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Getting Down to Basics
If you have no college experience, it can be hard to know where
to start. And the longer you've been out of school, the harder it
is. Not only must you consider where you want to study and what
you want to study, but you'll also probably be asking yourself if
you can really do it.
Here are a few suggestions that may make it easier to get
started:
Consider your education a lifelong process. The decision to
return marks the next phase of your education – it's not your
only chance, simply one of many. You're building a foundation,
not the whole house. Even once the house is built, someday you'll
still want to renovate and redecorate.
Start slowly. In those years away from a classroom, you've
learned how to cope with much in your life. But you may not have
learned how to learn, and will most likely find your study skills
very rusty. Instead of jumping right into a subject, your first
priority on returning to school is to learn how to cope with your
new environment. Some of your effort must be reserved for
developing good study habits that will serve you throughout your
education. This will pay off not only in better grades, but also
in increased confidence. If you take on too much at once, you set
yourself up for frustration and possible failure.
Get involved. Take responsibility for your own success. Talk to
your teachers. Talk to other students. Talk to counselors. You
may be surprised at how much help you'll get just by speaking up.
Get the basics done first. Take those required courses right
away. It's tempting to put off that math, biology or philosophy
course in favor of the history of rock & roll. But you'll have to
take them eventually. They will help you discover your interests
if you're undecided about what you want to do. And they will help
you more easily transition into further studies in just about
anything, anywhere.
If you're still undecided about where you want to go, and if
you're unsure about your ability to get through college, consider
a community college. These 2-year colleges often provide the
ideal environment to accomplish all of the above points. They
tend to be more accessible, more flexible and less intimidating
than many 4-year colleges. They're often geared to serve working
students. You can get a strong general educational foundation,
and gain a sense of accomplishment when you earn your associate's
degree. Above all, the confidence you gain will carry you through
a lifetime of study.
10/23/01
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