Applying to college as an older student - Revision history

Riceissa: /* Alternatives within and to college */ typo?

2014-09-16T08:26:25Z

Alternatives within and to college: typo?

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:26, 16 September 2014
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	* Rather than directly applying to four-year colleges, consider going to a community college and then transferring to a four-year college from there.		* Rather than directly applying to four-year colleges, consider going to a community college and then transferring to a four-year college from there.
	* Consider applying to easier colleges within a state college system where the best colleges are good.		* Consider applying to easier colleges within a state college system where the best colleges are good.
	* Consider going to coding bootcamp or some other sort of trade school to learn relevant ~~schools~~ quickly and acquire the [[human capital]] without all the overhead of college.		* Consider going to a coding bootcamp or some other sort of trade school to learn relevant skills quickly and acquire the [[human capital]] without all the overhead of college.

	==See also==		==See also==

Vipul at 15:52, 25 April 2014

2014-04-25T15:52:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:52, 25 April 2014
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	==See also==		==See also==

			* [[College: deciding whether to go]]
	* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]		* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]
	* [[Applying to college with weak academic credentials]]		* [[Applying to college with weak academic credentials]]

Vipul: /* See also */

2014-04-25T14:39:03Z

Vipul: /* Activities to do to have more credentials */

2014-04-25T14:37:36Z

Activities to do to have more credentials

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:37, 25 April 2014
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	* Consider taking Advanced Placement tests. These tests can be taken only through a high school that offers Advanced Placement classes. However, some high schools allow you to take these tests without enrolling in their courses.		* Consider taking Advanced Placement tests. These tests can be taken only through a high school that offers Advanced Placement classes. However, some high schools allow you to take these tests without enrolling in their courses.
	* Consider [[sit in on classes\|sitting in on college classes]] and using the opportunity to interact with professors and students. This could give you potential sources for the additional recommendation that could explain your post-school gap.		* Consider [[sit in on classes\|sitting in on college classes]] and using the opportunity to interact with professors and students. This could give you potential sources for the additional recommendation that could explain your post-school gap.

			==Alternatives within and to college==

			* Rather than directly applying to four-year colleges, consider going to a community college and then transferring to a four-year college from there.
			* Consider applying to easier colleges within a state college system where the best colleges are good.
			* Consider going to coding bootcamp or some other sort of trade school to learn relevant schools quickly and acquire the [[human capital]] without all the overhead of college.

	==See also==		==See also==

	* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]		* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]

Vipul: /* Activities to do to have more credentials */

2014-04-25T14:35:42Z

Activities to do to have more credentials

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:35, 25 April 2014
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	===Activities to do to have more credentials===		===Activities to do to have more credentials===

			We do not have reliable sources that colleges take these credentials seriously, but they are worth considering. You should consider calling or contacting your college admissions offices or using other means (such as Quora or College Confidential) to evaluate the desirability and suitability of these credential-getting approaches.

	* Consider taking MOOCs with [[Coursera]] that offer certification.		* Consider taking MOOCs with [[Coursera]] that offer certification.

Vipul: /* How your situation differs */

2014-04-25T14:34:26Z

How your situation differs

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 25 April 2014
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	===How your situation differs===		===How your situation differs===

			See also the page [[school ethic versus work ethic]].

			Some ways your situation differs:

			* If you've already started earning money, and have got on a career track, going to college has greater immediate opportunity cost.
	* The very fact that you didn't go to college straight out of high school could be indicative of problems. The details depend on the ''reason'' you didn't go to college. If the constraints were purely financial or circumstantial, and the situation has changed since then, there is not much to worry about. On the other hand, if the constraints were based on behavioral problems or academic difficulties, you should consider whether things have changed since then.		* The very fact that you didn't go to college straight out of high school could be indicative of problems. The details depend on the ''reason'' you didn't go to college. If the constraints were purely financial or circumstantial, and the situation has changed since then, there is not much to worry about. On the other hand, if the constraints were based on behavioral problems or academic difficulties, you should consider whether things have changed since then.
	* You've spent several years not studying, so you may be more out of touch with [[good study habits]].		* You've spent several years not studying, so you may be more out of touch with [[good study habits]]. However, it's worth noting that many students don't develop these habits in high school, so you may not be at much of a relative
	* Since you are older and have a different profile and history compared to many of the other students in college, you will have a more difficult time connecting with other people.		* Since you are older and have a different profile and history compared to many of the other students in college, you will have a more difficult time connecting with other people.
	* Your greater age and maturity, and the fact that you are more likely to be paying your own way than relying on parents, could make you take the college experience more seriously than most students do, and therefore derive more value.		* Your greater age and maturity, and the fact that you are more likely to be paying your own way than relying on parents, could make you take the college experience more seriously than most students do, and therefore derive more value.
	* Your greater age may also make you less likely to accept the strictures of school. It's often been found that older people who return to college have trouble adjusting to the rigid behavioral norms of the classroom.		* Your greater age may also make you less likely to accept the strictures of school. It's often been found that older people who return to college have trouble adjusting to the rigid behavioral norms of the classroom.
	* If you've already started earning money, and have got on a career track, going to college has greater immediate opportunity cost.

