6 Tips for Returning to Education Following a Break
Over the last few decades, society’s view on education has changed significantly. Traditionally, most people attended school and then went on to get a low-level manual job. Following this, university became much more accessible, which meant a wider demographic was attending. However, the typical path was completing school and then moving on to higher education. The landscape has shifted again over the last decade, with more people taking time away before returning as mature students, which can feel overwhelming.
Here are some tips that will help you along your journey if you plan on returning to education.
Explore Different Learning Styles
You need to discover which learning styles work best for you, otherwise, you’ll be at a disadvantage throughout the course. Perhaps you prefer to study in a cafe, in complete silence, at night, or even early morning. Spend some time deciding how you’re going to maximize your learning potential and then run with it. If that means voice recording your notes and listening to them while you cook tea, then so be it.
Allocate Time for Your Studies
Being a mature student, you most likely have other commitments including a family, hobbies, or even a job. Taking your current situation into account, you need to consider whether you’re going to study full/part-time or online/physically. Regardless of your preference, you should check out the courses at https://online.nmu.edu/, which is committed to providing quality education to the modern-day student.
Create a Plan of Action
The key to having a successful learning experience is preparation and planning. With a detailed plan in place, you’ll fully understand which steps to take next and when you can squeeze in the work. As well as this, having a roadmap in front of you will help when it comes to tracking progress, which will go towards boosting your motivation.
Ask for Help When Needed
Diving back into education as a mature student can feel a little daunting, isolating, and challenging. However, it’s essential to know that you’re never alone, and you should never be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling to meet deadlines because of external commitments, speak to your tutors to find out if you can have a reasonable extension – most universities will facilitate this if it’s sought out through the correct channels.
Study Alongside Family
If you’re returning to education and you have children in school, finding time to study may feel like mission impossible. However, you can use the opportunity to set a great example by scheduling time to study as an entire family. This way, you’re supporting your education and your children’s, which will help set them up with good habits for the future.
Keep Your Goals in Mind
Regardless of what age you attend university, motivation can soon leave you slipping behind, which is why you should find methods of keeping yourself motivated and moving forwards. A great way to do this is by keeping your ultimate goal in mind at all times.
Returning to education as a mature student can be invigorating, but there are bound to be obstacles along the way. To have the best experience, make sure you take these tips along for the ride.
