[sallyomally]

Tomorrow I will begin my life as a college student.<br><br>
I'm pretty nervous since I haven't been to school since 1973.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/worried.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":worried:"><br><br>
Any advice from the old timers or the young college kids would be<br><br>
greatly appreciated.<br><br>
Wish me luck!

 

[synergy]

Wow, well first of all, good luck.<br><br><br><br>
What will you be studying? If you tell us your program we may have some more specific advice, but in general:<br><br><br><br>
Go to class. I cannot stress the importance of this- even if attendance isn't mandatory, it is still very important.<br><br><br><br>
Do the readings. Stay ahead of the readings if you can and take note while you are doing them so when it comes time to study, you won't have to refer to your textbooks.<br><br><br><br>
Sit close to the front of the class. This forces you to pay attention.<br><br><br><br>
Unless you need it for a specific reason, I advise against using a laptop to take notes. I know for myself, I pay less attention to the actual lecture if I'm typing out notes, not to mention laptops contain many distracting things (including VB if you have wireless access, which most colleges and universities do.)<br><br><br><br>
Take a travel mug with you for coffee/tea. It stays longer warmer which is an advantage during longer lectures, not to mention better for the environment.<br><br><br><br>
To de-stress myself, I created fake due dates for assignments. If I had a paper due on Oct. 7th, I would tell myself it had to be ready by the 4th. Then I would have 2 stress free days of being done, and I would read it over to make last minute changes the day before it was due. Having those 2 days to have things gel can help you make your editing much more polished.<br><br>
It's also fun to be done when people around you are frantically trying to cram it in at the last minute!

 

[froggythefrog]

Mostly, my advice is you're not going to be alone, and judging from my school career, the older people in the class are usually the more serious ones. (Just stating what I saw.) I am sure you're going to do well. Let us know how things are going!

 

[Amy SF]

Oh, so THAT'S why you have a picture of whatsername as your avatar. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
I don't have any advice for you, I just want to wish you good luck, study hard, and most of all, have fun learning! If you don't have fun learning, what's the point of going back to school? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thinking.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":think:"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/book2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":book:">

 

[isowish]

I don't have advice either, I'm afraid, but I wanted to say <b>good luck</b>! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sunny.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":sunny:">

 

[astro]

All the stuff Synergy said was good advice, especially staying on top of your readings...that's half the battle.<br><br><br><br>
All I can add is dont worry about feeling uncomfortable about being an older student amongst all the young people. When I was at uni, quite often the younger students were a little intimidated in class by the mature-age students because their life experience and knowledge was so vast in comparison to theirs.<br><br><br><br>
good luck and have fun <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[cftwo]

synergy's advice is great. I'd add to the list:<br><br><br><br>
- ask questions, even if you think they're stupid ones. Chances are, others in the class have the same question.<br><br><br><br>
- go talk to your professors if you have questions. They're happy to help (OK, there are probably some really super-grumpy ones out there, but usually, they're happy to help). Remember, they'll usually look over drafts of papers, too.<br><br><br><br>
- take advantage of tutoring services if you need them<br><br><br><br>
- depending on what school you are attending, there are probably other non-traditional students there. You may want to see about setting up a casual get-together-for-coffee support group, just so you know you aren't alone.<br><br><br><br>
- make time for relaxing. One math professor at my undergraduate institution once said the best way to study for a math exam was to go bowling. If you've kept up with your work, you won't need to cram, and perhaps bowling (or a bubble bath) would be the best way to make sure you go into your exam energized and ready.<br><br><br><br>
Enjoy!

 

[slp2b]

Everybody has such great advice. I think the most important are plently of rest, keep up with your work, make sure to relax, don't stress over grades, and have fun. It will be easier for you now than it was before. I am finishing my BA this semester and will be starting grad school in January. I am turning 40 this November. I love going to school. I even plan to take more classes after getting my MA in three years.

