| You're a working adult who has made the decision to | | | | other reasons. Others earned a certificate or |
| go back to college. You may be thinking of an online | | | | undergraduate degree and now want to earn a higher |
| program to get that degree that you always wanted, | | | | degree such as a master's degree or doctorate. |
| or perhaps your boss is sending you back to school to | | | | - Department of Education figures indicate that 13 |
| prepare you for advancement. However you choose | | | | percent of students who are now enrolled in college |
| to further your education, and for whatever reason, | | | | are single parents, an increase from 7.6 percent in |
| the prospect of going back to school after ten or | | | | 1993. |
| twenty or even thirty years is very exciting. | | | | - An increasing number of adult students are retirees, |
| And also a little scary! When you were in college or | | | | and many have spent time raising a family, in the |
| high school, fads and fashions were much different. | | | | workforce, or in the military, and want to go back to |
| Kids dressed differently and spoke differently. When | | | | fulfill lifelong dreams or advance their career potential. |
| you were in school no one was texting, much less | | | | Challenges and Rewards |
| Twittering. The music was different and so were the | | | | The reasons for the growing numbers of adult |
| television shows. You may have the feeling that | | | | learners or re-entries are numerous. These include a |
| setting foot on a college campus will be like going to a | | | | desire to pursue a new career path; changing |
| foreign country, or that there will be culture shock and | | | | demands in the workforce; employer requirements to |
| you'll feel like an old fossil. | | | | secure licensure or certification; the need to update |
| You Are Not Alone | | | | existing job skills or secure new ones; or simply a |
| Yes, it's true that kids today have their own style and | | | | desire to engage in learning. |
| attitude. But here's the inside scoop: the fact is that you | | | | For many adult learners, financial aid and flexible |
| will not be the only adult in class. Over the past ten | | | | schedules are major considerations. Fortunately, the |
| years there has been an explosion of adults returning | | | | U.S. government provides a wide range of financial aid |
| to college. Adults are enrolled in every conceivable | | | | programs to qualified moms and dads who want to |
| way: as full-time and part-time students, on campus, | | | | return to school. With family and career responsibilities |
| off-campus, and in growing numbers through online or | | | | to juggle, adults need weekend and evening classes |
| distance learning. This year more than six million adults | | | | and the option to learn online. |
| will attend college in the United States. | | | | Looking for a college or career school? |
| Who Are Adult Learners? | | | | How do you choose a college or program? The best |
| - The average age of the college student continues to | | | | way to research your options is to go online to a free |
| rise. Data from the recent Community College Survey | | | | college directory website like the one below. You can |
| of Student Engagement (CCSSE) shows that | | | | enter the search terms that are appropriate for you |
| students at U.S. institutions of higher education cover | | | | (such as "medical assisting, Miami, Florida," or "online |
| nearly every over-18 age group. | | | | business degrees"). You'll be presented with free |
| - Adult students (also called re-entry students) range in | | | | information about the programs that meet your criteria. |
| age from 25 to 70 or even higher. | | | | Compare features such as financial aid, career |
| - Adult learners are often female, but the numbers of | | | | services, and flexible schedules. Narrow down your |
| men returning to college are climbing as they seek to | | | | choices and make your application. In less time than |
| enhance their professional skills. | | | | you think you could be training for a rewarding new |
| - Some adult learners went to work right after they | | | | career, earning your degree, or just taking that class in |
| graduated from high school, or they started college | | | | French cooking that you always dreamed about. |
| and then left school because of financial, family, or | | | | |