An adult student is a student generally over the age of 25. However, students as young as 22 who have life circumstances dissimilar to that of a traditional-age college student are often categorized as adult learners. (i.e. children, full-time employment, spouse, dependants etc…) Advising concerns are often unique.
Advisors can assist adult students in overcoming barriers to successful completion of a degree. It is sometimes assumed that adult students have a much clearer educational goal than the traditional-age student. While this is sometimes true, it is not always the case. Sometimes adult students opt to return to college for lack of options in their personal life. One of the biggest factors in advising adult students is dealing with multiple roles as well as with time constraints.
Adult students:
May find that college is not a top priority nor is it a full-time occupation.
May inquire:
Can I complete my entire degree in a timely fashion?
Can I take all my classes before 2 PM?
Will all of the classes I need be offered in the evening?
May want to know but may not inquire:
Will I be the oldest person in my class?
Will I be older than the faculty?
Will I feel out of place making friends in class?
Will I be employable when I complete my degree?
May need to brush up on essential study skills.
May have sense of urgency to finish degree and have less patience with general requirements.
May be experiencing opposition from family and friends.
More likely to be consumer-oriented as they are often paying the bill.
May bring "baggage" from past experience in an educational setting.
May set high standards and benchmark progress from peers in classroom and responses from faculty.
Advisor May Note:
Old placement scores may not adequately reflect current skill level.
Strengths and experiences that older students bring to campus.
Reason student is returning to college.
