Whether you’re 5 or 35 years old, the first day of school is both exciting and nerve-wracking. For adult students — especially those who’ve been out of the classroom for a few years — it can feel overwhelming. It’s completely normal to have anxiety about overcoming obstacles like financial constraints and balancing work, family and friends on top of school.
But, as an adult learner, you shouldn’t feel intimidated. You should feel empowered. In many ways, you actually have an advantage over traditional students.
7 advantages adult learners have in college
Need some evidence? We spoke with Laurie Dodge, Ed.D., executive vice chancellor of academic affairs and provost at UMass Global, along with other education experts and adult students, to understand how those returning to the classroom stand out among their peers. They have real-life insights into the actual advantages adult students enjoy.
You’re more mature and motivated
You’ve got a lot more on the line than a typical 18-year-old. You’ve had time to mature. Your money and ambitions are keeping you devoted to your education rather than family expectations to attend college.
“Adult learners are engaged in the process,” Dodge says. “They are paying money, giving up time with family and balancing work commitments.”
Because they have to make certain sacrifices, adult students are typically more invested in their education as well.
“Adult students are often more motivated for many reasons,” adds Carol Gee, former adjunct professor and retired administrator for Emory College. Gee was once an adult student herself, having begun her college education at age 27 after serving in the Air Force.
“Maybe obtaining a degree would enhance their careers. Maybe it’s a personal achievement that they were unable to obtain due to raising their families or other challenges,” she explains. Whatever your reason might be, having that driving force will help keep you moving forward and focused on your goal of graduating.
You bring your professional experience to the classroom
Having work experience is another major benefit for adult students. Whether or not your professional experience directly relates to your studies, it can help you understand classroom lessons in a real-world context. Adult students can draw from their past — and their present — to bring valuable insights into classroom discussions that traditional students may otherwise lack.
Scott Vail, small business owner and former adult student, feels this was an enormous advantage, stating:
Most classes teach principles and theories that traditional students will someday apply. Adult students have actually lived them.
You won’t have to worry about college life distractions
The traditional college experience might include distractions, such as loud parties, dorm roommates and figuring out how to do laundry. As an adult student, you’ll have the advantage of truly focusing on what matters: furthering your education.
“I didn’t have to worry about how popular I was and I already knew what life would be like when I was done,” reflects Adam Cole, who went back to school in his 30s. “I really didn’t have time to fool around, so my focus was far more pronounced.”
At this point in your life, you have your priorities straight. And if advancing your career through higher education is one of those priorities, you’ll find yourself at an advantage in the college classroom.
You don’t have time to procrastinate
Between class, work and taking care of your family, you’re probably a master of time management. Putting off your studies until the last minute simply isn’t an option for you.
“Adult learners are less likely to procrastinate because of their busy schedules,” says Elaine Sanders of Harlem Girls Inc., who also went back to school later in life.
Being busy can even be a good thing. Balancing the demands of parenting and work could actually help you be more efficient in college. Career coach Christopher K. Lee explains that most adult students are no stranger to having to juggle several priorities. He says:
[Adult learners] have families to feed, kids to drive to soccer games, mortgages and other bills to pay. They tend to have better time management skills, which serves them well in studying adequately and completing assignments on time.
You have a unique perspective
Don’t underestimate the power of perspective. It can enlighten classrooms with better conversations. After all, you want to see the value in what you’re learning.
“When teaching, I felt that adult students brought a certain richness to the learning experience,” Dodge offers. “They ask hard questions and push on the relevance and quality of what they’re learning.”
Programs like the ones at UMass Global have been created with these adult students in mind. Rather than traditional tests, for example, students do a lot of writing and reflection on how the principles being learned can be applied to real-life scenarios.
And your perspective not only has the ability to elevate classroom discussions — it can also put your entire learning experience into focus. Vail believes having something greater than your degree to fixate on can be a powerful advantage. For him, it’s his children.
“When I am challenged and start to struggle (or even consider quitting), I focus on them and it gets me through,” Vail says. “[That driving factor] is something unique for each adult student but it keeps them pushing to the degree.”
