Being an adult student

Now that I am in my late 30’s it has really started to bother me that I don’t have a degree. Since I’ve come this far – I am a middle manager in my company – without it and at my age, it’ll take me forever since I only have a few credit hours from long ago. Should I even try?

Here is a true story: A single mom in her early 30’s worked as a bank teller to support her young daughter. Wanting a better future for them both, she quit her job, lived on student loans and after three years earned an undergraduate degree in zoology.

Then, she applied for, and was accepted to, medical school in 2004. After graduating in May 2009 she is a doctor and resident in emergency medicine. By the time she completes her education she will be in her early 40’s. So, what’s the morale of this story? You are going to be 40 anyway. What are you waiting for?

Sure, you might be older than a number of your classmates as was our friend the medical student. But then again, maybe not. There is an entire field of academic study devoted to continuing and adult education and a number of colleges and universities cater primarily to the nontraditional student. The largest segment of the population on a college campus is not the 18-to-24-year-olds as you might expect. In fact, between 1970 and 1993, the number of students aged 40 and older who enrolled in college has increased by 235 percent.

Being an adult student could not be any more convenient than it is today. Think about the nontraditional student even 10 years ago. Although some colleges made attending classes easier for adult working students by meeting in the evenings and on weekends, students still had go to the library, do research and spend hours taking notes out of books.

Today, you can do so many things online, even earn a degree. This option eliminates all worries about age differences because you are communicating online with professors and fellow students in chat rooms.

You can always start slowly and ease back into the rhythm of school. And remember, your birthdays will keep coming. When you turn 40, the choice whether your degree will be hanging on your wall is entirely up to you. Re-entry as an adult student has never been easier.

Online, on-site, hybrid...what it all means

As I research degree options for nontraditional students and working adults, I see a lot of different course delivery methods. What do terms like “hybrid” mean and can you be enrolled in both an online class and an on-site class at the same time?

It does seem a little overwhelming when looking at the many options are available to students who want to return to school while attending to work and family responsibilities. However, providing these many options is at the heart of degree programs designed specifically for nontraditional students and working adults. This does not mean that the work will be easier, just that you will have the flexibility needed to meet the other demands on your time.

Here is a breakdown of some of the terms you are probably seeing.

Self-paced independent study courses are completed in a one-on-one environment with a faculty member and student. This option is particularly beneficial to people who have unpredictable or heavy work schedules, those who travel, or who have family commitments that may keep them from meeting deadlines associated with online and on-site classes.

Students need to have the self-motivation to complete courses with potentially long periods between the beginning and ending due dates. In addition, self-paced courses are not tied to the traditional academic semester calendar, so once you are enrolled you can begin to work immediately. You can take up to two classes at a time and complete them in as little as six weeks or within a six-month time period.

On-site classes were at one time the foundation of degree completion programs for adult students and are still an important option. Classes meet in a traditional classroom setting in the evenings and/or on weekends. The format is accelerated and courses are completed in eight weeks.

Online courses enable students to receive instruction, complete course objectives and interact with an instructor and fellow students in a virtual environment. Most online classes are split into four, two-week units. For each unit typically there is a brief lesson, reading assignments and a few writing exercises. Online classes use course-specific Web sites and a Web portal called Desire2Learn.

Asynchronous means that you may have deadlines for course assignments but you will not need to be online at the same time as your instructor and classmates.

Hybrid is a combination of two delivery methods: online and face-to-face and is intended to offer students the best of both worlds. A hybrid course creates a learning community where students interact online in discussion forums, as well as in classroom discussions and small groups.

As you can see, degree programs for adult students are specifically designed with their needs in mind. You can mix and match delivery formats in whatever way suits you to accomplish your educational goals.