College Dropout Going Back To School-Starting Your Second Chance At College

From financial issues to family matters, there are a large number of reasons as to why students drop out from their college programs. This has become an increasing concern, as so many professions require academic qualifications, it has become more necessary than ever to earn a college degree. If you happen to be a college dropout going back to school for this very reason, you may be overwhelmed by the challenge ahead. Fear not, however, as this is a guide to help you succeed in your second chance at college.

Why Do College Students Drop Out of School?

There’s many reasons why a student may drop out of college.

Normally, college is about more than just grades — there are parties, sports, and other social aspects to juggle. College tuition is also expensive, meaning that you may find yourself needing to work at the same time in order to pay for your college tuition.

Sometimes, the combination of working and studying proves too stressful for students, while the time commitments prove to be too demanding. This is one of the main reasons why students leave college. Some students may also have family responsibilities to attend to that force them to put their studies aside.

Why Do Students Go Back to School?

By deciding to complete their college degree, students have the opportunity to gain more specialized knowledge in their field, thus providing an advantage over peers when applying for jobs.

It can also result in being eligible to a higher salary than before, and might even be a requirement should one decide to change career paths.

Even if they decide to remain in their current job, a college degree can be incredibly valuable. It can increase an employee’s value in the eyes of their employer, which could increase job security. It could also simply improve confidence and self-esteem, as the more knowledge you have in your line of work, the more sure of yourself you will be when making important decisions.

Who is a Re-Entry Student?

A re-entry student is someone who previously attended college, but did not complete their college degree the first time around. They have since decided to re-enroll in college in order to complete their studies.

While some colleges view a re-entry student as someone who has not been a full-time student in five years, others view re-entry students as those who took a year-long break from college.

Typically, re-entry students are expected to be 25 years of age or older. The definition of a re-entry student varies by college. Some view them as students who previously attended a community college and are now looking to attend a four-year university, while others view them as adults who decided to pursue a college degree in order to increase their job opportunities.

If you’re interested in becoming a re-entry student and going back to college, here are some useful tips.

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Advice to Follow if You are a College Dropout Going Back To School

1. Is This Program Right for You?

Firstly, you should have a clear goal in mind that serves as a reason for returning to school. You may be looking to change professions, or perhaps earn a higher salary in your current field. Another reason could be that you are looking to get a promotion in your current place of work, and a college degree will help you stand out from the rest of the candidates being considered.

Once you have determined a clear reason for going back to school, you’ll need to know what type of qualification it will be necessary to pursue. Some professions require a college degree, whereas others may require vocational training. Speak to a college admissions advisor if you are unsure about whether your chosen degree will help you reach your goal.

2. Identify Challenges or Concerns

Before starting the application process, it is important to first determine why you dropped out of college in the first place. Do these reasons still stand in the way of you completing your studies, or have you moved past them?

If you did not enjoy your degree the first time around, your feelings may not change during your second attempt. If your reason for dropping out was circumstantial, however, such as personal or family issues you were dealing with at the time or perhaps immaturity, then maybe you are better suited to face college now as a more mature adult who has overcome their past problems.

Finally, if your life has not changed enough to allow you to continue your studies, then think of the ways in which you can actively change your life in order to make time for college. Examples could include sending your children to daycare, or living in a university residence to eliminate transport problems.

3. Is College Compatible With Your Current Life Circumstances?

Once you have determined the reason behind dropping out, think about whether you have the time on your hands to balance work, family and college.

Do you have children to look after, or perhaps aging parents in need of assistance? If this is the case, you may find yourself debating between taking full-time and part-time classes, which take longer to complete but will allow you more time to care for your family. You will also need to consider your current job, and whether it allows you enough time to devote to your studies. Think about if you have transport available in order to travel to college, and if you are financially able to pay for your studies.

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If you do find yourself short on time and unable to travel, then consider looking at online universities, such as University of the People, that allow you to study on your computer from the comfort of your own home or anywhere in the world with internet connection. Another important benefit of the University of the People is that we are a tuition-free university, which allows our students to pursue a college degree without such a high financial cost.

By studying through an institution such as University of the People, you will be able to eliminate transport, financial and time constraints, thereby allowing you to pursue your studies with minimal hassle.

4. Navigating the Admissions Process

It is important to consider what universities to apply to. You may find it appropriate to return to your previous school, particularly if it was a good fit. Your previous school may also allow you to re-enroll without requiring you to go through the entire application process again.

It is important to check if you have any college credits from your previous classes, or if your work experience makes you eligible to earn some college credits. Whether these college credits will apply to your selected degree may depend on relevance to the degree, recency, and whether or not they come from an accredited school. Be sure to prepare a copy of your college transcript as this may be necessary to present in order for you to be awarded credits.

The next step is to find out the application requirements for your selected degree. These may include your previous college transcript, your academic record from school, standardized test scores or even an in-person interview.

From this stage, it is important to take any standardized tests which are required for admission, and to prepare any previous college transcripts. If you require financial aid, be sure to fill out and submit any documents that may be required.

Once you are finished preparing to apply for your degree, meet with an admissions counselor to make sure that you have met all requirements in order to apply successfully to the college of your choice.

Should you choose to enroll at University of the People, you will find the application process to be simple and stress-free. There is no need for submitting standardized test scores or lengthy college application essays, not to mention that you will also have access to a personal admissions advisor. UoPeople also accepts previous college credits. Read more about UoPeople’s requirements here!

Going back to college may seem like a distressing task at first, but fear not. Once you take the time to determine your reason for going back to school, understand how to balance your studies with your other responsibilities, and follow our simple guidelines when applying to your chosen college, you will be right on track to pursuing your college degree in no time!