontraditional nontraditional nontraditional students is also rosier than you might expect Aside from outright outright outright out out- right scholarships and grants fellowships or work-study work programs and low-cost low loans that must eventually be repaid there are over different scholarships scholarship's available 30 or 40 of which most people qualify for although some are rather esoteric in nature Also many companies today have education education education edu edu- cation re programs Typically you sign a contract usually to maintain a certain grade average and the company promises to reimburse you for the full tuition costs as you show proof of good performance There is yet another alternative that lets you earn a degree without ever entering a classroom Upon successful completion of advanced examinations many states now offer external-degree external programs with credits earned through research correspondence reading and televised lectures But standards are high and once you select an appropriate course of study you are on your own Returning students usually do well wellin in these courses earning associate or bachelor degrees es because they are strongly motivated ted and disciplined ed and they want to look good in their own eyes Of special concern are women who make up the larger percent of our population There are many resources dealing uniquely with women's educational assistance The Clairol Scholarship Program and the Business and Professional nal Women's Foundation have prepared a financial-aid financial handbook can be obtained for one dollar by writing to Foundation Foundation tion 2012 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC D.C. There is even a scholarship called the Wonder-Woman Wonder Scholarship for re-entering re women students over 40 For information on this fund write the National Scholarship Research Service at PO P.O. Box 2516 San Rafael CA So you see it isn't so difficult to come back and to prove it there are tens of thousands thousands' of older people taking courses toward a degree this year and still more taking courses just for the satisfaction satisfaction satisfaction satis satis- faction of learning something new |