5 Quick Tips to Make Being an Adult Student More Enjoyable

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There's no way of getting around it--going back to school as an adult is tough! But here are five quick tips to make your life as an adult student a little more bearable.

1. Do less than the maximum.
Unless you have to, do not take the maximum load of classes in your first semester. Most students take 15 hours, but even with a student loan, the minimum requirement is usually only 12. I found that working 20-30 hrs. a week and taking 12 credits a semester was plenty to keep me busy. Start out a little more slowly to give your self a chance to really get used to the demands of school. This may seem like a waste of time, but even if you go a little more slowly, you will find that you are not as stressed and can do better when you don't overload yourself. There's no point overloading yourself with courses only to find that you just can't keep up--you could end up having to drop a class or two anyway.

2. Take breaks.
Don't spend all of your available study time studying! You may really need to study a lot, but chances are that by taking 30 minutes to take a walk or spend time with your kids can really rejuvenate your brain and help you absorb the material you are studying once you go back to it. Better yet, if you can manage to grab a 20-30 minute nap between study sessions, you will be more refreshed and able to retain more.

3. Be a part of things
Most schools have student associations, maybe even a group for adult students. There are many other clubs and groups as well that you can be part of. You may find your time limited, but take part in as much as you can because you will find that you enjoy your time in college much more if you spend part of it making friends and being involved on campus. By joining a club or two, you'll make friends of all ages, and who knows? Maybe your 20-yr. old friend's mom will hire you after you graduate!

4. Take the classes you dread
In fact, take them first. I signed up for speech class at Gonzaga my very first semester there for this very reason--I was really nervous about this class, and just wanted to get it over with. You may find that they were not as bad as you thought (like that speech class!) but if they are, at least you have them over and done and you don't have to worry about them for the rest of your time at school. If you really, really struggle with a subject, such as math, taking the class early in your college career will afford you time to repeat the class for a better grade if need be. You don't want to be ready to graduate, then find out you have not fufilled all your course requirements because of your math phobia, right?

5. Enjoy every minute
This is the most important tip anyone can give you. Whether you go to college at 18 or 81, enjoy it! College is not just about learning. That is the main point of course, but it is also a time to enjoy the activities, the people, the community and everything it has to offer. Spend your time in college enjoying college, no matter how old you are. No matter what your age is, college will be one of the most memorable times of your life.

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