Non-Traditional Students

From OSU Wiki

College life is difficult for all those that pursue degrees. For non-traditional students (thats a kind term for older than average students) it can be even more difficult. Keeping up with studies, work, daycare, schools, doctor's appointments and the countless other demands placed on our time is a challenge. Even though sometimes it may seem like it you are not alone. There are other students here that are experiencing the same challenges you are. Stop by the Non-Traditional Students Lounge in the MU (room 203) and you can meet many people that are facing the same situations.

Culture Shock

Whether you transfer from another school or are just starting college for the first time, you will undergo some culture shock the first few days and weeks you spend here. Things move at a faster pace than most of us are used to. There is also more going on here then it seems like you can keep straight. It is very easy to get overwhelmed with activities, homework, projects and home life. Have a preliminary plan of what you intend to do while you are here. Figure out what you can and cannot do and still maintain your sanity. When you find your confort level, do your best to stick to it. Time and trial & error will enable you to better recognize what you can do and what you cannot do.

Being a Baby

We are living in a world that has so much money. So my parents are wanting to give to there children what they never had and more. But what kind of generation are we creating? We are creating a generation that doesn't rely on themselves but others, selfish generation and a generation that can to awful things. This kind of generation is a selfish, none thinking outside of the box generation. We want people that will ask question, not take what someone is telling as the truth, and hard workers. So many parents "baby" their children. How can people be so blind that they can't see the type of people that they are raising? Again this is just the opinion of one college student, but it angers me to see babies being born into an environment that they have no control over. I almost feel bad because they can't help being helpless, and not wanting to get a job and work, and can't help being the brats that they are because their parents raised them to be that way. So I just ask for the future parents of tomorrow to not make the same mistakes. Allow your future children to think for themselves, clean, work, and become there own person.

Conflicts

I have not experienced the situation, however many of my contemporaries have mentioned to me that some professors here are less than understanding when you miss classes due to a minor family crisis (such as an ill child). I have not had that exact experience, all of my professors (I have not had that many yet) seem to be understanding and show concern about the potential problems that can arrise as a non-traditional student. It would seem to me that having a problem like this with a professor might be the exception rather than the rule, at least I hope that to be the case. This situation may not even be an issue, but I had been advised by enough of my peers that this could be a potential problem so I thought I should make you aware of the issue.