Tips For Adults Going Back to College, Pt. 2

In our previous blog, the CLEP study guide experts at SpeedyPrep gave adult learners a few tips for adjusting to college life and finding academic success. We’ll continue on that topic here, with even more ways to make the college experience easy and fun!

Make new friends.

No matter how old you are or what your story is, one of the best parts of going to college is making new friends, colleagues, and professional connections that last a lifetime. Even if you’re not in college to build yourself a new social circle, meeting people in your degree of study can be a huge asset for your professional and academic success. You’ll find potential study group members, students with helpful educational resources, and future professional connections that can help you land jobs or internships in your field. Plus, college is much more fun with a few pals by your side, helping you deal with the ups and downs of college life.

Find help when you need it.

College students of all kinds will agree: there’s always going to be one class or one subject that just doesn’t click in your brain. No matter how much you stare at your textbook or take impeccable notes in class, some things have a hard time becoming permanent in your brain—and it’s crucial that you do something about it before it’s too late to save your grade in the class.

In times like these, you’re going to need some outside help from a classmate, peer tutor, teacher’s assistant, or professor to help you understand the concepts of the course. Even if your grade doesn’t improve dramatically, you will show your professor that you’re willing to put in extra work to learn the subject matter—and that makes professors and instructors much more likely to put in the extra work to help you learn. It also helps them gain insights about their teaching, giving them a chance to improve their work.

Asking for help may be hard, but it’s the bravest thing you can do when you need it. Just remember that everyone—including your professors—will need help at some point during the semester.

Enjoy change.

When you sign up for college, your priorities will shift and your life will change—and while that can be scary at first, it’s something to celebrate, not fret over. Furthering your education is a choice that benefits your life, as well as the lives of your loved ones. The changes you experience are only a sign of forward progress and personal growth.  

Work hard, play hard.

When finals come around, you might stay up late for a month reviewing notes, taking practice tests, and flipping through flashcards until your brain is numb. That’s just part of the process. But once you get those final exams back and see all the A’s and B’s you received, there’s only one thing left to do: get loose.

You’ve been slaving away for months to further your education—you deserve to go on vacation, treat yourself to a fancy dinner, get yourself pampered at the spa, or have a few drinks with your friends. You deserve to do whatever you want because you’ve earned it! Live it up or party down—that’s one of many rewards that comes from getting good grades and improving your education and your life.

That’s it for part 2 of our series on tips for adults going back to college. Stay tuned for part 3 of our series, and check out our other blog posts in the meantime!