Category: Personal Growth

Setting Goals to Graduate

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If you’re a nontraditional student, you already have the overarching goal of getting your degree. The next step is to turn that aspiration into something you can actually achieve.

Going at it every day with just the big, abstract goal of “get degree” will not serve you well. That doesn’t mean it isn’t admirable. Nontraditional students face more hardships than the average student. That’s exactly why you need to go about reaching success in a systematic and process-oriented way.

You’ll notice the word “goals” in the title is plural. That’s because I’m suggesting you create many little achievable milestones during your studies. This process will keep you motivated and will help you track your progress as you turn pages in your calendar towards graduation day.

Big Goal Problems

Large, abstract goals are the enemy of the nontraditional student.

When goals aren’t clear, it’s impossible to tell if the work you’re doing is leading to the achievement of that goal. When goals aren’t precise, there’s no way to guarantee that scheduled tasks will lead to success.

I think the worst is the problem with motivation. Massive goals take a long time to achieve. Without creating manageable mini-goals within the larger project, you’ll end up feeling like you’re working and working but never getting anywhere.

Make Smaller Goals

By no means should you lose sight of the larger goal of graduating. But in order to get there, you’re going to have to focus on smaller projects.

By thinking about your degree as a series of tasks to accomplish, you’ll be able to stay motivated and you’ll feel good about yourself as you move along.

Your program will offer you an easy starting point for creating smaller goals. Passing each class can be one goal in itself. Take a look at your curriculum. As you plan out which classes you’ll take, imagine each of them to be one stepping stone along the path.

There’s other ways to create goals that will help you. Maybe you’ll want to set a goal to study for two hours after dinner every night. Or maybe you’ll choose to set a goal of writing a certain number of pages toward your senior thesis every week.

The Three Qualities of Goals

No matter how you choose to break down your big goal into smaller ones, remember that these goals need to have three qualities. They need to be:

  • Achievable
  • Realistic
  • Specific

Make sure you’re creating reasonable goals for yourself. Setting a goal of reading ten chapters in a week is not realistic. Setting a goal of five essays per week is probably not realistic for most nontraditional students.

The trick here is to push yourself to your limit, but not beyond it. If you set your goals too easy, you’re not doing anything to better yourself. You may be able to get your degree that way, but it will feel shallow. On the other hand, if you set them too high you’ll constantly fail at task after task. It’s unfortunately easy to fall into a spiral of failure, especially if you let it become a habit.

Specific goals will help the most to keep you on track. Setting a goal to read every day is not nearly as helpful as setting a goal to read chapters 10, 11, and 12 by next Friday. The more specific you can be, the more likely your goals will actually be helpful in your endeavor.

So those are my thoughts this week on surviving as a nontraditional student. I’ve been researching goal setting and time management pretty regularly since I went back to school, trying to set myself up for success. I hope this helps you, too.

Leave a comment and let me know what kind of goals you’re setting for yourself.

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How Will This Class Help Me?

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This past week I started a new class. If that sounds odd, my school offers eight-week intensives which splits the semester into two parts.

I’m very excited for this particular class. Partly because it means my last eight-week hell session is over. Mostly, I’m looking forward to this class because I think I will enjoy the material and will be able to directly apply it to my work.

My partner didn’t see it as clearly as I did. I took some time explaining the abstract value of this class, and even provided some examples of how it would benefit my future.

His questioning of me likely reflects the feeling many nontraditional students have. It seems there is a push for nontraditional students to get the classes they need which directly apply to the field they want to work in as quickly as possible. But I think being in such a hurry means potentially missing opportunities for growth and critical thinking.

Curriculum

Obviously, students need to take everything required in order for them to graduate. Schools lay this part out very clearly.

Schools also often provide options for students to show a little creativity. Electives are required but loosely governed. Even with major related courses, I’ve seen programs that tell students to pick a certain number from a given list, allowing the student to create a unique experience.

This opportunity to choose and create a program should not be taken lightly. By allowing your courses to reflect your personality, you’ll be more likely to stick with the program and get your degree. You’ll also have a demonstration of your preferences and interests to show to potential employers.

Creativity

So how do you go about choosing classes when you have the opportunity to do so?

