Yes, I'm obsessed with this idea:
"I sleep on my feet..." - Nontraditional Student Balances Kids, Class (a story from the Red & Black about a 37-year-old mom/UGA undergrad student)
Older Students Attending Georgia's College (AJC story about, well, older students attending Georgia's colleges. A whopping 579 "non-traditional" students attended UGA last year...out of nearly 35,000)
By the way, I hate the term "non-traditional."
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9 comments:
That's undergraduate. That figure does not include grad students, which means it doesn't accurately capture who is really represented on campus.
And again, why does age matter? I will never understand what age has to do with earning a degree. Unless of course ones only interest in attending college is to enhance their same-age social life.
There were so many positive things to take from that article, most especially the definition of non traditional = driven, focused, accomplished, hard-working, etc., etc.
It's all about perspective ;)
Girl..... it's not like you're 80!
I just have this horrible image of me sitting in my tiny freshman English class (circa 1999)and being the "old person."
And while I'm not planning to go join a sorority or party with 18-year-olds, I do kind of have this great idea that there will be younger, single people there (late 20's/30's... grad students, etc.). That's something I currently lack in my life.
Sarah. Do you really think you look THAT different than people in their early 20s? Seriously?
And do you really think on a campus of 30,000 people that you're not going to have a social life because you're 45 years older? Seriously?
Surely you see how silly this sounds, no?
And is your social life living alone in Atlanta soooooo much better than it would be in Athens? Seems to me you'll have a much better chance expanding your life (on so many levels) getting back in school in a city that you love and around 30,000+ people that are of your same generation.
You're right. Yes, it sounds silly when you say it. Last time I was on campus (last spring?) I actually felt like I blended right in.
I'm pretty sure it's going to happen next year (unless I run across any fabulous professional opportunities in the meantime).
Awesome! Sarah, you're going to fit in seamlessly at UGA. I'm actually really excited for you!
When I went back for my Masters I was 27, and none of my friends were still living in Athens. I didn't know hardly anyone, but within weeks I was having the time of my life again. I met & made some great new friends, some younger some older. And I never once thought I didn't belong there.
As an added bonus, like so many people on a college campus, I met the love of my life while back in school. I'm wishing all of those great things for you :)
I hope you're right! Thanks for the encouragement! :-)
Non traditional simply means not a teenager right out of high school. I was a non traditional student from 2001-2005, earnIng two degrees in my forties. I went full yime days with the kids. It was an amazing experience for which I will forever be grateful!
Oh, I know, and I don't have a problem with going back to school, it's just going back to this particular school. UGA is a young person's school, or it has always been to me. I'll just have to see what happens in the next few months.
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