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Keeping
it "Old School:"
Six Reasons for Returning to College
By:
NicoleThierry, D.Ed
If you've decided
that a degree could boost your marketability or earning potential,
you've made a wise decision. Yet, like many individuals returning
to college at what academia defines as a "non-traditional"
age (meaning 24 or over), you might have some fears and reservations
about re-entering the classroom. As an academic advisor and a former
returning adult student myself, let me put some of your concerns
to rest and give you some very good reasons why you should head
back to class.
- Professors
will love you! Really, they will. As a former assistant professor,
I can assure you that when your instructor scans the class on
the first day, he or she will take one look at you and think,
"Thank, Goodness! At least one person who will listen in
class, do the work on time, and generally act responsibility!"
Traditionally aged college students, while they are as adorable
and sociable as golden retriever puppies, often have the attention
spans and time management skills of their canine counterparts.
Returning adult students, in contrast, have earned their reputation
for dependability and courtesy. Professors know - through the
sheer fact that you are employable - that you can get your assignments
completed by the deadlines, juggle multiple tasks, and that you
take your work seriously. Additionally, instructors count on you
to comment on the practical applications of their lessons and
to contribute meaningfully in class interactions. Your experience
and knowledge help elevate the context of discussions beyond that
of last weekend's parties into the realm of the "actually
related to the topic." In a sea of squirming puppies, you
are the Lassie!
- You will
do well! Would I lie to you? No, I wouldn't. As an academic
advisor, I did not have a single returning adult student earn
less than a 3.0 (B average) grade point average (GPA). Their college
GPAs were not related to gender, ethnicity, whether they entered
college with a high school diploma or a G.E.D., or whether they
graduated in the top or bottom 10% of their class. Without exception,
the "older" students kicked academic butt. The secret
of their success was simple. Motivation. As Ken, for example,
a 44 year old returning adult student once told me, he didn't
have time to make mistakes. He was switching careers and expected
to graduate with his Bachelor's at 47. Ken felt he didn't have
the luxury of not doing well in his classes. Unlike most of the
other freshmen, he had children to support and retirement to consider
-he couldn't afford to goof off or drop out of school. Ken was
serious about his studies and his GPA reflected his dedication.
- You are
going to get older anyway. Next time you think to yourself…
"I'm going to be 28, or 36, or 49 by the time I get my degree,"
remember, you are going to be 28, 36, or 49 eventually anyway.
I started graduate school at 32 and initially planned on getting
a Masters degree and going back into the work force. Within one
semester, however, I decided I really wanted the doctorate. I
was, however, rather frequently reminded that should I choose
to pursue a Ph.D., I would be 37 by the time I graduated. Well,
guess what. As predicted, five years later, I was 37 but I was
37 and I had earned my doctorate. For me, investing the time in
school meant eventually having the academic credentials and attendant
freedom to shift career gears as my life and my family evolved.
Additionally, at the ripe age of 42, I look back sentimentally
and think "Wow, I was but a child when I started graduate
school."
- Classes
get easier every semester. Actually, the classes don't get
easier, your academic skills just improve. I took my first graduate
level class after a six year hiatus from college. My first assignment
was to write, in American Psychological Association (APA) style,
a 3 page paper on Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The assignment
was utterly appropriate since I had never heard of APA style and
was generally anxious about the whole task. I must have spent
a minimum of 30 hours writing that paper. I wrote, rewrote, edited,
read it aloud, read it to friends, revised, and did my best to
approximate the mysteries of APA style. Although I earned an A
on that paper, I averaged one word about every two minutes - not
a particularly efficient writing system. By my second year of
graduate school, however, I could whip up an A worthy paper in
less than three hours. The assignments didn't get simpler, I just
became familiar with the parameters of academic writing, learned
enough about my area of study to draw on prior knowledge, and
mastered the basics of the APA referencing system. All of the
natural worry and fear associated with undertaking a new adventure
- returning to school - gradually diminished as I navigated the
territory and became accustomed to instructor's expectations and
carving time out of my schedule to study. Similarly, the adult
students I've worked with have shared my experience. I saw their
anxiety decrease and their confidence and grades increase with
each passing semester.
- You can
improve your writing skills. According to Sam Dillon's article
"What Corporate America Cannot Build: A Sentence" published
in the New York Times, 120 blue chip companies spent $3.1 billion
teaching their executives how to write correctly. As a college
instructor I saw some pretty hilarious sentence constructions
and typographical errors such as "Before I will marry a jerk,
I want to love someone who is kind and caring," and "It
is important that we look torso tomorrow which is before us."
While these bewildering sentences often brightened my day with
their unintended humor, I doubt a corporate CEO would want to
get a memo from you in which you are looking torso tomorrow. Try
to view every writing assignment in your college classes, therefore,
not as punishment but as an opportunity to hone a very valuable
skill. The ability to write coherently, concisely, and when necessary,
eloquently will not only save your company money but will increase
your marketability and, likely, earning potential.
- You will
actually learn new and valuable information. I have heard
more than one busy businessperson indirectly ask why he or she
can't just buy a degree. Well, sigh. All of those seemingly irrelevant
classes in philosophy or science or math really do have practical
application. Aside from increasing your general knowledge base,
college classes are designed to help you learn to think - to analyze
findings, to critique essays, to draw conclusions, and to determine
what information is or isn't valid. All of these skills, generally
referred to as "critical thinking" are invaluable tools
when called upon to make important decisions or figure out if
a report is worthy of attention or merely loaded with equine excrement.
Finally, remember
that earning a college degree is not just about making more money,
it's also about discovery - unearthing and refining your talents.
So, enjoy the adventure and, mark my words, the day you don that
cap and gown will be one of the most rewarding and well-earned of
your life.
About the
Writer:
Dr.
Nicole Thierry is the Director of Development for CentrePeace, Inc,
a non-profit organization in central Pennsylvania and a grant writing
consultant. Prior to taking this position, she served as the Director
of Student Support Services and Upward Bound for Lock Haven University
of Pennsylvania. Both her Master's and Doctorate in Counselor Education
with a minor in research and statistics are from the Pennsylvania
State University. Dr. Thierry has taught Learning Strategy and Freshman
Seminar courses, served as an academic advisor for approximately
40 students annually, presented nationally, and has been published
in both peer reviewed journals and local publications. She lives
in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania with her husband, Terry, and her dog,
Trif - the only golden retriever who was once nominated for President.
Dale
and Ben Midgley
Co-Founders
The Golden Circle of Business©
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