The first thing you need to ask yourself is, “How will this class help me?” There are a lot of ways to answer that. If you’re lucky, the subject has a clear connection to your future career. Not all classes so obviously give away that answer, though. Not all applicable lessons are direct. In fact, the abstract ones push your critical thinking and problem solving the most.

After you determine all the benefits of the class, decide whether or not you will enjoy it. Life’s too short to take shitty classes. If you have the choice, use it to your advantage. Take something interesting that you will like. Take something that will help you grow into the person you want to be.

My Current Class

The class I’m taking which sparked this thought process is an English class on short stories. It’s mostly literary analysis with a little creative writing sprinkled in.

My degree upon completion will be in Professional and Technical Writing. It is designed to prepare students for a career composing professional documents such as, emails, reports, plans, white papers, copy, you get the idea. How would learning about short stories be beneficial?

Much of professional writing is designed to make use of persuasive rhetoric. The writer is trying to convince someone to purchase a product, change a policy, donate to a cause, or progress an organization. People have to read those documents. People easily get bored with numbers, statistics, and charts.

The human element sells. Creating a narrative aids in the process because it gives something the reader can relate to.

Also, dammit I just wanted to take the class because I enjoy reading short stories.

Are you worried about your upcoming courses as a nontraditional student? Have you ever taken a class that gave you unexpected benefits? Leave a comment and tell me about it. I’d love to hear about your concerns and experiences!

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Stay Focused on the Destination

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Raise your hand if you’ve heard this one…

“Success in life is found in the journey, not in the destination.”

I would attribute a source, but I think I made that one up based on a collection of like a million different variations from just as many sources.

Search engines retrieve tons of different variations on that quote. It’s not always about success. Often it’s about “Life” or “Lessons” or some other noun that is abstract and easily applicable to everyone.

The actual value of sayings like this one is debatable. On one hand, it’s so simple and abstract that it’s crossed over into being meaningless. Attempting to take it at face value is shallow and lazy.

On the other hand, it’s so simple and abstract that it can be interpreted in many ways. This allows an active reader to make it personal and therefore more effective. The opportunity to insert an original definition for “success” and “journey” and “destination” can make it meaningful and inspiring.

I enjoy seeing quotes like these throughout social media. They make me smile. I like that others are attempting to brighten someone’s day or inspire a friend. When I have the time, I use them as mental exercises to work on how I interpret the world and view my own goals and challenges.

This one has a fundamental flaw. It devalues the act of goal setting.

We all have goals. Maybe you’re trying to lose twenty pounds, get your college degree, or find a new career. It’s great to have goals because they demonstrate a desire for growth. If the goals aren’t specific, they at least still show someone wanting to avoid stagnancy. In short, goals help us get off our butts.

I don’t want to undervalue the journey. Larger projects, such as my desire to finish my college degree, will have to account for larger journeys. In my case, the process will include individual classes, time spent studying, planning courses, and managing time. What makes it a journey is that there will inevitably be challenges that I can’t prepare for. I’ll question my ability when times get tough. I’ll push through when I don’t have the energy. I’ll change course when the unexpected becomes reality.

Lessons learned during the journey need to be applied somewhere. Otherwise, they aren’t lessons. They’re just good ideas.

Without a destination you’re just wandering around. You’ll never learn anything if you’re not looking for something. You don’t even have to be sure what you’re looking for. Maybe your goal is still abstract and you haven’t scaled it down to something achievable. Having a rough idea of a direction is still better than meandering aimlessly, because at least some of the lessons will end up being applicable to you.

By all means, enjoy the journey. Embrace the challenges. Wander off the well-worn path a few times. But try not to forget where you’re going along the way.

What do you think? Do you enjoy focusing on your destinations? Or do you have a different opinion on the value of journeys? Leave a comment. I’d love to get a discussion going!

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The Cost of School

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We all know higher education in the United States is expensive. Tuition rates are rising fast. We see this information all over the news because national student loan debt, which the Federal Reserve declared to be over $1.3 trillion last year, may be holding back economic growth.

Student loans can hold the individual back, too. This article from Forbes summarizes a survey that found many people have pushed back decisions to marry or have children because of student loan debt.

I’m a huge proponent of going back to school. I value education and the experience of learning. I also believe that everyone needs to be aware of the numbers. This could be you, if you decide to put thousands of dollars towards a degree.

