Non Traditional Students

I am a non-traditional student. I began my college matriculation 15 years after receiving my high school diploma. I started my family before focusing on my education and career. I have been fortunate within that 15 year gap to be a stay-at-home mother. When my youngest son began kindergarten, I began college classes. This reversal of traditional education and family construction has given me a unique perspective on life.

The term “non-traditional” has been coined to describe and categorize students from non-traditional backgrounds. Non-traditional student diversity may include “age, color, ethnicity, gender, national origin, physical, mental and emotional ability, race, religion, language, sexual orientation and socio-economic status” (Taylor and House 46). From the age perspective, non-traditional students exceed the normal age range of college students. The normal age range for students attending higher education institutions is 18-24 years of age. “The rise of non-traditional-age students – that is, students who are either coming to college or retuning to it” has been increasing for the past several decades (Lang 188).

With today’s changing world and the economy the way it is, it is not uncommon for people of all ages to enter the college setting. In fact, two-thirds of students entering the college setting are classified non-traditional (Brown, 2007). Bill (2003) found that there was an 11% increase of non-traditional student enrollment from 1991-1998 displaying 35% in 91 and 46% in 1998. These numbers have since increased according to Jacobson & Harris (2008) showing that half to 75% of undergraduates consist of the non-traditional student sitting the reasons for reentering the college setting to be economic. What exactly defines a non-traditional student and what services may they need in comparison to the traditional student.

A non-traditional student is defined as a student that has one or more of the following qualities: delayed enrollment after high school, full-time employment, part-time college attendance, financial independence, and/or does not have a high school diploma (Cox 7). The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) estimated in a 1999 report that almost 75 percent of all undergraduates possessed one or more nontraditional characteristics. However, according to the 2012 studies of research studies in higher education, just 17 percent of college students are considered traditional (Harpe and Kaniuka 250). With the overwhelming amount of non-traditional undergraduates in America comes three major challenges: institutional, situational, and dispositional.

Having a college education is an important tool that contributes to several aspects of a person’s life. The areas that are impacted the most would be the professional and personal areas. It is important to learn the value of a college education in order to take advantage of what you learn and how to productively apply it in your personal and professional life. Having a college education is something that can always be looked at as a positive achievement that feels good and looks good on a resume. Earning a college degree

Being a non-traditional student, I have the opportunity to attend school while also pursuing a career in Information Technology (IT). Within the field of IT there are many avenues to explore ethics depending on the type of business that is being supported, or what the technical specialty may be. For instance, if the business operates in a medical environment that treats patients, there are privacy concerns, and ethical standards that must be followed. The same can be said for the financial community, and education. While the breadth of Information Technology and the available specializations are vast, perhaps even more impressive are the amount of trust and ethical burden placed on the Information Technology professional.

Being a non-traditional student I have the opportunity to attend school while also pursuing a career in Information Technology (IT). Within the field of IT there are many avenues to explore ethics depending on the type of business that is being supported, or what the technical speciality may be. For instance, if the business operates in medical environment that treats patients, there are privacy concerns, and ethical standards that must be followed. The same can be said for the financial community, and education. While the breadth of Information Technology and the available specializations are vast, perhaps even more impressive is the amount of trust and ethical burden placed on the Information Technology professional.

Finding out early which type of student you are will help you out in the long run. Traditional students tend to be more productive in school when it comes to doing work and actual attendance. They keep up on homework better and have less distractions, so they also tend to have a higher graduation rate then none traditional students. Additional students will have a higher stress rate from school induce stress than a nontraditional student. "However, the traditional students reported actually attending class more often, as well as worrying about school performance more often".(HENLEY, January 1998). Nontraditional students on the other hand tend to be affected less by school induced stressed and more by their problems outside of school. For example

What differences, if any, are there in learning strategies of the students who attend a traditional or non-trational campus?

Intense, Stressful and Overwhelming that’s where the story which begins your college career. “ 25 Strategies and Tips to Help you Survive and Thrive Your Freshmen Year and Beyond “ (Dr. Randall S Hansen) who is the founder of Quintessential Careers and one of the most oldest comprehensive careers, we care about Dr. Randall because he gives us advice to have success in beginning your college career, like listing steps like finding the ideal place for you to study at, don’t procrastinate to the last minute and keeping healthy by eating right. Next the fun about college is to enjoy the experience, learning to meet new people and to ‘study hard so he or she could play hard” each semester. Some reasons College will be intense, stressful and overwhelming

         I sympathize with everyone who leads a hectic, fast paced life. I understand why there never seems to be enough time to do the necessary things, let alone the things on the "to do someday" list. However, if I, a single mother who works and goes to school full time, can find a

A non-traditional student, as defined by the Buffalo State College 1999-2000 Catalog is a person who waits one full year to attend college after graduating high school or one that decides to attend college after his or her twenty-third birthday. Statistics show that the majority of non-traditional students are employed. Many have children to look after. Many non-traditional students have jobs that would normally interfere with

Peterson (1975) suggested that those students involved in activities on campus “are better off financially, educationally and in other ways to begin with. Then, largely because of their greater involvement in various educational and developmental activities, they make significantly greater gains, particularly in non-academic personal development” (p2).

Extracurricular activities have helped develop a person 's health socially. With several jobs and everyday activities require some form of being able to socialize with other people. "Moreover, they learn sharing and caring, all at once" (Reddy). At a young age, we encourage children to share and care about other children and people. The extracurricular activities are helping older students, who didn 't learn that as a child, to share and create a bond between people. "If students are not actively involved in extracurricular programs, they are not in a position to take advantage of the educational and social benefits those programs have to offer" (Vinoski). Without extracurricular activities, students are forced to socialize with their peers at school or at work and those may not be the best relationships. Those relationships can either affect a person 's attitude and social behavior in a positive or negative way. Extracurricular activities provide the

Last August, as a high school senior, I made a big transition in my life. Not only did I pack up my things and move to another city, I moved with the intention of acquiring higher education. I made the next step in my life by beginning college. High school life as I knew it was over, and my life would be new and different upon my arrival at school. My room, schedule, motivation, school life, money availability and parental influence has changed greatly.