7 Tips to Get Into College and Succeed as an Adult Student (Non-Traditional Success Secrets)

Are you a non-traditional student (over 25) who is ready to secure your spot in college and succeed once you get there?

In this article, I will let you in on the most important things you need to do to make your application stand out, get noticed, and have a positive and successful experience once you get accepted and start going to class.

Recent studies have found that nearly 75 percent of college students are “non-traditional,” defined as over 25, often with full-time jobs (59 percent) and their own children.

That means a large number of you out there are over 25, and over half of you have full-time jobs. In other words, you are like me when I was in college! So if you’re thinking about going back to school as an adult, you're going to want to charge in and succeed right off the bat. You don’t have time to waste. That means you need to start working on these 7 things right now, so that when you start filling out your applications, they will hit all the right notes with the right people. Following these 7 tips will help you keep that momentum going well into your first semester and beyond.

Number 1: Define Why You Want to Go to College

If you have a full-time job, or if you are a full-time parent, or both, thinking about adding something else to your plate can feel a little discouraging because it’s one more responsibility to take care of. But think about why you want to go to college in the first place. Is it because you want to increase your career opportunities? Do you want to make more money in your industry? Do you want to study something you enjoy and be able to make a career out of it? What is it that defines your “why”? Because trust me, when things really get going and you’re in the midst of your sophomore year and everything is stressful, and you’re really considering dropping out because you are frazzled and have too much to do, reminding yourself why you are going to college in the first place is what is gonna keep you from giving up. If you don’t have a clearly defined objective, then you will quit. So define your ”why.” It’ll save you in the long run.

Number 2: Research the Core Values of Your Target School and Recap Experiences You Have Had That Align with These Core Values

Take a little trip over to your target school’s website and read about them for a sec. Does your target school value diversity and inclusion, for instance? Jot down a couple of experiences you may have had at work, with friends, or during an extracurricular activity that highlights your ability to accept and include people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. It is important to appeal to the attributes that the school you are looking to attend values in their students, and to make sure that their vision aligns with your own. That way, you don’t waste time and money attending a school that may offer the major you are studying, but cannot offer you the experience you are looking for. You may need this information if you interview with college recruiters or if there is an essay required for admission.

Number 3: Check Out the Application Process for Your Target School

Some colleges’ admissions programs are more competitive than others, so check out stats like acceptance rate, the minimum placement test score that is required (if there is one), and what percentage of students are non-traditional like you. Once you research the basics, the main thing you want to pay attention to is entrance exams. If you have been out of school for a while, you might have to take mathematical and writing aptitude tests or participate in standardized testing like the SAT or ACT to be accepted into your school of choice. It is important to define which test or tests you may have to take and prepare for them thoroughly in order to perform your best. Your local library has resources that can help you study for these types of tests, and you should take this opportunity to get acquainted with your local library since you will be using it a lot, especially if you plan on attending on campus at a university.

Number 4: Take a Tour of Your Target School and Find Areas Where You Can Study

Will you be toting little ones along with you for your study trips? Find places outside where you can sit and enjoy the fresh air with them while you study. Will you be studying late at night? Some schools offer 24-hour computer labs and other facilities where you can study at all hours of the night. Check into the resources that are offered for your success as a student by contacting the admissions team for your school. They will direct you to whoever is in charge of that.

Number 5: Build a Strong Academic and Extracurricular Profile

When applying for college, the applications that tend to stand out the most are ones that include experiences that are versatile. Colleges like to see that you have taken the initiative to get involved in your community in a unique way, or in your line of work.

It can be a chore to find activities as an adult that strengthen your academic and extracurricular profile, but one thing you can do is start studying the material for the field you want to enter. A good way to start doing this is by taking Coursera classes or free classes offered to you by places local to you. Usually libraries, churches, and community centers offer these, even if they are just general education courses or community athletic activities. You can also volunteer at your local soup kitchen or find other volunteer opportunities. Make sure that you include these experiences on your resume and in your portfolio.

Number 6: Create and Maintain a Balanced Lifestyle

One of the pillars you will lean on when you are attending college as a non-traditional student is a balanced lifestyle. Staying active, getting enough sleep, keeping your responsibilities handled in a timely manner, and having structure in your days will all contribute to keeping your life as stress-free as possible. If you have kids, make sure your routines with them are stable, yet flexible enough that you can move them around with the responsibilities you will have in college. Also, consider working a remote job while you are in school. Working remotely will greatly reduce your stressors while you are attending school, especially if you are introverted or your social battery gets drained easily. It definitely helped me immensely when I was bogged down with a lot of coursework to be able to work from home.

Number 7: Brush Up on Your Written and Verbal Communication Skills

It is vital that you communicate clearly and concisely when you are in college. You’ll need to communicate with professors, classmates, and college personnel on a regular basis. The fashion in which you will be communicating the most is often in-person, but you will also communicate by using email, Zoom, Skype, or other similar software, so look for opportunities to sharpen these skills on a regular basis before you apply for college. Even after you have been a student for a while, the best way to improve your communication skills would be to push the envelope when it comes to your comfort zone. Purposely put yourself in situations where it is moderately challenging for you to converse and socialize so that you can become more comfortable when you communicate interpersonally.

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So, what did you think of these tips? Believe in yourself and do what’s best for you. Take these tips and add to them if you’d like, tweak them to your own personal style, and let them help you make it into college!

Happy Navigating!