Nontraditional students have the benefit of experience when it comes to considering the cost of school. After a few years of experiencing the real world and being in the workforce, those statistics mean something. A nontraditional student won’t be as gung-ho about signing documents for student loans they don’t understand.

Here’s a few questions to think about while you’re considering the cost involved in going back to university.

How much can I afford right now?

Tuition is only one factor. Don’t forget to work in the price of books, supplies, and tutors (if you need them). Many schools also have a long list of fees to cover extras like parking, library use, and payment processing. This is all relevant to how much you’ll be paying.

Take a close look at your budget. How much is available every month to go towards tuition? How much can be taken out of savings to pay for school? What can be sacrificed from my budget to open up more money to put towards school.

Don’t feel bad if you don’t have a lot of wiggle room in your current budget. After all, one of the reasons you’re considering getting a degree is to increase your income. But it still needs to be the first place you check because you’ll want to know what resources you have available before you start thinking about the next question.

How much am I willing to take out in loans?

The answer to this question is heavily dependent on your risk tolerance. How much debt you’re willing to get into is very personal. It will vary from one person to the next, so don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself about your risk tolerance and don’t base your answer on someone else’s.

Get to know the current interest rates. They’re easy to look up, and you’ll also see them when you fill out your FAFSA. They vary a little from year to year, and it also depends on the type of degree you’re studying for.

Other budget restrictions may come into play, here. You may have already maxed out loans from a previous school. Or maybe you can’t take on new lines of credit because you’re watching your credit score. Like I said before, this question is very personal.

What will my degree be worth?

With this question, I intend for you to ask yourself how much money you plan on making in a new career field after you get your degree. The emotional value of school is important, but not fitting for a blog post about money concerns.

Average incomes from varying jobs can easily be googled. Try typing in several titles from a related field to see what’s possible for you with your degree. Check the website from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to see what opportunities in your field will be available over the next few years. This research should give you a decent idea of what kind of income to expect, though it may take a few years of getting experience to get there.

The information you find from that research may make you go back and change your answers to the first two questions. That’s a good thing. You should be asking yourself these questions regularly, both before starting school and after you’ve enrolled. Regularly checking in with yourself will help you stay on track, financially.

These questions are good focus points both before committing to school and after. They should be part of the process of choosing a school.

Making the decision to go back to school should be carefully weighed. Being a nontraditional student, while incredibly rewarding, is also incredibly difficult. Doing this work now will save you time and energy later so you can focus on your studies.

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Traditional School Vs. Online School

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If you’re considering going back to school after having been away for a while, there is a lot to think about. One of those considerations needs to be on the type of school you’ll be applying to. I want to focus on the two main different types of school — traditional and online. When I say traditional school, I mean a brick and mortar building that you go into to study face to face with a professor and other students. Online schools are those where every aspect of your education is done digitally, from reading assignments to exams.

It’s worth noting that many traditional schools have online elements included. They still require that the student does most of their education in the building in a traditional classroom.

Both types of institutions will get you an education. They will not be the same education. Each will require different skills, and you, as a student, will learn through a different set of rules.

I’m here to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you decide which one is better for your learning style and your lifestyle.

Traditional School Advantages

In a physical classroom, you are dedicated to one task and that one task alone. There are fewer distractions because you have no TV, spouse, or kids. If you’re feeling frisky you can even turn your cell phone off.

The learning experience is more dynamic. The professor is there giving you clear instructions with both verbal and nonverbal cues. The class is giving him feedback which can help him adjust his teaching style on the fly to better suit the needs of the students. Everyone is working together in real time to accomplish a goal.

Your peers are in there learning with you. You can exchange notes with your neighbor or giggle over a joke. The socializing is valuable because, remember, these are the people you can network with later for a job.

Traditional School Disadvantages

The dedicated time in a classroom is also dedicated time that you have to work into your regular schedule. There is no flexibility. Don’t forget to work in travel time, too.

Not all of the other students in the class will be sharing notes and networking. Some of them will be disruptive to your learning. Different people have different goals, and if the class doesn’t reflect their goals, then neither will their attitude.

One last consideration for traditional schools is that they are incredibly expensive. Savings funds can dry out quickly and loans can pile up faster than some people can keep track of. The cost of school is no joking matter.