You have grit and perseverance
You aren’t afraid of hard work. You’re determined to put yourself through school, and this grit will help keep you on track through challenging courses and trying times.
“Going to college is not an assumed decision for adult students,” Lee says. “You’re making the conscious decision to advance your education, understanding the sacrifices necessary and the time it takes away from other parts of your life.”
You just have a lot more figured out
You know who you are. You know what you want out of life and your career. Understanding these things allows you to put a spotlight on your studies. Jessica Lewis, M.Ed., entered the military after high school and then attended college as an adult. Unlike some of her peers, she already had a strong sense of identity.
“I had been to different countries and had already held a job and leadership roles,” Lewis explains. “I felt like I was much more focused and prepared than many of my peers.”
Having more figured out simply allows you to identify your goals, which can keep you motivated to stay on track to graduate.
Take advantage of your experience
As you can see, being an adult student can certainly benefit you in the classroom. You’re fiercely determined and know exactly why earning this degree is key to reaching your goals.
If you’re thinking about going back to school, make sure you’re researching institutions dedicated to helping adult students like you succeed. Whether it’s advancing your career, achieving personal fulfillment or finishing a degree you started, UMass Global can help.
Take the next step towards achieving your goals. Find out what you should be looking for in a school by visiting our article “The adult learner’s guide to choosing a college.”
In the digitally-saturated world we now live in, advancing your education has become more accessible than ever. Gone are the days when driving to and from classes at a brick and mortar college was the only option for busy, working adults like you. Competency-based education (CBE) is even starting to make typical online programs seem like a thing of the past.
Competency-based learning models enable students to experience the same outcomes we expect from traditional programs — transformative learning, personal growth and expanded career potential — with the added convenience of an online program that’s customizable and self-paced. And there are several types of busy adults who might thrive in a competency-based learning model.
But before you commit to enrolling in a CBE program, it can be helpful to get a better grasp on what you can expect as a student. We spoke with two of University of Massachusetts Global’s own CBE experts to learn more about how self-paced learning models work.
How does self-paced, competency-based learning work? 5 elements to consider
Competency-based learning models were created to help free busy students from the restrictions common among time-based systems that award credits based on a set number of hours. CBE, on the other hand, takes into account that some students may master certain subjects faster than others. Those same students could find they need some extra time to grasp a different subject. Self-paced learning programs allow students to speed up or slow down as needed.
Consider the following five aspects of University of Massachusetts Global’s self-paced, CBE programs to learn more about the benefits you could reap from this type of innovative learning model.
Self-paced programs are flexible
Dr. Monica Shukla-Belmontes, assistant professor of business administration and associate dean of Corporate Pathways and competency-based education at University of Massachusetts Global, notes that self-paced programs can make balancing responsibilities more manageable. “Traditionally, full-time working adults have to go to classes after their workday and then squeeze in time for homework after the fact,” she explains.
Dr. Margaret Moodian, tutorial assistant professor of humanities and social sciences at UMass Global, says the flexible format of CBE is great for working adults. “Schoolwork isn’t due at one time each week — students complete their projects when it is convenient for them, at any time or any place.” Dr. Moodian elaborates students can work around family obligations or a busy season at their job.
Competency-based learning is customizable
CBE learning models divide degree programs into a number of different competencies that students are expected to master. The beauty of CBE programs is that students have a hand in determining which competencies they want to tackle when, and how quickly they choose to do so. Dr. Shukla-Belmontes explains that each UMass Global CBE student works closely with an academic coach who maintains a full list of all the competencies required to complete their program.
“Each term, students are given a bundle of competencies, which they can work through as fast as they want,” she outlines. “Once they complete one bundle, they’ll be rolled out into the next bundle of competencies.”
You can reap the benefits of subscription-based tuition
The convenience of moving through your degree program at your own pace is hard to ignore. But how does that work when it comes to tuition costs? Most CBE programs use a subscription tuition model. University of Massachusetts Global students pay tuition for every 24 weeks spent in the program.
