Nontraditional students, or adult learners as they are often called, now make up close to 47 percent of all new and returning students on most college campuses, according to the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education. Although adult learners have additional challenges, finding success in school, work and family life is easily achievable. Here are a few tips to remember during this back-to-school season.

1. Give your ego a boost! Starting with classes that you are good at is a great way to transition into college life. “Students should begin by taking something they enjoy,” said Hilary Ward Schnadt, associate dean for curricular affairs at Mundelein College. Earning a high grade in your first college course will go a long way to improve your confidence as a student.
2. Join the technology revolution. College campuses are some of the most wired places in the world. Having access to e-mail and the Internet are great ways to stay connected when you are both on and off campus.
3. Give distance learning a chance. Despite what you might have heard about distance learning, it is a great way for working adults to complete college courses with minimal disruptions to their normal routine. A study by the Sloan Consortium reported that nearly 2.35 million students enrolled in online classes in recent years.
4. Know where to go to get help. Colleges have many resources available to help all students become successful. Whether they need tutoring, personal counseling, job assistance or even legal aid, students should know how and where to locate the many student resources available on and off campus.
5. Be aware of all deadlines. Life is rarely predictable. Things happen all the time that can derail your college dreams, but knowing important deadlines can save you time and money. Be familiar with the deadlines for class enrollment or drop dates, financial aid and scholarship applications, and assignments and projects.

Having additional challenges is no excuse to not earn a college degree. Millions of adults find success in college each year. They balance school, work and family life to earn their degree, diploma or certificate. And the numbers grow every year. Having the right plan in place will help you be a successful adult learner.

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