Expand Your Job Skills: Go Back to School as an Adult

Going to university can be a tough decision. Gone are the days of regimented high school, when your teacher knows you by name and isn't afraid to ask why your assignment is late, and your parents still have the option of meet-the-teacher nights to check up on you.

Now, college is a whole different ball game. Suddenly you're one of 100+ students in a lecture hall. The professor doesn't care if you miss class. In fact, she might not care if you show up at all, and she certainly won't call your home if you fail an exam to check on how you're doing.

University is a big change at the best of times - but what if you're not 18-years-old and fresh from high school? The number of people returning to college after spending some time traveling or in the work force is on the rise, and for those students, it's not all fun, games and pre-class keggers.

For men everywhere, a changing workplace environment can mean that upping your education is the key to a better job. Of course, to get that job, you'll have to survive the college life. This can be just as frightening as starting your post-secondary education at the age of 18, if not more so - you'll have a whole slew of other concerns on your plate. If you're looking to step back into the classroom for a few years, read on for some tips on how to adapt to being a student again.

Independence - While going back to school might feel like giving up your independence entirely, that couldn't be further from the truth. Sure, you won't have the reliability of working eight hours a day at a job you know inside and out. However, you'll have a lot more freedom with your time, and how you use this freedom will determine how well you do in the classroom.

Let's look at your average day. Even if you're taking a full courseload, chances are you won't spend eight hours a day in the classroom. The general gyst of a university courseload is that you're expected to spend a few hours studying outside the classroom for every hour you spend in the classroom.

When you first take a look at your schedule, you might be surprised and a little thrilled by the amount of free time on your plate. But don't get too accustomed to it. While many jobs don't require you to do "homework," university is a different story. Many classes will require two or more term papers be turned in by the end of your term. It's highly unlikely that you'll be given any classtime to work on these papers, which means time management outside of class is critical.

One of the first things you should do is acquaint yourself with the library, and find an area ideal for studying. The next thing on your list should be to plan your schedule. When you see a free hour, don't assume it's time for a visit to Starbucks. Schedule that hour as study time, and pick a subject. Make sure to devote a number of hours in any week to studying for each subject. If as the term wears on, you realize that one subject comes more easily to you than others, feel free to reorganize your time. It's all about effective time management.

Making friends - Unfortunately, many older men can find the years spent in university lonely and isolating, largely because the people around them have no knowledge of what it's like to be a returning student. As such, the majority of student-activites might have no appeal to someone who graduated high school more than a few years ago.

Let's look at student keggers, for example. While the average college age student might love the idea of grabbing a beer or two between classes with their buddies, the situation is different for a returning student. It's not that you don't enjoy a beer now and then, but drinking with students who are closer to your children's age than your own might not be your idea of a good time.

In the average workplace, your future friends can be the coworkers sitting around you. In university, you might have to look a little harder. Remember, you're not the only person going to university after a number of years in the workforce. Other students like you exist, and they're probably feeling just as awkward. Many universities have clubs for students like this, as well as information sessions geared specifically for them. Check them out. Students join clubs all the time for the sole purpose of meeting like-minded people. It just so happens that many student clubs may have little to do with your adult interests. Remember, there's no need to be embarrassed about going to a club or information session - everyone will be there for the same reason you will.

You're not an expert - Here's the hard truth: once you're in a lecture hall, you're no different than the tattooeed, pierced 20 year old sitting next to you. Both of you are forced to start from square one. In your workplace, you might have had a specialized skill. People might have treated you with a certain amount of respect and authority, and trusted you to get the job done skillfully. With respect comes a certain amount of pride in your job, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The only way this can be a hindrance is if you let it go to your head. In university, your specialized skills don't have a lot of value. Ultimately, you'll have to adapt to being there for the sole purpose of improving your education. It doesn't matter how much smarter or better trained you are than other students, you're all there to learn.
This might mean swallowing your ego and accepting that you don't know squat about psychology. It might mean having enough courage to ask a question that you think is stupid. Either way, don't be ashamed of what you don't know, and don't be arrogant about what you do know. Having an open mind will make your college experience that much richer and more fulfilling.