The Accidental Nontraditional Student

According to Wikipedia nontraditional students are students that attend an higher education institution (college or university) that generally fall into two categories: (1) students who are older than the historical undergraduate student profile (usually age 18-25), whose studies were either interrupted earlier in their life; or (2) students of traditional age, but who pursue their baccalaureate studies through programs that provide unconventional scheduling to allow for other responsibilities, and pursuits concurrent with attaining a degree.

In addition to these definitions, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) acknowledges that while there is no precise definition for nontraditional students, part-time status and age are common elements in most definitions. Other definitions of nontraditional students include those who:

• delay enrollment (or do not enter post-secondary education in the same calendar year that he or she finished high school);
  
• attend part-time for at least part of the academic year;


• work full time (35 hours or more per week) while enrolled;


• are considered financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid;
  
• have dependents other than a spouse (usually children, but sometimes others);


• are single parents (either not married or married but separated and have dependents); or


• do not have a high school diploma (completed high school with a GED or other high school completion certificate or did not finish high school.)

As you can see being classified as a nontraditional student is not as simple as identifying one's date of birth, but rather is more complex in nature in that there are often times many reasons why people delay their pursuit of their goal earn a college degree. In fact, I had to delay my entrance into college for a year in order to complete my military training obligation after I enlisted in U.S. Army Reserve while a high school student. So, I guess that that makes me a nontraditional student according the definitions identified above. My joining the nontraditional student ranks was purely accidental--I didn't plan on being a nontraditional student when I first decided to enlist in the Reserve way back when--it just happened, and for various reasons your finding yourself classified as a nontraditional student for whatever reason, and at whatever stage of life in which you may now find yourself may have also happened accidentally. Whatever the case may be, don't fret and certainly don't sweat it because there is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing your college education as an older student.

Yes, I realize that it may not have been your ideal plan to start you college studies at age 25, 30 or even 50, but hey, things happen. Go with the flow, be adaptable to life's many changes, embrace the life you live, and your days will be more brighter, and happier. Although the reality for many of those who fall into the nontraditional category is that going to college a little later in one's life is in fact a huge, and daunting step. Nevertheless, it seems almost laughable that a 21-year-old would decide that enrolling in a four-year college is not a viable educational option because he feels that he, now three years removed from the throes of high school would deem himself "too old" to fit in on a traditional college campus. Hey, the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. But, in any case, if you find yourself in the shoes of one of those "old" students, here is hopefully a little bit of motivational advice to help you set your educational plans in motion:

First, recognize that you are not "too old" to attend college! As a matter of fact, you are 20 - 50 something years young, so stop making excuses, and kick it into gear . . . what are you waiting for? For extra motivation on late applicant guerrilla admissions tactics see my last post entitled: "Late College Applicants, the Fourth of July, Barbecue . . . . Oh My."

Second, say this phrase to yourself over and over again: "learning is forever." As a matter of fact, keep saying it until you adopt it as the personal mission statement for your college action plan.

Third, remember that there are many definitions of a nontraditional student, and recognize that you are not in this endeavor alone. In fact, on college campuses across America there are nontraditional student support groups, and if by chance there isn't such a group at the campus of your choice--be industrious, take the initiative and start one. I am pretty sure that your other nontraditional student classmates who also thought that they were alone will thank you profusely for helping to create an even more inclusive and inviting environment on campus.

Fourth, remember that it is never too late to start or begin your educational endeavor to earn your Bachelor's degree. I can recall my days as a new student at the University of Iowa, where I met two of my fellow nontraditional classmates who decided to pursue higher education in their 50's. One of my classmates, James, fell in love with the student life so much that he went on to pursue his Master's degree after completing his undergraduate studies. Even more impressive was how James embraced the campus community rather than feign getting involved on-campus because of his nontraditional age. As a matter of fact, James enjoyed his new life as a college co-ed so much that he became a Resident Assistant in the dorm that we both lived in during our first-year at the university.

Finally, if you take nothing else from this post, I hope that you will recognize that no matter the hand that life deals you or whatever obligations sideline you for a while (i.e., military, family obligations, college affordability issues, etc) , just remember that you are never too young or too old to endeavor higher education, and that such pursuits are very worthwhile, and lead to lifetime learning and life enriching experiences.