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What distance education students
are saying about their classes... |
"I
have had the opportunity to take several distance education
classes and my experiences have been good ones. It has greatly
benefited me in that it eliminated the need to drive to Texarkana.
I currently hold a full-time and a part-time job, and I am a
mother so if I had to drive to Texarkana it would place an added
hardship on me. I hope that more classes will be offered in
the future, because I feel that these classes will make the
difference in a lot of students accomplishing or not accomplishing
their educational goals." - Northeast Texas Community College
student |
Going (back) to
school as an adult
Now may
be a good time for you to study something new or to fill gaps
in your education – by taking a few college courses or
going for a complete degree or certification. There are a lot
of reasons why people opt for online or ITV (interactive videoconferencing)
or telecourses– from saving money to saving time. A stay-at-home
parent can ‘go to school’ online or by watching
videotaped telecourses, which means they may never have to leave
the house, arrange daycare for children or elderly parents,
buy new “school clothes,” fill up the gas tank,
etc. You may also be able to get a course you want or need by
going to your local college and taking it via ITV, instead of
commuting several hours to a college that offers the course
you need. If you're thinking about going back to school, here
are some of the factors you need to evaluate: |
|
- Be clear about your ultimate goal.
Do extensive research in the field you want to study to ensure you
will enjoy the program and be able to find work
when you graduate.
- Check out the Hot
Careers in Texas on the Texas Workforce Commission's website.
Spend some time on this site – it’s worth it.
- Get your support network in place.
Include the key people in your life in your decision-making process
so that they will understand what you are doing and why.
- Put your finances in order. While
you may be able to obtain a student loan to cover some of your costs,
these funds will not be enough to support you and your entire family
while you go to school. Plan your budget carefully on paper and
consider how you will cover any shortfall.
- If going back to school full-time
is out of the question for you at present, investigate the many
excellent part-time programs available at NETnet colleges and universities.
Many of the programs that are offered on a full-time basis can also
be taken in the evening and online, without requiring you to give
up your full-time salary. One such program is Panola College's 'Degree
in Three.' This program consists of a rotating sequence of evening
and Internet courses offered over a three-year period. Students
taking 6 hours each semester will be able to graduate with an Associate
of Science degree in as little as three years.
- It takes a certain kind of student
to be able to take full advantage of distance learning - it is definitely
not for everyone. Take one or more of these short
quizzes to determine if it's right for you.
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Be
sure to check out the Adult Students: Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) page as well as the useful
links found on the Association for Non-Traditional Students in
Higher Education (ANTSHE) website.
Paying for school
Pursuing a certificate or degree via
distance education can cost just as much as traditional, on-campus
college courses, but it's money well spent. On average, people with
undergraduate and graduate degrees make more money than those who
do not have these credentials.
But as an adult college student,
how are you going to pay for school and support yourself (and perhaps
your family) at the same time? Most adult distance learning students
pay for their education by working full-time and attending school
part-time.
In addition, many students receive
some sort of financial aid to help cover the costs associated with
school. The Financial Aid
page explains the different kinds of aid available, and where to go
for more information, but here's a quick overview:
- Even if you're doubtful
that you'll qualify for financial aid, go ahead and apply.
Never assume you don't qualify for financial aid. Many adult students
believe they don't qualify and miss out on many sources of aid,
including grants and low interest loans that are offered regardless
of grade point average, financial need, or credit history. Most
federal and state aid programs don't have age limits, although some
scholarship programs might.
- Remember, for some forms of aid
all that is necessary is to demonstrate financial need
- and some of the most eligible students are adult single parents.
- Start applying for financial
aid as soon as possible; don't wait until you're accepted
at a particular school! Submit the FAFSA
(Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form as soon as possible
after January 1. You don't even have to wait until you complete
your tax return - just use estimates of income.
- Part-time students may
be available for financial aid (however, the amount awarded
depends upon the number of hours being taken.)
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Federal Financial
Aid
Most financial aid comes from the
federal government, which provides need-based aid in the form of grants,
work-study programs, and loans. Most of this type financial aid is
NOT based on any age requirements. Up-to-date information
about federal financial aid programs can be found at the U.S.
Department of Education's Web site, or by calling 1-800-4-FEDAID
(toll-free).
Are You Eligible for Federal
Financial Aid?
Your financial need is just one criterion
used to determine whether or not you are eligible to receive aid from
the federal government. In addition, you must
- have a high school
diploma or GED or pass a test approved by the Department of Education
- be enrolled in a degree or certificate
program
- be enrolled in an eligible institution
(see below)
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible
noncitizen
- have a Social Security number
- register with the Selective Service
(if required)
- maintain satisfactory academic
progress once you are in school
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Guides for Adult
Students
These guides are a great source of
information on finding ways to pay for college - they provide tools,
tips, cost calculators, and much more. These links will open in a
new window. To view links, please disable any pop-up killer applications
you're running.
Back
2 College Financial Aid
Back
to School: A Guide for Adults Returning to College
Paying
for College: A Financial Aid Guide for Adults Returning to School
College
is Possible
Strategies
for the Non-Traditional Student
eStudentLoan:
Adult Students
Guide
for the Nontraditional Student
Adult
Student's Guide to Survival and Success
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