Non Traditional Student Acceptance Rates & Admissions

Thirty years ago a high school diploma was all John Rivers needed to eventually rise to the level of foreman of a Midwestern steel mill. His hard work, dedication, and operational knowledge of the complex industrial process of steel manufacture were what allowed him to pull in yearly compensation well into the six figures. Today, he and many others sorely regret their decision not to add a college degree to their resume. Along with millions of other people above the 17 to 24 year old age range, John finds himself looking for a way to either add job security to an existing position or help to make himself more marketable. Finding themselves attending college for the first time, they go by the oblique term nontraditional students and are faced with a subset of issues unique to them.

A rarity just a decade or so ago, corporate America inadvertently helped to create the recent influx of non-traditional students. In a never-ending quest to constantly cut the fat and maximize profits, corporations are quick to initiate the next round of layoffs to anyone they perceive as dead weight. As a result, everyone is looking to add something valuable to their resume in the event they are let go. A college degree is often looked at as the jewel in the crown for most employee professional accomplishments. Especially in rapidly changing fields like technology or medicine, an employee is only relevant as long as their job skills are current and applicable. Older workers must keep up with new information, certifications, ideas, and methods to prevent being replaced by recent grads.

The economic collapse of 2008 displaced millions of workers, and people once secure in employment they assumed would last for a lifetime suddenly found themselves without a paycheck. While unemployment insurance provided a short-term cushion, companies continued to cutback and employment prospects looked bleak. Legions of idle professional and blue collar workers were faced with a harsh choice. They could continue to search for employment in the worst economy since the Great Depression, possibly in a field that no longer exists such as most factory work, or take attend college in the hopes that an added degree would open new doors for them to resume employment.

career questions Even in prosperous economic times, the average person changes not just jobs but careers six times during their lives. Making the transition into a different career field might require the prerequisite of a degree. Harvey Keefer found himself in this boat when his left knee continued to give him problems, curtailing his career as a plumber. Unable to crawl under the foundations of homes to fix leaky pipes or squat down to repair kitchen sinks, a less physically demanding job was required. Still other examples of non-traditional students include military veterans completing their years of service and housewives whose children are grown and moved out of the home.

With an incessant supply, non-traditional students are a fast growing segment of the student population that will continue to rise. They often face circumstances not seen by traditional students that universities must be aware of when admissions decisions are made. In the American spirit of allowing everyone an equal opportunity to gain an education so they can improve their lives, colleges must make greater efforts to include them in the campus community. The good news is that there are concrete steps that non-traditional students can take today to make their transition to campus easier.

The first issue that universities must be aware of is that since they are not part of the commonly perceived ‘fresh out of high school’ population, they may lack some of the requirements for admission traditional students possess. The average high school student comes equipped with fresh SAT or ACT scores, and a high school GPA. Along with letters of recommendation and a personal statement, this is often all that is required to gain entrance to the ivory tower.

A non-traditional student will have to contact their old high school from perhaps twenty years ago to have their transcript sent to a university. In some cases this issue can be complicated if the school has been shut down or if records are no longer intact due to catastrophe such as fire or flood. Admissions offices should be prepared to offer academic skills tests in situations like the above to determine if the prospect has what it takes to succeed in lieu of a high school transcript. Letters of recommendation about such a student’s academic skills may be impossible to attain since teachers will have more than likely since retired, or may have even died. In this situation, asking the admissions office if letters from employers or peers in professional organizations can substitute for high school teacher’s recommendations. Finally, personal study and a test-prep class may be necessary in order to earn a satisfactory SAT or ACT score.

frustrated studying A second major issue facing non-traditional students is lacking a base of academic study skills. Most grown adults do not remember what they learned in high school twenty years ago, while a seventeen year old has that information fresh in their mind. As a result, skills may be rusty or in some cases non-existent. Non-traditional students must essentially learn how to study all over again. This can be something as simple as relearning note-taking to taking refresher courses on algebra. Most colleges do not offer what they perceive to be remedial learning, reasoning that students should arrive on campus prepared for the academic workload that awaits. Non-traditional students should invest some time to brush up on academic material they have forgotten, relearn study skills, and ensure they are proficient with the modern technology found on college campuses.

Demographically, traditional college students are less likely to have family obligations due to their age and lack of income. As a result, there might be little understanding at the University level for the demands that a family can place upon someone going back to college. A student who has to stay up late with a sick child, coordinate daycare or sports schedules, and perform housework for their family is going to be less involved in campus life or student activities. Odds are good they will not be able to participate in group study sessions late at night in the library, or socialize with fellow students to make important future professional contacts. Let your fellow students know your situation, and they will admire you for balancing out school and family at the same time. Connect with them via Facebook and email to communicate regarding class assignments and build relationships.

While illegal and clearly unethical, age discrimination is an unfortunate yet subtle reality. Professors may have a hard time taking you seriously, thinking that you have yet to grow up and leave college. Fellow students might be reluctant to speak with you on the assumption that they will find little in common with someone old enough to be their parent. While there is little you can do about people’s perceptions outside of proving them wrong with your work ethic and life experience, you can make the choice to network with other non-traditional students. Odds are good that they are facing the same career dilemmas as you, and a golden opportunity may present itself for both parties to add value to each other. If your university does not have a support group for student parents or non-traditional students petition Student Government for a charter and funding to create one. Being the driving force responsible for founding a university-level organization is sure to spruce up any resume.

As economic, cultural, and demographic forces collide together on college campuses one of the only sure things is that non-traditional students will continue to make their presence felt. Colleges must meet this new breed of students half-way to make the transition a smooth one, and those seeking to attain a higher education after being out of the game for so long must be aware of the challenges that await them.

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Bryce Hall

After graduating with a degree in Communication Studies from San Jose State University, Bryce has worked in sales and marketing. With nearly a decade of business development expertise under his belt in the education industry, he now operates AcceptanceRate.com to help future students get reliable data in the palm of their hands easily and effectively.