Are there any "non-traditional" college applicants here?

College Confidential Community
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<p>Most forum users seem to come from very academically engaged families with a lot of parental support, have enjoyed a pretty straight line of being engaged and active with the educational system, etc. </p>

<p>I was just wondering if there are any other kind of applicants around? You know, those of us who've never had any encouragement from home or friends or even gotten flak about being pretentious enough to go for college, those of us who never really felt at home in the school system, those of us who skipped class to get into trouble and broke teacher's hearts for it.</p>

<p>Why are you here now? What made you change your mind? Do you still feel like rolling your eyes at academia every once in a while?</p>

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<p>From the title of this thread I thought you were asking if any of us were "non-traditional" (read: Old)!</p>

<p>Anyways, nope. I'm as traditional as they come (both age and academic wise!).</p>

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<p>I've had a very odd education because of a disability but not in the ways you mentioned. I know friends but they don't frequent this forum.</p>

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<p>Sort of, some of my family members are "geniuses" and then there is me. My family didn't even think I would be going to college until the second semester last year. I was hanging out with the wrong kids, basically didn't live at home, went to school when I wanted. I would constantly get into fights with my parents(verbal and physical), I had/have a little substance abuse problem. Only reason I didn't drop out was because of sports, I've basically turned my entire life around and I plan on writing a kick ass personal statement.</p>

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<p>Similar story here, except I spent the time freed up from school with books in addition to trouble. When I got back to school eventually I realized just how infantilized education, especially mandatory schooling, makes people -- memorizing ready-chewed books where everything is incredibly biased, watered down and bullet-pointed still drives me CRAZY. I can count on one hand the things sitting in a classroom has taught me.</p>

<p>I don't know about turning one's whole life around, but I definitely think taking school seriously again has made me a little happier. I think if you lack structure at home, good schools can make up for that.</p>

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<p>I'm going on a thread-renewal spree today! Initial curiosity still stands.</p>

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<p>For a "less traditional" college experience, you might want to consider Evergreen State College in WA. </p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

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<p>since you are so curious, and I am so non-traditional, here you go:</p>

<p>"very academically engaged families with a lot of parental support, have enjoyed a pretty straight line of being engaged and active with the educational system, etc. "
heh. nope. The CA school system wanted to bump me up TWO grades, but my folks freaked because I had older sibs. Can't pass the older sibs, right? Makes them look dumb. A year later, the HI school system did this: my teacher actually told my folks I was probably retarded. She then went on to run the school district. Sad sad state of public educ, no? Folks tossed me into a prep school and they skipped me a grade. Parental support consisted of (1), paying tuition; and (2), telling me "you're so smart you shouldn't have to study!" Yeah, believing that worked well.</p>

<p>The biggest hurdle was that I was smart but never learned how to study. It took a good 20 years to get past that. Would have been sooner but life got busy, plus lots of tragedy, family deaths, etc.</p>

<p>I took some Hawaiian lang courses, which helped get me back on track (I’m not Hawaiian but have lived here most of life). My bro said, yeah, that’s cool, but what the h#ll for? He meant it in a supportive way, really.</p>

<p>“those of us who never really felt at home in the school system, those of us who skipped class to get into trouble and broke teacher's hearts for it.”
OK, this is me. I didn’t fit in. I was bored, I didn’t know how to study, the learning came easy but by the end of the term, I was lost. Except for some tough math courses in HS, I cruised thru. Honor roll student taking chem. instead of art. Skipped so much in one course that the teacher had no idea who I was, and gave me a passing grade. It thought that was golden.</p>

<p>“Why are you here now? What made you change your mind?”
I learned how to study. I grew up and stopped listening to the folks telling me it should be easy. I realized I was special, but not so special that I didn’t have to study. Admitted that sometimes it is hard, and that is a good thing. Started learning things instead of just memorizing enough to ace a test. Found out I enjoyed certain topics. Ran with it. Picked away at my requirements for a degree and took pride in doing the best I could. Teachers enjoyed that. </p>

<p>Um, yeah, and working with a bunch of tools who trot out their degrees but can’t do much more? C’mon, if they can do it, I certainly can. </p>

<p>“Do you still feel like rolling your eyes at academia every once in a while?” Yes, a little. Mostly at the way it is designed for only the middle-of-the-road students, not the higher or lower ones. Sad, but I understand. Parents have to teach their kids to do the work for the sake of learning how to work. And help the ones who need help. It can’t be left to the teachers.</p>

<p>I do roll my eyes more at the students though, so I feel really traditionally non-traditional (“old”). It is so much easier to get this out of the way when you are young. It is so incredibly hard once the spouse, kids and job take up time, but if you have to do it that way, do it well.</p>