Douglas Olsen
Returning to university as an older student has its challenges and advantages. While some universities are actively recruiting older students, others are not providing the necessary support to help them succeed. Older students bring unique perspectives and experiences to the classroom, enhancing diversity in college admissions. They tend to be more focused and motivated due to their maturity and life experiences. However, they may struggle with feeling like outsiders and balancing their studies with work and family commitments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stereotype of college students | young adults who have just graduated high school |
| Colleges' response to enrollment growth among older students | Lack of targeted support and strategies |
| Adult students' experience | May not conform to the traditional product |
| Adult students' feelings | Outsider, intimidation, nervousness, uncertainty |
| Adult students' advantages | Real-world experience, unique perspectives, focus, maturity, motivation, clear goals, strong time-management skills |
| Adult students' challenges | Transitioning to a classroom environment, balancing work, family, and school |
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What You'll Learn
Older students are often more focused and motivated
While universities are increasingly recruiting older students, these students often face challenges and feel like outsiders. However, older students bring a unique set of advantages to the classroom. With their real-world experience, they can provide diverse perspectives that enrich the learning experience for everyone. They also tend to be more focused and motivated due to their maturity and clearer goals.
Older students, often referred to as adult learners or nontraditional students, make up a significant portion of the student population. According to the Lumina Foundation, 37% of college students are 25 or older. This trend is expected to continue, with the number of 18- to 24-year-olds projected to remain flat through at least 2035, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Adult learners often have different needs and commitments, such as balancing work and family, which can make them feel like outsiders in a traditional college setting. However, their life experiences and responsibilities contribute to their focus and motivation in the classroom. Unlike younger students who are still exploring career options, older students usually have a clear goal, such as career advancement or transitioning to a new field. This clarity helps them make the most of their education and stay motivated despite their busy lives.
The maturity that comes with age also contributes to the focus and motivation of older students. They often possess strong time management skills and are able to maintain a clear head in the face of challenges. Their life experiences can provide them with a practical perspective, enhancing their educational journey and that of their peers.
Overall, while older students may face challenges in the college environment, their presence benefits both themselves and their younger classmates. Their real-world experience, maturity, and focus contribute to a diverse and enriching learning environment.
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They bring valuable life experience and unique perspectives
While older students may face challenges when returning to education, they also bring valuable life experience and unique perspectives to their studies. This life experience can help older students to excel in a university setting. They are often more focused and motivated than their younger peers, who may still be figuring out their career paths. Older students are more likely to have clear goals and strong time management skills, and they can bring practical perspectives to class discussions, leading to a more engaged and focused approach to their education.
The real-world experience of older students can greatly enhance their understanding of course material. For example, they may have already worked on similar projects in their working life, or for particular employers, giving them an advantage over students who have never worked before. This experience can also help them to stay organised and on task, and their unique perspectives can add depth to class discussions and group projects. The diversity of thought that older students bring can enrich the learning experience for their classmates, too.
Older students are also more likely to appreciate their education, as they are often there because they want to be, rather than because they feel pressured to by teachers, parents, or peers. This can lead to a strong work ethic and high levels of achievement. They may also find it easier to bond with their professors and tutors, as they are able to talk about various concepts in both theory and practice and relate the teaching to their working life.
Overall, while there may be challenges for older students returning to education, the life experience and unique perspectives that they bring can be a valuable asset to both their own studies and the learning environment as a whole.
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They may struggle to fit in with traditional students
Older students, also known as adult learners or non-traditional students, often struggle to fit in with traditional students in universities. This is due to the differences in life experiences, goals, and perspectives between older and younger students. While traditional students are mostly young adults who have recently graduated from high school, older students are often working professionals or individuals with families who are returning to education for specific reasons, such as career advancement or personal enrichment.
Older students may feel like outsiders and struggle to relate to their younger peers, especially if they are balancing work, family, and school commitments. They may also have different needs and expectations from their university experience, such as flexible scheduling and targeted support to accommodate their busy lives. Universities that recruit older students should provide evening classes, blended learning options, and rolling term starts to better serve this population.
The sense of not belonging can be strong for older students, and they may need to make a conscious effort to blend in and find common ground with traditional students. However, their real-world experience, maturity, and motivation can also be advantageous in the classroom. Older students often have clearer goals, strong time management skills, and the ability to bring practical perspectives to class discussions, enriching the learning experience for themselves and their younger peers.
While older students may initially feel intimidated or nervous about returning to academic life, many find that their maturity and life experience become assets in the university environment. They may find it easier to bond with professors and tutors, discussing concepts in both theory and practice, and relating them to their working lives. Additionally, universities often offer discounted or free tuition for older students, making higher education more accessible and affordable for this demographic.
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Universities often fail to provide adequate support
While universities are increasingly recruiting older students, they often fail to provide adequate support for them. This is despite the fact that most enrolment growth is projected to be among older students, who are also referred to as adult learners or non-traditional students.
Older students face unique challenges when returning to education, and universities should offer targeted support to help them succeed. For example, many older students have family and work commitments, so universities should provide flexible scheduling, such as evening and weekend classes or asynchronous online classes. However, universities generally do not respond with these kinds of strategies, instead offering the same programs and services to older students as they do to traditional students. This sends the message that older students are expected to conform to the traditional product and buy the same product as traditional-age students.
In addition to providing flexible scheduling options, universities can support older students in other ways. For instance, they can offer discounted or free tuition, as well as mature student loans, funding, or tax exemptions. They can also provide academic advising, transfer or graduate admissions counselling, and test prep and tutoring services.
Furthermore, older students may benefit from support in transitioning to a classroom environment, such as help with technology, and advice on time management and adjusting to the academic life.
Overall, while universities are recognising the importance of older students as a growing market, they need to do more to provide adequate support and services that meet the unique needs of this student population.
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Mature students can access better jobs while studying
While it is challenging for students to juggle work and studies, many students take on part-time jobs while at university. This is often a necessity, as student loans may not cover living costs. Part-time work can provide financial freedom, and also help students develop valuable skills that will be useful for their future careers.
Mature students, in particular, may need to work while studying, as they may have family and work commitments alongside their studies. In fact, many older students are working full-time while studying. For example, the average age of students at Portland State University is 27, and many of them are military veterans, parents, and people who work full-time.
Despite the challenges, mature students have many advantages when it comes to employment. They are often more motivated and focused due to their life experience, and tend to have clearer goals. This increased maturity and life experience are valued by employers, and mature graduates tend to have better job prospects and higher earning power than their younger classmates. A study of official Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) data found that mature graduates of undergraduate degrees earn, on average, 25% more than those graduating under the age of 25. While the average starting salary for graduates under 25 is £20,009, older graduates typically start work earning £24,529.
Mature students can also access better jobs while studying, as they have likely already gained work experience before starting their degrees. This means that they can network and make industry connections more easily, and may be able to find jobs that are more relevant to their degree or desired career.
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Frequently asked questions
No, universities do accept older students. In fact, a growing number of college students are older, and they are known as adult learners or nontraditional students. According to the Lumina Foundation, 37% of college students are 25 or older.
There are many advantages to going to university as an older student. For example, older students tend to have clearer goals, strong time management skills, and can bring practical perspectives to class discussions. They also have real-world experience, which can help them to stay organised and on task.
Older students often have to balance work, family, and school, which can be daunting. They may also feel like outsiders and worry about fitting in with younger students.
Yes, some universities are better suited to older students than others. For example, Portland State University in the US has an average student age of 27 and offers targeted support for older students, including evening classes and rolling term starts.
Some colleges and universities offer discounted or free tuition for older students, as well as mature student loans and funding.