	~~{{further\|[[~~school ~~ethic versus work ethic]]}}~~		On the last point, this quote is relevant:

			<blockquote>"Another interesting aspect of Lovell’s and Rosenbloom’s cases is that both involved students of “nontraditional age,” a little older than their peers. In my experience, older students have a greater tendency to get into trouble in college, in no small part because, having lived in the “real world,” they are far less prone to accept the patronizing, infantilizing, and unconstitutional behavior of college administrators. They know their rights and are willing to expose the violations enacted by the campus judiciary, unlike younger students who have never learned these valuable lessons in high school or college."

			Lukianoff, Greg (2012-10-23). Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate (Kindle Locations 2876-2880). Encounter Books. Kindle Edition.</blockquote>

	===How to determine if college is your cup of tea===		===How to determine if college is your cup of tea===

Vipul: /* See also */

2014-04-25T14:32:29Z

Vipul: /* How to determine if college is your cup of tea */

2014-04-25T14:32:02Z

How to determine if college is your cup of tea

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 25 April 2014
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	===How to determine if college is your cup of tea===		===How to determine if college is your cup of tea===

	The following approaches might help you determine if college is appropriate:		The following approaches might help you determine if college is appropriate. Note that some of these are valuable even for high school students on track for college. But most such students are already immersed in the academic experience and the decision to go to college doesn't have huge downsides or opportunity costs. As an older student, you have to make the college-going decision in a more considered manner. So the suggestions apply more to you.

	* Start by watching opencourseware videos such as [http://ocw.mit.edu MIT Open Course Ware] or [[Khan Academy]] (or some of our [[online mathematics learning resources]]). Can you sit through the entire video? Can you understand the basic material? Can you answer questions after watching a lecture?		* Start by watching opencourseware videos such as [http://ocw.mit.edu MIT Open Course Ware] or [[Khan Academy]] (or some of our [[online mathematics learning resources]]). Can you sit through the entire video? Can you understand the basic material? Can you answer questions after watching a lecture?
	* Consider signing up for massive online open courses such as those at [[Coursera]]. See how far you can push yourself to learn, and the extent to which you enjoy it as well as learn from it. Try to take a few courses with certification.		* Consider signing up for massive online open courses such as those at [[Coursera]]. See how far you can push yourself to learn, and the extent to which you enjoy it as well as learn from it. Try to take a few courses with certification.
	* Consider [[~~sit in on classes~~\|sitting in on college classes]] at a college in your geographical location. You may often be able to do so for free, and can use this to judge how well you would do in a college environment.		* Consider [[auditing courses\|sitting in on college classes]] at a college in your geographical location. You may often be able to do so for free, and can use this to judge how well you would do in a college environment.

	==Getting your application ready==		==Getting your application ready==

Vipul: /* Getting your application ready */

2014-04-25T14:30:55Z

Getting your application ready

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:30, 25 April 2014
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	* Consider taking Advanced Placement tests. These tests can be taken only through a high school that offers Advanced Placement classes. However, some high schools allow you to take these tests without enrolling in their courses.		* Consider taking Advanced Placement tests. These tests can be taken only through a high school that offers Advanced Placement classes. However, some high schools allow you to take these tests without enrolling in their courses.
	* Consider [[sit in on classes\|sitting in on college classes]] and using the opportunity to interact with professors and students. This could give you potential sources for the additional recommendation that could explain your post-school gap.		* Consider [[sit in on classes\|sitting in on college classes]] and using the opportunity to interact with professors and students. This could give you potential sources for the additional recommendation that could explain your post-school gap.

			==See also==

			* [[Taking a gap year after high school]]

Jsinick: /* How your situation differs */

2014-04-25T04:16:32Z

How your situation differs

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:16, 25 April 2014
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	* The very fact that you didn't go to college straight out of high school could be indicative of problems. The details depend on the ''reason'' you didn't go to college. If the constraints were purely financial or circumstantial, and the situation has changed since then, there is not much to worry about. On the other hand, if the constraints were based on behavioral problems or academic difficulties, you should consider whether things have changed since then.		* The very fact that you didn't go to college straight out of high school could be indicative of problems. The details depend on the ''reason'' you didn't go to college. If the constraints were purely financial or circumstantial, and the situation has changed since then, there is not much to worry about. On the other hand, if the constraints were based on behavioral problems or academic difficulties, you should consider whether things have changed since then.
	* You've spent several years not studying, so you may be more out of touch with [[good study habits]].		* You've spent several years not studying, so you may be more out of touch with [[good study habits]].
	* Since you are older and have a different profile and history compared to many of the other students in college, you will have a difficult time connecting with other people.		* Since you are older and have a different profile and history compared to many of the other students in college, you will have a more difficult time connecting with other people.
	* Your greater age and maturity, and the fact that you are more likely to be paying your own way than relying on parents, could make you take the college experience more seriously than most students do, and therefore derive more value.		* Your greater age and maturity, and the fact that you are more likely to be paying your own way than relying on parents, could make you take the college experience more seriously than most students do, and therefore derive more value.
	* Your greater age may also make you less likely to accept the strictures of school. It's often been found that older people who return to college have trouble adjusting to the rigid behavioral norms of the classroom.		* Your greater age may also make you less likely to accept the strictures of school. It's often been found that older people who return to college have trouble adjusting to the rigid behavioral norms of the classroom.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 25 April 2014
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	* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]		* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]
			* [[Applying to college with weak academic credentials]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 25 April 2014
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	==See also==		==See also==

	* [[Taking a gap year ~~after~~ high school]]		* [[Taking a gap year between high school and college]]