Columnists seeks to aid fellow Non-Trads new to MSU
Trina Morgan
Issue date: 12/7/09 Section: Opinion
What is a non-traditional student?
A non-trad is generally described as an individual who is older than the typical 18-23 year old in college, whose studies were interrupted earlier in life. They are usually independent of parents and responsible for the costs of going to college. They often have families and jobs, and almost always live off campus.
In the past, a mature person enrolling in college may have felt a bit out of place. Nowadays, the non-traditional student is now a common sight at most institutions of higher learning. About twenty percent of MSU students are non-trads. Every class, from freshman to graduate, includes students who are obviously (and maybe some not so obviously) older than the majority.
Non-traditional students face many challenges not shared by the recent high school graduate. First, they must manage tuition costs. For a single mother working part-time, it may simply be a matter of applying for financial aid. The Pell grant will cover most of MSU tuition and books for those with small incomes. For an adult who is already established in a career or job and who will continue to work full-time, the cost of going back to school may cause considerable financial strain. Student loans are an option, and many choose this route, expecting that the education they receive will provide a career with an additional future income to cover the debt.
Tuition costs aren't the only consideration. There is also the difficulty of fitting school into the schedule. Many older students have families as well as jobs, and adding classes to everything else can make it hard to fit in family time.
Non-trads do not have it easy. School is hard for everybody; add to it the other responsibilities most mature students have, and it's like working two full-time jobs-or more. Non-traditional students have the life experience to know that the more they put into something, the more they get out of it. They have made the decision to go back to school with clear goals in mind and a plan to achieve those goals. It's a difficult journey that will end with substantial
A non-trad is generally described as an individual who is older than the typical 18-23 year old in college, whose studies were interrupted earlier in life. They are usually independent of parents and responsible for the costs of going to college. They often have families and jobs, and almost always live off campus.
In the past, a mature person enrolling in college may have felt a bit out of place. Nowadays, the non-traditional student is now a common sight at most institutions of higher learning. About twenty percent of MSU students are non-trads. Every class, from freshman to graduate, includes students who are obviously (and maybe some not so obviously) older than the majority.
Non-traditional students face many challenges not shared by the recent high school graduate. First, they must manage tuition costs. For a single mother working part-time, it may simply be a matter of applying for financial aid. The Pell grant will cover most of MSU tuition and books for those with small incomes. For an adult who is already established in a career or job and who will continue to work full-time, the cost of going back to school may cause considerable financial strain. Student loans are an option, and many choose this route, expecting that the education they receive will provide a career with an additional future income to cover the debt.
Tuition costs aren't the only consideration. There is also the difficulty of fitting school into the schedule. Many older students have families as well as jobs, and adding classes to everything else can make it hard to fit in family time.
Non-trads do not have it easy. School is hard for everybody; add to it the other responsibilities most mature students have, and it's like working two full-time jobs-or more. Non-traditional students have the life experience to know that the more they put into something, the more they get out of it. They have made the decision to go back to school with clear goals in mind and a plan to achieve those goals. It's a difficult journey that will end with substantial
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