Adult Students: What challenges have you faced?

<p>Good afternoon fellow adult students!</p>

<p>I'm currently in the middle of an English autoethnography project and the subject is challenges facing adult students. I've got a lot of research in the form of peer-reviewed articles, but really wanted to hear other people's thoughts.</p>

<p>So.. my questions are:
What challenges have you faced thus far in your college career, being an adult student?
Does your college provide resources for adult students?
What do you think that your college could do better in terms of providing resources for adult students?</p>

<p>Thank you all!</p>

<p>Not an adult student myself but both my mother and DH’s mother went back to school when their kids were in high school. Probably the biggest challenge both faced was conflicting demands on their time - needing/wanting to be there for their kids but having responsibilities for schoolwork etc at the same time. This was a long time ago, and there really weren’t support systems in place for returning students - in fact, in my college years we called them “retreads.”</p>

<p>These days, I think there are more resources but adult students - and this can range from folks in their mid20s to their 80s - still are an underserved population. The veterans have a center on campus, there’s a commuter lounge, but I know my older students still feel like outsiders often. Sometimes it’s awkward when they participate in group work or student clubs, because the older students feel like they have more life experience but don’t want to “take over” the group.</p>

<p>I’m only in my mid 20s but I have to say stepping into a lecture hall full of 19, 20, 21 year olds, I really do feel out of place as I realize how behind in life I am. I agree with the group projects, especially since I’m on average 5 years older than the other members of the group; it just feels…strange. I don’t really participate in any clubs or ECs on campus other than the local veterans community. There are resources available solely to non-trad students but at the same time I don’t really find participating in ECs all that interesting anymore nor do I want to stand out in a sea of teenagers and early 20 somethings, I came back to college solely to finish my degree so I can finally upload it onto USAJobs. </p>

<p>It’s not all bad though, I can live with the knowledge that I’ll be graduating with no debt. </p>

<p>I have taught a number of non-traditional students over the years, and I agree that demands on their time can be a huge problem, especially if they still have kids in school. All the many crises that come with parenthood can easily cause them to miss a class or two, or fall behind in homework. Then there is the job. A student of mine had to miss class the other day because his employer rearranged the shifts. Health problems also come up. I have a student in her 60s, and she missed several days because of varicose vein surgery. I had another student who had serious lung problems that sometimes made it impossible to go to school. Often he came with an oxygen tank and tubes. Computers can also be an issue. People under 30 are pretty accustomed to staying up to date with technology. People over 50 much less so, to the point where they are stuck with web browsers that cannot use school software that depends on Java or newer Javascript.</p>

<p>My school has a fantastic Bachelor of Individualized Study program for students who graduated more than 7 years ago to design their own interdisciplinary degree. I am working on a dual degree - a BA and a BIS, which will take 4 1/2 rather than 4 years but I like college so I don’t mind at all! I was worried I would struggle because my memory is not as sharp as it used to be, and I do probably have to study twice as long for tests as the 18 year olds, but my motivation and responsibility have made up for that in spades - I have a 4.0 gpa after first semester! I am so glad I made the decision to go to college now, at 43! I am getting far more out of it than I could have at 18. Finding time for full-time school, part time work, family, and a 90 minute commute each way has been the biggest challenge. I felt like I was suffocated by my homework this semester but with meticulous planning I got it all done on time.</p>

<p>Getting my MBA in a full time program, I had to take many intro level business courses ( non-business major) I was already a successful executive and entrepreneur, I sold my business for a huge sum. My experience may be a little “different” but I often felt the professors involved me in conversations more because of my actual experience in the area of study. I felt others seemed to believe it was a little annoying. </p>

<p>The other area was odd was the attraction the much younger women showed to me asking for a mentor, adviser, networking… and more…</p>