{"id":55601,"date":"2023-03-20T09:09:32","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T14:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/?post_type=advice&p=55601"},"modified":"2023-04-06T15:27:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T20:27:42","slug":"6-common-myths-about-going-back-to-school-as-adult","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/6-common-myths-about-going-back-to-school-as-adult\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Common Myths About Going Back to School as an Adult"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have thought about returning to college or university to finish your education as an adult, you might have heard a few statements about adult education that gave you pause. There are plenty of myths and misconceptions that exist surrounding the idea of finishing college in your late 20s, 30s, or beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, if you read on, you\u2019ll likely find that many of the claims you\u2019ve heard have only a fraction of truth to them (or they\u2019re completely false).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us cover six of the most common myths associated with returning to school as an adult learner. After reading this article, we hope that you\u2019re equipped with the facts you need to help you make an informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. My previous credits won\u2019t count toward my degree.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most colleges have their own policies set up when it comes to which past credits they will and won\u2019t accept, so exploring your options is definitely worth the effort. \u201dMost universities are looking for transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions with a C or better,\u201d said Ryan Thibodeau, Director of Transfer and Adult Admission at Viterbo University<\/a>. If you\u2019re planning to go back to college as an adult learner, take time to meet with an advisor or counselor and go over your past transcripts with them. You\u2019ll be able to determine which credits are transferable<\/a>, and which aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time, you\u2019ll find that general education credits are the easiest to transfer to your new college program. At the very least, transferring these credits will save you time and allow you to bypass having to repeat general education coursework. \u201cMost people don\u2019t realize how much time and money they can save by transferring in credits,\u201d says Andy Atzert, dean of Adelphi University<\/a>\u2019s College of Professional and Continuing Studies. \u201cStudents entering our programs can transfer up to 90 credits and up to sixty of those credits can be awarded for life experience or education obtained outside of college, like in the military or through employers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. I can\u2019t get financial aid as an adult student.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A person\u2019s age does not bar them from receiving financial aid<\/a>, so if you\u2019re putting off going back to college under the assumption that you\u2019ll have to pay for your program alone, you might want to reconsider. Fill out the FAFSA forms on the official FAFSA website<\/a>, and once you\u2019re done, you\u2019ll be presented with financial aid options that apply to your situation. Some students, regardless of age, qualify for the Pell Grant<\/a>, scholarships, work-study programs, or other financial options to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you have previously received financial aid or taken out a student loan in the past, you may have financial aid options available to you. \u201cFinancial aid can be very confusing so a student may not know all of the options available to them,\u201d says Atzert, \u201cwhich is why we have dedicated counselors to help students through the process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. I\u2019ll have to retake the SAT or ACT.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many colleges don\u2019t require students to present standardized test scores when they\u2019re over 25. In fact, some community colleges don\u2019t require standardized tests for attendance regardless of a student\u2019s age. \u201cAt Viterbo University, we are test optional and many institutions have followed this trend. As an adult student, we only require all past college transcripts\u201d said Ryan Thibodeau. The same can be said for Adelphi University; none of the programs require standardized tests because \u201cadult learners can better demonstrate their aptitude for college study through prior learning and their employment history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the institution or the scholarship you\u2019ve applied for does require SAT or ACT scores, the record that shows you\u2019ve taken these tests doesn\u2019t disappear just because you tested several years ago. A copy of your scores can be forwarded to the required parties, but they might be less valid than new scores if more than five years have passed. Luckily, however, schools like Morehead State University<\/a> do not require the ACT or SAT score for students to enroll. Instead, student credentials such as high school or college transcripts are used to evaluate admission and place students into appropriate courses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore your options to determine which schools do and don\u2019t require current test scores. You may even find that this requirement no longer exists for many reputable institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. I don\u2019t have time for school on top of my work and family obligations.