Online School Advantages

When you enroll in an online dedicated university, you are in complete control of your time. You still have due dates, but how you get the work done up to those due dates is on you. It’s easier to squeeze in a little studying here and there around a busy schedule.

Online schools are full of opportunities. More degree options are being offered online, even from major institutions you never thought you would have access to. Speaking of access, online may be the best option if you live in a community with few or no traditional universities nearby.

The skills you get from those online school opportunities are just as valuable as the degree. Changing technology and globalization means it’s more important for workers to understand how to communicate and effectively work online. I’d say getting a degree is a good demonstration to future employers that you know how to navigate that terrain!

Affordability is the last point I want to make as an advantage of online universities. The school doesn’t have to worry about electricity bills and janitorial staff and parking lots for an entire campus. The lower cost of running the organization is transferred back to the student. An online degree costs the student a fraction of one from a traditional school.

Online School Disadvantages

Self motivation is a bitch! Some days it will seem impossible to sit down at the computer and convince yourself to study when there is no one there to tell you to not put it off until tomorrow. At least in a classroom environment, if you’ve gone through all the effort to get there you might as well actually learn something.

And learning something from an online school isn’t the easiest way to go. Sometimes you’ll get instructions from a professor that are less than clear. Sure, you can shoot your professor an email and she’ll probably get back to you in a very reasonable amount of time, but what do you do while you wait for the response?

Non-immediate feedback puts you at risk of wasting time. As a nontraditional student, you don’t have a lot of time to waste. You need to be able to make decisions and keep going despite any doubts or concerns. If that type of uncertainty is difficult for you, then it will be a big disadvantage while you’re considering an online university as an option.

I hope I was able to give a well enough rounded evaluation of the two main types of schools in the context of a blog post. My goal was to give enough varied examples for someone considering returning to school as a nontraditional student to be able to critically assess each and make a decision based on their own strengths, weaknesses, and situation.

Leave a comment and let’s start a discussion about what concerns you have about becoming a nontraditional student.

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Things To Do Before You Return To School

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If you are considering going back to school or have already decided that’s something you’re going to do, then I have something to tell you. Your life will be turned upside down and sideways. Even part time school will throw your whole day-to-day out of whack.

Of course you already know that. Non-traditional students are frequently making sacrifices so they can fit what they need into a daily schedule. Being prepared for that to happen, though, is the difference between getting jostled about and completely knocked off your feet.

I put together a list of five things to do before returning to school. Some of this I did and some I wish I did. If you’re planning on going back, this list is sure to set you up for success no matter what major you choose.

Track Your Time

This is something you’ll want to do for a few weeks. Don’t change anything, but keep an eye out for a few things. Where is your spare time? Where are you wasting time? What happens regularly or what is something that you do that is non-negotiable?

It helps to have an idea of how much time you have and where you have it before returning to school. This is the time you’ll be using to get your degree. If you have a lot of it, great! You’ll have an easy time scheduling in your studying and researching. If you find that you don’t have a lot of spare time, you’ll have to get ready to make some sacrifices. What on your schedule can go? Are there smaller chunks of time you could work smarter with?

Check Your Finances

Everyone is aware that college is expensive. Finance blogs are spilling over with advice on how to cope with student loans. Tuition isn’t the only expensive part about school. Fees pile up fast. Plus you have to be ready to pay for books, files, DVDs, notebooks, and other supplies.

How much of that can you afford out of pocket? Do you have savings that you can tap into?

Most people won’t have a lot to dedicate to those things. I’m sure one of the reasons you’re considering taking the leap back into higher learning is so that you CAN have that kind of extra money some day.

It’s okay if you don’t have a lot to put towards that right now. That is what loans are for, anyway. But don’t just take out as many loans as you can for the sake of taking them out. Be calculated about it. How much in loans are you willing to take out?

Brush Up On Basics

It’s probably been a while since you had to do the formal education thing. Non-traditional students come in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing that they do have in common is that there was a break in schooling.

There’s a lot you forgot since high school. Take some time before registering for classes to go over some basic grammar lessons. Find a website or listen to a podcast during your commute. It might also be worth your time to review math and reading comprehension.