“Within those 24 weeks, your academic coach will provide you with your bundles of competencies and help you set goals for yourself,” Dr. Shukla-Belmontes says. “Students will work through as many competencies as they can — the faster students work through the content, the more affordable their degree will be.” All of the textbooks and class materials required for UMass Global’s CBE programs are built right into the platform, minimizing any extra fees related to materials.
Subscription tuition isn’t just beneficial for the ways it empowers students to move through their programs at a faster-than-normal pace. “Students should also note that the subscription tuition model allows them to take their time with certain courses that may pose more of a challenge for them,” Dr. Shukla-Belmontes adds.
This can help students avoid the harsh reality of having to take a course (and pay for it) twice due to an unsatisfactory grade. Instead, they’re afforded the flexibility to slow things down to a pace that allows them to truly absorb the material.
Prior work experience can give you an advantage
Self-paced, CBE programs also take prior and current work experiences into account. “When students have prior work experience, they can quickly progress through competencies that they are already knowledgeable about and take more time on the ones that are more difficult for them,” Dr. Moodian says. This is more beneficial than a time-based learning model, she adds, because it requires students to progress through them at a pre-set pace, regardless of whether they’ve mastered the material.
Dr. Shukla-Belmontes explains that while students can’t “test out” of certain competencies, their prior experience will help them demonstrate their mastery of the material sooner. “Students can, however, transfer credits in to waive certain competencies,” she clarifies.
CBE programs may even allow students to apply their coursework to real-life work scenarios. One of Dr. Moodian’s students was given the opportunity to present his analysis and recommendations from an assignment in his competency-based program to his colleagues, who then committed to implementing his suggestions within the organization.
“It was empowering for him and gave him visibility at work,” Dr. Moodian says.
There’s a support system available to students
One fear some have when it comes to an online, self-paced program is that students may be left to their own devices to figure things out. Quality CBE programs take extra measures to ensure there’s ample support made available to students. Dr. Shukla-Belmontes explains how this works at University of Massachusetts Global.
“You have the coaches there for academic and moral support, and faculty act as the content support,” she offers. “If students are stuck on a question or project, they can reach out to their faculty member at any time and expect a response within 72 hours.”
Dr. Moodian explains that students can arrange to meet with faculty members in their online offices whenever needed. “Students have told me it is oftentimes the relationships with faculty and academic coaches that make this program so special.”
The UMass Global University team has also worked hard to establish a thriving community among its CBE student base. Dr. Shukla-Belmontes says there are regular community meetings and a student newsletter put together by academic coaches.
Find success with self-paced learning
You’re now armed with more information about how a self-paced, CBE program could actually work. As you contemplate the educational requirements that can help you rise to your professional goals, perhaps you envision yourself finding success with a competency-based learning model.
If so, head over to the MyPath information page to learn more about the opportunities that could help unlock the next phase of your career.
Online learning, distance education, eLearning — there are many names for taking classes online, but it’s an indisputable fact that the number of students choosing this modality has rapidly grown over the years. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that while overall college enrollment dropped by almost 90,000 students from 2016 to 2017, the number of students who took at least some of their courses online grew by more than 350,000.
Fortunately, high-quality college courses have become more accessible than ever. Online learning has played an instrumental role in bringing world-class educational resources to those who can’t realistically commute to campus, to those who may feel more comfortable in a virtual learning environment and even to those who reside in developing nations.
Despite the fact that eLearning offers unmatched flexibility, many prospective students are still skeptical. Misconceptions related to distance education may be holding students like you back. Read on to discover the truth about taking classes online.
4 Common misconceptions about online learning
Best Colleges’ 2019 Trends in Online Education Report found that the primary concern online students have about participating in distance education was the quality of instruction and academic support. This was followed by a number of other concerns, such as worries about employers’ perception of online degrees and the supposed lack of community in a virtual environment.
We examined the research and looked to University of Massachusetts Global’s online learning resources to get to the bottom of these misconceptions.
Online courses lack the quality of on-campus courses
One of the most common misconceptions about distance education is that it isn’t as rigorous as on-campus learning. As you consider your options in going back to school, you’re inevitably wondering things like, Will I learn as much from an online program? or Are online classes hard?