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it certainly won\u2019t be easy to complete a college program as a non-traditional student, people from all walks of life can make time for college<\/a>. Some programs allow students to attend classes part-time, online, or on an evening schedule for added convenience. Working with a school that is willing to accommodate your busy schedule is the best approach for students who have jobs and families to consider. \u201cIt\u2019s important for students to be able to resume their daily lives while earning a degree. Our programs are specifically designed to accommodate the demands of full-time working adults,\u201d says Adelphi University\u2019s Atzert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might also want to look into work-study options, which allow students to earn credits while at work. While you won\u2019t be able to complete an entire degree program this way, work-study options can most definitely help you reduce the number of hours you\u2019ll need to spend in class, reading textbooks, and taking tests.Many universities also offer an expansive support system for its students, particularly adult learners who are continuing their education. Frequently, nontraditional students are discouraged by the prospect of additional work and other miscellaneous commitments required by higher education. Oftentimes, they will find online coursework more convenient. Online programs like those at the University of the Incarnate Word<\/a>\u2019s School of Professional Studies offer free textbooks, accessible instructors, free tutoring, and readily available academic advising, which can also eliminate some sources of stress and allow adult students to focus on their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. An online degree is not as valuable.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, an online degree<\/a> is just as valuable as a traditional degree. In fact, unless the words \u201cvirtual\u201d or \u201conline\u201d are listed in your college\u2019s title, or you explicitly state that you earned your degree online, most managers and hiring professionals won\u2019t notice. If your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 declares that you have earned a college degree, that\u2019s usually all they need to know. After all, if you attended classes, took tests, and passed with decent grades, you\u2019ve accomplished everything that traditional college students do. Andy Atzert from Adelphi agrees. \u201cMost employers no longer make a distinction because they\u2019ve learned that online programs are usually just as rigorous as classroom-based courses \u2013 and ours certainly are,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, unless your employer or the hiring manager you\u2019re speaking to asks whether your degree was earned online or in person, you\u2019re not obligated to divulge this information. Providing details about the classes you attended, subjects you covered, and skills you developed during your program should suffice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. I have enough work experience, so I don\u2019t need a degree.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In some situations, this can be true. For others, the absence of a college degree might interfere with progressing at work no matter how many years of experience a person has. In fact, certain positions and titles legally require a degree. For example, if you\u2019re looking to progress from a teacher\u2019s aide position to a teacher\u2019s position, you\u2019re going to need a degree in most public and private school settings. \u201cLabor statistics tell us that having a degree leads to increased incomes and can increase a person’s work ceiling. Over a lifetime these really add up. Also as a benefit, most universities, including Viterbo, will take your work experience into consideration and offer work experience credits that count toward a degree.\u201d Ryan Thibodeau added it\u2019s a \u201cWin Win situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that, just because your current job doesn\u2019t require a degree, that doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t need one in order to move to another company. Let\u2019s look at medical billing and coding specialists: while some companies will hire these staff members if they have experience and no degree, many other companies prefer to hire (or even require) candidates to have a two-year degree and state certification. Atzert recommends that people survey job postings for jobs at companies they may aspire to work for in the future. \u201cAvoid the media hype,\u201d he advises, \u201cand learn for yourself what credentials are actually required for your desired career. It may or may not mean getting a degree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s unfortunate that many aspiring adult learners avoid pursuing their educational goals due to misleading information they\u2019ve received. Plenty of adults return to college later in life, and because of the diverse needs of these students, numerous college programs have become more flexible in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Living life in the real world, I learned that you can’t go far without a college degree,” says Daryl Parker, a non-traditional student at Morehead State University. “Being a first-generation student, I wanted to lead by example, not just for my family, but for others that look like me.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to go back to college to earn a degree, visit Abound<\/a>. Our website hosts a wealth of information geared toward adults who want to attend college. We offer advice, recommend adult-friendly colleges, list available programs, and much more. Abound is here to help you find the right fit for your educational needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you have thought about returning to college or university to finish your education as an adult, you might have heard a few statements about adult education that gave you pause. There are plenty of myths and misconceptions that exist surrounding the idea of finishing college in your late 20s, 30s, or beyond. Fortunately, if […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":55602,"template":"","class_list":["post-55601","advice","type-advice","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Common Myths About Going Back to School as an Adult - Abound: Finish College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are these common misconceptions holding you back from finishing your degree? 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