 

[GhostUser]

Try not to be nervous. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> I have seen lots of adults in my classes before, so you're definitely not alone! I am a college sophomore, and my best advice to you is to not be afraid to ask for help. If you find yourself stuck or lost in the material, talk to the professor or look into getting a tutor. If you wait too long, you may have even more difficulty later in the class (and I learned that last semester - the hard way).<br><br><br><br>
With that said, GOOD LUCK!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[IamJen]

Sally, you'll do great! I had a lot more fun (and success) at college the second time around. What are you planning to study?

 

[sallyomally]

What a nice bunch of people! Thank you all so much for the advice<br><br>
and kind words. It really means a lot.<br><br>
I am majoring in Sociology.<br><br>
Today was pretty interesting.I did see a few old timers here and there.<br><br>
It's funny how things come back to you.<br><br>
The only problem I can see developing is <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/shocked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> ALGEBRA!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/shocked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[synergy]

Do you have to take algebra for your degree or is it a stats class?

 

[IamJen]

Glad to hear you had a good first day. Algebra, shmalgebra.

 

[Nishani]

good luck <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:">

 

[eggplant]

As a community college teacher I get a lot of "returning" students in my classes and they're often some of my best students since they usually have more interesting life experiences to draw from (I teach writing), they have clearer goals (18-year-olds often have no idea what they're doing in college), and they have more emotional maturity which translates into better student skills. Everyone here has given great advice, but I just want to reiterate how important it is to ask your professors questions and make use of all the student support services available at your school (learning centers, librarians, study groups, etc.). Everyone on campus wants you to succeed, so they should be willing to help you any way they can. You should do great!

 

[DelicGrape]

I was lucky enough to have a mom who taught me how to study at a really young age, she would have me spend hours and hours not only doing my homework but reviewing it again and again. If I were you I wouldn't feel nervous at all about going to college at an older age, if anything, us younger people really look up to someone who is willing to give it another shot instead of just sitting around saying "oh well, it's too late now." My grandparents are both in their late 50's. my grandfather can hardly walk up the stairs because he did not take care of himself and my grandmother is on tons of prescription drugs for a lot of different things and she too pretty much stays in bed all day.<br><br>
Anyway, take a lot of notes, study hard and really absorb what you're reading.

 

[sallyomally]

You guys are great! Thanks so much.<br><br>
Tomorrow ends the first week of school, and I'm still alive!<br><br>
Luckily, my teachers are wonderful and the kids are sweet.<br><br>
It was sort of funny to see some of their reactions.<br><br>
I could tell a few of them didn't know if I was a teacher or not.<br><br>
I saw a few walk straighter when I passed by. One young man came<br><br>
up and asked for directions. So cute!<br><br>
I've already located the math lab and can tell you I will spending<br><br>
a LOT of time there.I've just never been one to enjoy numbers.<br><br>
I could stay in literature class all day but Math,<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/undecided.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":-/"><br><br>
Well, that's a wrap.<br><br>
Thanks again.Time to go do my homework.<br><br>
P.S. Syn, unfortunately I have to take algebra. No way out.

 

[synergy]

Aww. Algebra isn't my fav either. I remember crying on at least one occasion. But the math lab will really help. So will doing the homework, amazingly. I'm sure you'll do really well. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Thalia]

Congratulations! Don't let the younger kids intimidate you. I've found that real world experience gives one great ideas to contribute to class discussions. Also don't be afraid to be friendly with the young folks, either. At one of my schools, they encouraged non-traditionally aged folk to come to our college which was primarily young people, and people of all ages can become great friends, help each other with homework, etc.<br><br><br><br>
Is this a place with almost all young people or a community type college? You migh be surprised at how many people over 25 go to undergrad classes. It can be quite a great mix. My mother just finished her Associates a couple years ago. She started when I was 5, (I'm 31 now!) then another kid, and life happened, and finally she went back to finish. She never felt out of place.<br><br><br><br>
I guess the one thing I wish I had done more was to talk to professors when I was falling behind or not understanding something. They are often helpful and it doesn't count against you to ask for help. I guess I was too proud to ask, and it usually bit me in the butt in the end.

 

[soilman]

I am really awful at learning math via formal education, but I happen to love math, including algebra. I have an algebra text book in my head but no publisher.