United States: 'Back to School' When
Much More than a Summer Has Passed: Helping
Adults Navigate the Complicated World
of College
College-bound American high school students
usually have some combination of parents,
teachers, guidance counselors, or peers
to support them in the arduous and nerve-wracking
process of applying to and beginning
college. Unfortunately, adults who want
to go to college—particularly adults
who have been out of school for a long
time—generally have no such support
system. "Adults have a much harder
time starting out in college because,
unlike traditional students, they have
adult obligations—raising children
and working full time—that often
conflict with the demands of school," says
World Education's Deepa Rao. "Also,
adults who have been out of school for
a long time may not be academically prepared
for college-level work. Some people have
little exposure to technologies like
e-mail and Internet research, which are
an increasing part of college communication
and courses. They may be unaware of available
resources, such as financial aid, tutoring
centers or mentoring programs, and may
be unfamiliar with terms such as 'bursar'
and 'prerequisite.' And if you don't
know where to begin or what to do once
you do get there, it's easy to get overwhelmed
and simply give up."
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Yalem
Yihdego, a proud mother of
three, balances family, work,
and school to earn her BS
degree in Environmental Science.
Yalem exemplifies the kind
of adult student who can
benefit from the "College
for Adults" website.
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The challenges that working adults face
going to college inspired Deepa to develop www.collegeforadults.org,
as part of World Education's National
College Transition Network, (www.collegetransition.org),
an online forum for technical assistance,
news, and helpful resources for educators,
policy makers, and others interested
in adult learning. The new website is
a counterpart to the NCTN, set up to
guide adults who are considering college
through the process of applying to and
succeeding in school.
The website is arranged like a college
campus, with 'buildings' representing
the sort of departments and classrooms
housed on a college campus. Each building
contains 'classes' that describe the
admissions process, where to look for
grants and scholarships, and lists resources,
both physical and virtual, where an out-of-practice
student can brush up on reading, writing,
and math. There are also lists of tips
and resources to help students navigate
college life. Another helpful aspect
of this interactive, multimedia site
is its audio capacity: all text can be
read to the visitor. This particular
feature is especially helpful for people
with visual impairment or learning disabilities.
The cycle of learning runs from cradle
to grave, and World Education works to
break down barriers to education for
people of all ages, all over the world.
If you or someone you know has always
dreamed of going to college, visit www.collegeforadults.org.
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