In truth, distance learning can be challenging for those who aren’t used to autonomy
As long as students are able to keep up with the assigned coursework, the learning outcomes between online and face-to-face learning shouldn’t differ. In fact, a recent study from the U.S. Department of Education found that students who received face-to-face instruction had no advantage over online learners. In fact, the online students exhibited modestly stronger learning outcomes than their classroom counterparts.
There are other insights we’ve learned over time as well. Also consider that online learning often allows students to consume information in more digestible portions. That can make it easier to learn the material and understand how different concepts intertwine. And when technology is integrated into learning models, students are more likely to remain interested in the content, stay focused on their assignments and retain the information.
Your online degree will be less valued by potential employers
It’s clear that you stand to learn just as much in an online program as you would if you were attending courses on campus. Still, there’s a natural follow-up question: Will future employers take my online degree seriously? Completing an online program doesn’t matter to hiring managers as much as you might think.
The 2019 Trends in Online Education Report revealed that 38 percent of surveyed employers believe online learning is equal to on-campus learning. Only 10 percent believe it to be inferior. What’s more important to the hiring managers and human resources professionals who view your resume is that you received your degree from an accredited institution. Accreditation signifies that a college meets or exceeds the expected standards for a particular program, regardless of whether it’s on-campus or online.
The Best Colleges survey also revealed that graduates of online programs fare well in the workforce. Among surveyed graduates, 85 percent maintain that their online education yielded a positive return on investment (ROI). After their experiences with distance education, 89 percent would recommend it to others.
You’ll be isolated and forced to learn by yourself
When asked to envision the online classroom experience, many people conjure images of students sitting in front of their laptops at home with little to no interaction with their classmates or instructors.
The reality is that part of the surge in students enrolling in online programs is due to the flexibility they offer. Students can often get their work done when it best fits into their own schedules — even at their own pace for some programs. While that can result in more independent work time than a traditional classroom environment, you can still be a part of an interactive learning community when you study online.
Not all online courses are the same, but most of them will include an interactive component. This might be conducted through video conferencing or through discussion board participation. Both of these options allow students to engage with one another, bounce ideas off classmates, offer counterpoints and ask questions.
It’s also pretty common for online courses to include group projects that involve the use of tools like Google Docs or Zoom. This is an important aspect of eLearning that employers love, because collaborative communication in a digital environment has become a vital part of most industries.
If you ever find that you’re struggling or have additional questions regarding one of your lessons or assignments, online instructors at most institutions will hold virtual office hours. They make themselves available for students to reach out with questions or for additional resources as needed.
You won’t receive help when you need it
One of the top concerns students have is that an online classroom environment can’t offer sufficient academic support. Not all institutions are equally equipped to support online students. The key is finding a college or university that designed its programs with students like you in mind.
Consider the online campus at University of Massachusetts Global, for example. An instructional innovation team of nearly 40 people works hard behind the scenes to support students, faculty and instructional designers alike. Students have access to many resources, including writing and math tutors who hold virtual office hours.
Online students also have access to multimedia writing and design support, which can help them discover innovative ways to present projects and other data to their classmates — and ultimately to their colleagues in the workforce. This resource enables students to browse through a curated collection of on-demand tutorials and other materials related to graphic design, videography, podcasting and more.
Keep in mind that most online programs are designed with the understanding that not every student is a tech whiz. If you find you’re struggling with one or more of the tools used in your virtual classroom, there should be technology support services readily available to help walk you through everything.
Find success taking classes online
The online learning experience may seem a little overwhelming at first, but examining the facts makes it clear that you could receive the same high-quality learning outcomes you’d expect from a traditional environment. And if you’re hoping to juggle your coursework with a number of other responsibilities and commitments, the flexibility offered by distance education is unmatched.
If you’re still unsure whether you’re cut out for the eLearning experience, you may want to learn more about what it takes to be successful. Find out if you have what it takes by heading over to our article “6 Signs you’re ready to conquer the online classroom.”