Choosing a College Planning for College

College Planning for Adult Students

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Written by CB Experts

Whether you are starting a degree, finishing a degree, or continuing your education, you may be considering a return to college. The first thing you should know is you are NOT alone. Many adults are part of today’s educational scene, and today’s campuses and educational programs are both multi-aged and multi-cultural.

Second, you should know you have many options. We will discuss your options below and give you some tips to get started.

Here are some options for you to consider in choosing a college porgram and tips about getting started on your applications.

 On-campus, Degree Programs

You may have finally decided on a degree program for the first time, or you may be earning a new degree for a change of career. Either way, think about college options. You might want to choose a campus close to your home and job, you may feel most comfortable in a community college setting that offers a variety of programming with a variety of schedules, or you may also want to enroll at a campus away from home where you will find your own living arrangements. A perfect place to start is with FastWeb Education, a website that helps you find schools that match your preferences, provides information about the colleges, and provides access to their scholarships. Another great resource is Education-For-Careers.com, a free education directory that provides valuable information on schools, tips on career resources, and insight on financial assistance.There are many campuses to choose from.

As you begin to apply for a degree program, you should know that because a span of time since high school graduation has passed, you will probably NOT have to provide SAT/ACT scores. In fact, some colleges allow credit for work experiences. You may have to take placement examines in lieu of standardized testing. The placement tests are usually in math, reading, and writing.

If you want to get started applying, be sure to check out the college’s web site or call their admissions office. Obtain an application form, deadlines for submitting the applications, and deadlines for financial aid. Make sure also to check out the requirements and accommodations the college has for its non-traditional or adult students.

 

Continued Education Division Education (CED)

CED programs are designed especially for students who are working. They are often in the evening, on weekends, or are intense but shortened courses during May terms or during the summers. Some employees need to continue to earn credits for professional certification through CED credits.CED is also available for people who want to work toward a degree but have not officially applied to a degree program. CED, however, does provide credit that can be applied toward a degree.

Application for CED is usually done through the CED Division of the college, separate from Admissions. There may be some pre-requisites for certain courses, but generally everyone is accepted into CED programs. The cost is the same cost per credit hour as for regularly enrolled students, but many times employers will cover CED credit costs. CED programs are a great way to test the college experience and still earn credit.

On-line Education

Technology has now made it possible for people to attend class at home at any time convenient to them—perfect for adults with families, jobs, and various responsibilities to pursue their education. Not only can you take courses of interest, continue your education, finish a degree, and earn a degree on line, but there are many other benefits of an on-line education. Both credit and non-credit courses will cost the same amount as an on-campus course, but other fees, travel expenses, and living expenses are no longer a drain on finances when you take courses on-line. You can receive assignments by email and send in assignments by email. Research is at your fingertips, and the classroom information is there whenever you want or need it.

There are some things to consider when thinking about getting an education on-line. You do need to know your way around the internet, you will be on your own and need to manage your time to complete course work within allotted times, and you will not have the additional educational aids of class discussion, question and answer, and additional explanations as when you sit in the classroom. We suggest that you take an elective class on-line first before committing to a full-degree course of study so that you can see how comfortable you feel with on-line course work.

If you are interested in this kind of education, which is becoming more a more popular, in addition to FastWeb Education mentioned above, a great place to start is at Monster Learning and at OnlineSchools where you can find links to on-line courses for all areas of study. All of these websites provide a wealth of information to get you started finding the perfect school for you!

Financial Considerations for Adult Female Students

Balancing motherhood with your career can be overwhelming. Give yourself the tools you need to go back to school and become financially independent. Apply for the $10,000 scholarship sponsored by Scholarships4Moms.com! All you need to do is fill out their easy entry form, view the college information on their site, and then keep your fingers crossed they will pick your entry! We wish you the best of luck!

Adults can go back to school.  There are many options and ways to get started on college credits.

About the author

CB Experts

Content created by retired College Admissions consultants.