Returning to School

If you are one of the many adults returning to school, or entering college for the first time, it is important that you get off to a good start. If you have been away from education for some time, it can also be a pretty scary proposition. There are three suggestions I share with my clients who have decided to continue their education: manage the process, manage your time, and manage your life. Of course, all of that is easier said than done.


By managing the process, I refer to learning and strengthening the skills needed for academic success. I have talked with hundreds of adults returning to learning and the majority indicate there is at least one subject area in which they feel rusty. For many it is math, but others identify reading or writing - all of those are fundamental to your academic success. There is no shame in getting help so that you can be a successful student and if you could benefit from a tutor or other assistance, you should not be embarrassed to ask for it. It may take a while to knock off the rust, but it can be done. Other suggestions include sitting near the front of the class and if you are not comfortable asking a question in class, you should find a way to contact the professor to ask it out of class. Obviously, you need to have all the books and other supplies needed for each class and read assignments ahead of time, even if you don't completely understand what you are reading.


Time management can be a big issue for adult learners. Most of us have so many demands on our time that we often put other people and/or other concerns before our own. If you have decided to return to school, you probably need to focus on your needs as well. We generally tell students they should plan for 2 to 3 hours of study for every hour they are in class, every week. So being a full-time student is a full time job and not everyone calculates that kind of time commitment when they first get back to school. Of course, some subjects may require a little (or a lot) more time and you may find that you have a class that doesn't require quite that much, but that is the general rule. Many people benefit from making a weekly schedule to include study time, so that a week doesn't go by without them opening a book.


Also, in order to be a successful student, and adult, you also need to manage your life - the other responsibilities you have in life, as well as taking care of you. It may mean that you cut back on your social activities until you see how well you can juggle all of your responsibilities. It may mean that you need to reduce your time for exercise or other outside activities. But, you will notice I didn't suggest you cut them out completely. If there are activities you do to keep you well and mentally, as well as physically, in shape, I don't think you should eliminate them entirely. Find ways to work some of that in to your schedule. It may mean that you need to delegate some of your household responsibilities to someone else, or maybe you cut back on some of that, as well.


It can be difficult to continue your education as a fully grown adult, but it can be very beneficial.

Mary Ann Davis, M.A. is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career or job change, preparing to return to work or to school, coping with job loss, planning for non-retirement, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and via telephone helping find solutions to life planning issues. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). For more information on her services, please visit her website at www.YourCareerPlan.com.

To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential voice message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.

Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice offering coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a job or career change, preparing to return to school or to work, coping with job loss, preparing for non-retirement, and other life transitions. She meets with individuals in person and via telephone to assist in creating solutions to life planning issues. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Career Development Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Please visit her website at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information on her services.





To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.