Also, note-taking skills will be unbearably valuable, especially if you plan on doing online school. When you get your degree online, there isn’t someone sitting next to you to lend out notes. You only have yourself. While we’re on this line of thinking, review proper researching skills as well.

Understand Your Degree And What You Need To Do To Finish

If you haven’t applied to a college or university yet, their website should give you an idea of this. Otherwise, this information will be available to you after you applied, got accepted, and transferred your credits.

First, you need to know exactly what is required to obtain the degree. How many credits do you need? What classes are required? Is there an order they must be done in? What types of classes fulfill generic requirements (like when the degree says “15 science credits” or similar).

Second, transfer in every credit you have from another university. Online schools are particularly generous when it comes to accepting transferred credit. Don’t sacrifice any credits earned just because you’re not proud of your GPA or you think you could do better a second time around. Those credits cost money!

Last, call an advisor. Specifically, get in touch with an academic advisor who has worked with a non-traditional student before. Non-traditional students do not have the same needs or concerns as traditional students, so it’s important that you find someone who knows how to tailor a schedule to fit your needs and fast-track you to graduation.

Come Up With A Plan “B”

Be ready for emergencies. Maybe you have kids you need to plan around. Kids get sick. Maybe you have older parents that are in your care. What if your spouse gets laid off?

Many of these concerns and questions are probably already planned for in some way in your life. Just be ready to work school into that emergency plan. If you’re serious about returning to school, then it needs to be incorporated in your life and made a priority.

This all may seem like a lot. It should be. Applying to school and becoming a non-traditional student is a big choice. It’s not glamorous. You’ll frequently be stressed out and tired.

Taking a few steps and doing some work early on will make subsequent decisions easier. Schedules will fall into place a little better. You need to put in the extra work to ensure your success and your degree.

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Why I Chose to Go Back to School

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In July of 2018, I made the decision to return to school and finish my degree. A few months after, I found out that the politically correct term for my status is “non-traditional student.” Adult-learner fell out of fashion, I guess.

Even though it was something I wanted to do for many years, it required a lot of consideration. Anyone past the traditional age for university knows that it’s a complicated matter. I have more responsibilities now than I did a decade ago. I have different ideas of what I want my life to look like than I did a decade ago.

While there were many reasons why I could have said “No!” to a few difficult years, ultimately there were three things on my mind that pushed me to say “Yes!”

Education Will Get You Through The Door

I’m a reasonably intelligent person (if I may say so myself), but it’s hard to convince a hiring manager of that without helpful credentials on a resume. The work experience I had didn’t seem to be enough, and more experience was getting harder and harder to acquire. Especially since my peers all had a college degree.

That degree for those who have it is proof to a hiring manager that they have acquired knowledge and proved an ability to commit and follow through.

Once I put on my resume that I am currently a student, I had the courage to start applying for jobs outside of the service industry. It worked. I was able to get a decent role. I got the job because I was able to prove that my value will gradually increase. While the job isn’t quite in my field, it does have a lot of crossovers into what I want to do, which will provide me with valuable, transferable skills.

I Value Education

I always have. I always did well in school. It was always important. In fact, when I stepped away from formal education nearly a decade ago, it was due to circumstance, not choice.

During the years between then and now, I spent most of my energy getting myself to a point where I could go back to school. It was a driving force behind my daily decisions and efforts. It took many years, but last year I was finally in a healthy mental and financial position where I could consider it.

Knowing that I did all that work to get to that point was a very good push in the school direction. If I value education as much as I say I do, then it’s time to practice what I preach.

I Wanted A More Comfortable Life

Maybe this last one is a little selfish, but what decision-making conflict doesn’t have at least some selfish elements?

By no means are my SO and I doing poorly. We’re not wealthy, but we pay our bills with a little to spare. We’re some of the lucky ones, I know.

But if he and I were able to make it this far, then it would be a shame to stop and call it “good enough.” I want a degree to get me into an interview so I can move up the ladder. I want an opportunity to define success for myself. I want the freedom to change my mind later about that success definition, if that’s something I decide to do. Money may not be everything, but it sure does make everything else easier.

I’m still young and I have the ability to try to do better for myself. There’s only one life to live, so I need to remember to do everything I can do while I have the means to do so. Going back to school was an important goal of mine, and I’m proud of myself for deciding to sign up for a few classes last summer.

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