DegreeScout Blog

This is the last in a series of posts on how to return to school as a mature student. Read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, eighth and ninth tips here.

Our last tip for educational success is to stay one step ahead in your studies.

Feeling overwhelming or constantly behind will make your discouraged and unmotivated. On the other hand, feeling in control will be empowering and will help you maintain a standard of excellence.

So how do you feel in control, even in the face of a busy schedule and difficult classes?

1. Create routines. Set aside time each day for studying. Try to study the same place and time each day.
2. Keep your work area uncluttered. File papers and notes on a constant basis, and keep your desk clear so you can focus on the task at hand.
3. Make lists. Whenever you receive a new assignment or test date, write it down. Maintain a planner that you can consult anytime.
4. As soon as you learn of an assignment or test date, work backwards. Figure out what you need to do to complete the assignment or prepare for the test. Break down the assignment into small, manageable steps, and take one step each day.

Small, productive habits like these will help ensure that your assignments are completed on time and you are prepared to do well on quizzes and exams. In addition, chipping away at large assignments one bit at a time will help you avoid the need to cram or work for extremely long hours.

Choosing your university carefully will help put you on a productive, fulfilling path. With campuses in Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina, Montreat College’s School of Professional and Adult Studies provides quality adult education to North Carolina residents.  

This is the eighth in a series of posts regarding how to return to school as a mature student. Read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh tips here, and stay tuned for more tips!

This is the eight in a series of posts regarding how to return to school as a mature student. Read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh tips here, and stay tuned for more tips!

When you are going back to school, it’s easy to set realistic expectations for yourself. However, if you are taking difficult classes and have a hectic schedule, achieving perfection is impossible – and trying to achieve will perfection will only make you feel stressed and discouraged. Set aside the desire for perfection; instead, try to achieve excellence in your schoolwork, maintain balance in your life, and enjoy the journey.

Trying to achieve perfection can actually stifle your creativity and motivation. Many of us can recount a time in our lives when unrealistic expectations have paralyzed us – so why saddle yourself with unrealistic goals?

We recommend keeping your goals high but attainable. Meeting small goals as you go, and meeting your standards of performance, will keep you on a path of success and fulfillment.

One of the first steps in higher education success is choosing an appropriate school for you. With so many excellent adult education programs out there, it can be tough sifting through your options. With multiple campuses in Pennsylvania, Gwynedd Mercy College is a longtime provider of quality continuing education programs.

This is the sixth in a series of posts regarding how to return to school as a mature student. Read the first, second, third, fourth and fifth tips here, and stay tuned for more tips!

Experts recommend creating a productive routine as soon as possible as you begin your studies. This means studying in the same place at the same time each day, as well as getting in the habit of going over class notes while riding the bus, before you go to bed, or other times that can benefit you.

Creating a routine will help you keep on track with your studies and maintain a good pace. It will also help you set aside time and space for studying.

When putting aside space for studying, it helps to carve out a peaceful, quiet space for yourself – even if it’s just a small desk in the corner of a room. Tell your family that when you are in this space, you are concentrating and should be left alone as much as possible.

Have your study time be a peaceful time, for example after your children go to sleep each night. It’s important to be rested and undistracted when studying, writing papers or completing assignments. If you are stressed out or harried, you will get very little done.

At the beginning, feel free to experiment a little to see what works. Some people prefer to wake up early and study in the morning; others prefer lunchtime or evening study sessions. Find out what works for you, and stick with it.

This is the fifth in a series of posts regarding how to return to school as a mature student. Read the first, second, third and fourth tips here, and stay tuned for more tips!

If you’ve read a bit about adult education, you know that it’s important to write down your goals at the outset of your education. It’s important to take stock of what you want in life, what makes you happy, what goals you want to meet, and which educational path will put those goals in reach.

As you progress through your studies, though, it’s often valuable to revisit your goals. This self-examination will confirm that your current path is putting you closer to where you want to be, or help you realize that it’s time to revise your plan.

It’s easy to write down your goals, choose a major, and then go full-speed ahead without stepping back and examining your situation every so often. But a little introspection can answer the following questions:

• Are you happy in your major?
• Are you finding your studies challenging, but fulfilling?
• Are you continuing to look forward to your career after earning your degree, or have you realized that the career you were working toward might not be the best fit for you?

Some students have found success revisiting their goals each month or each semester. Choose a timeline that works for you, and write down each self-assessment session in your planner or calendar.

If you end up realizing that you hate your major or realized that your chosen career is a lot different than you initially thought, don’t be discouraged. College is not about finding a path and sticking to it — it’s about learning important truths about yourself, your strengths, your chosen path in life, and more. Enjoy the journey, and don’t forget to take stock every so often!

This is the fourth in a series of posts regarding how to return to school as a mature student. Read the first, second, and third tips, and stay tuned for more tips!

One of the goals of an education is to help you get to know yourself. Of course, it helps to know yourself to some degree when planning your education, so you have an idea of what courses you will enjoy, which you should avoid entirely, and which might be difficult but necessary for you to meet your career goals.

The third category of classes is important. Whether you want to go into law or interior design, there are going to be courses that you need to take in order to earn your degree — courses that you find dry, unappealing or just plain difficult.

When you pick a major, get a list of all the courses you need to earn your degree. Try to learn as much about each course you can, and plan your semesters accordingly.

A common trick is to save difficult courses for the summer terms.

Summer terms often feature accelerated, intensive formats. Taking a difficult class during the summer term will help you focus on the material, and the accelerated format will ensure that your pain doesn’t last any longer than it has to.

Taking difficult courses during the summer term will help you master the material while keeping your sanity.