Welcome Adult Learners
Congratulations from Counseling!
As a Adult Learner, we know you are handling multiple priorities. You are taking risks and making sacrifices to be here! We congratulate you for making it this far! Some of you are brand new to college and some are returning after a long break. Many of you work full time, have families, and are going to school. Some of you have other priorities such as an aging parent, military commitments, 2nd (and 3rd!) jobs and medical concerns, to name a few. In addition, there are many other demands on your time: the car needs the oil change, kids need their vaccinations, mail needs to be opened etc. You each have a story. Your needs and concerns are unique as are and you are adding one more commitment to your life. And yet, we know, that even with school a priority, it often falls behind work and family. Consequently, we put together this page for YOU! We are here to encourage and support you!Remember it is about Balance and Perspective:
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It’s never too late and NO you are not too old!
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You WILL finish with slow and (relatively) steady progress
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Set short term goals and give yourself permission to reevaluate at designated points
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Subdue the all or nothing attitude
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Celebrate completion points with those immediate family/friends that are also making sacrifices to support you
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Identify your most peaceful and most productive time and capitalize on it
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Know and accept your limitations and work with them
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Don’t let how long it takes to complete the degree be your focus
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Identify your top four priorities in life and try to align your time respectively
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It’s okay to graduate without a 4.0 GPA
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Distinguish between what you CAN let go and what you do not want to let go of…..then “let go” and minimize the “have-to’s” [i.e., may want to clean the house each week but do you really need to??]
Links for Encouragement and Inspiration
- Second Chance
- Online Mom Shares Some Tips
- Time for School, Mom!
- Returning to School: Cost-Cutting Strategies for Couples Dealing with a Loss of Income
- Over 50 and Back to School:
- It’s Never Too Late to Follow Your Dreams
- Forty-Nine and Back to School
- The Acid Test
- The Advantages of Being an Older Student
- In Praise of the Community College
Tips from other Adult Learners:
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Make a list of the most important things that need to be done
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Prioritize
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Cut back on less important extra activities
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Every night write down what needs to get done the next day
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Use a planner!
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Make flash cards
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Divide up homework and do a bit each day
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Keep the most helpful and important people close by.
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Submit a Sanity Saver for other Adult Learners!
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Do your homework while your kids are doing their homework
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I get lots of reading done during my children's hockey and baseball practices.
Evening, Weekend, and Accelerated Transfer Options:
- Inver Hills Community College - Adult Success Through Accelerated Programs (ASAP)
- Augsburg College - Weekend College
- Bethel University - College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS)
- College of St. Catherine - Weekend College
- Concordia University - Concordia School of Accelerated Learning (CSAL)
- Metropolitan State University - First College
- Northwestern College - FOCUS
- St. Mary's University - Bachelor's Completion Program
- College of St. Scholastica - Accelerated Degree Evening Program (ADEP)
New: Sanity Savers for Adult Learners!
Use the following link to submit a "Sanity Saver" to be added to the Adult Learner web page. You may also make suggestions on how we can better serve you via this web form!
