By Lisa Hoover
Don't feel alone. Being an older student has it's advantages. Case is composed of more graduate students than undergraduate students, so if you really think about it, your actually the majority. It's very difficult when your stressed for time and feel that you are the only one having these difficulties. Don't be afraid to talk with other students in your class or the instructors. You' ll find out that you're not the only one and being the older adult, they're waiting for you to respond first. Remember, your classmates are just as intimadated as you are, if not more.
Are you working, raising a family, and going to school? Time management is the best advice anyone will be able to give you. If possible, try to map out your financial monthly budget and see if you can take out a loan to cover some of your bills, so you might be able to cut down your work hours. Don' t be afraid of taking loans, school loans are not counted aganist you when you apply for a home loan or a car loan.(I purchased, refinanced my home and bought a new car) Loan officers see your education loans as an investment of getting your loan money back. Having cut down your hours at work, you can better use some of the time spent for work into studying or spending time with the family.
Another useful tool is a daily planner. Whether on a PDA (personal digital assistant), store bought planner, or a creative, hand-made personal planner, block out times that you are in class (list the class and room number, believe me, you will have those days that you either don't remember the day or class you're in), times you will eat your meals, studying/homework time, work and R&R (rest and relaxation) times. Remember to include all components because it you leave out something so important as R&R, you will quickly find yourself lost and deprived.
After you've completed your daily planner, try to list things to do in order of most priority. List things such as papers, class assignments, group projects and most of all don't forget to include little daily things, such as checking your e-mail, or doing your laundry. After you have finished a task, cross them off. The advantage of listing everything you need to do in a day, gives you direction and a sense of accomplishment.
Don't panic if you don't accomplish everything you list in a day, just add it on the next day "to do" list. Don't be afraid to list too many things on your list. Your list can also serve as a reminder of a paper or project a month away and even though you may not work on it until later, you are mentally preparing yourself for it.
Some final words of advice from one older student to another:
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Don't forget to eat! |
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Try to block out studying time between classes, this keeps you from distraction when you are home |
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Be a role model to your fellow younger classmates |
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Take leadership roles to boost your self-confidence, you have the advantage of being the older one in the group with the most experience |
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Be an active group member and try to fit in, don't outcast yourself from your class, and finally |
| 6. |
Remember, nobody knows how old you are unless you tell them! |
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