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Attending college is stressful enough at any age, however returning to college as an adult can be quite overwhelming if you are not prepared. I had attended college in my teens but like many I never took it serious and never completed the process. However, upon my return to college I did have a bit of an advantage over those adults who had never set foot on a college campus. That being said it would be many many years before I returned and college life now was a completely different and foreign place. I applied and returned to college at age forty-one after being a stay-at -home mom. I was certainly ill prepared and I wish that I had taken some adult ed or refresher courses before I entered a classroom. Since I had already attended college in my teens and was a fair student, I did not have to take all of the entrance or placement exams. I probably should have but they did not think I needed to. I did take a writing test that every student took and most failed, but I passed it on the first try.

When I think about the basics skills needed before I returned to college I still get quite upset. I now realize that I could have completed my education so much sooner had I been more prepared. Furthermore, I would suggest to any adult that has never been to college before to take some college prep courses or continuing adult education courses. This will allow you to reacquaint yourself with the classroom. In this way you will learn how to study again, write, prepare and take test.

Suffice to say on my first day of class my college professor asked "does everyone have a syllabus". I had no idea what a syllabus was. It is only a class outline of assignments to be done and testing schedules, but I still didn't know. I also had no idea how to use a computer or do research papers which one must do in just about every course no matter what your major is. Computer literacy and know how is a must, so taking a beginning computer class or knowing how to use a computer effectively before entering is essential. Nowadays much of your course work will be computer based and many college courses are taught online even if you are based on-campus.

It will also be advantageous if you take refresher writing courses because there will be tons of writing assigments. Essays, research papers, term papers and group writing assgnments to name a few. So honing your writing ability and skills is essential and a plus. Many professors do not take kindly to poor ineffective writing skills and they wont hesitate to let you and the class know.

Math literacy skills are also mandatory. I would strongly suggest that any adult contemplating returning to college should definitely take some math refresher courses. Especially if you have been out of school for many years. College algebra will be required in your first year. The sooner that you can regain some of those past math skills the better off you will be. This is a must because many of your other courses will require that you know college algebra, geometry or calculus in order to pass them. Courses like physical science, computer technology courses and many others. You must know how to perform math equations in order to perform or figure out scientific equations or perform a computer programming skill. Lastly, returning to college as a non-traditional student can be scary at first but it can also be rewarding in the end. It took some years for me to finish but I am now the proud recipient of an AA, BA, and MS degree.

Learn more about this author, M. F. Cunningham.
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