Almost 40% of higher education enrollments come from students who fall into the mature student category, which starts at age 25. However, students looking to develop their talents or launch a new career in their thirties and beyond do face several obstacles.
On a brighter note, the landscape has evolved and is now a versatile environment that’s very accommodating. Mature students should be aware of the challenges that they may face and know how to overcome them. When they are, they can gain the full benefits of higher education.
Overcoming The Age Gap
Many higher students integrate well into campus lifestyles. Still, many others find that the age gap between them and other students is a problem. Collaboration and group tasks don’t tend to be major issues, but there is a lack of common ground outside of lectures. Online learning is the perfect alternative to traditional learning. Better still, it is now more advanced than ever in a post-pandemic world. For mature students that just want to study, it is perfect.
As well as overcoming the age gap barriers, it also helps mature students through a range of other issues. For example, employees completing an MA to boost their prospects can fit their studies around their job. It also means that degrees can be spread out over a longer duration. Similarly, it means that students can avoid the need to relocate.
It is often difficult to remember that age is just a number. For mature students, though, taking note of the old cliche is vital.
Managing The Financial Elements
There is no question that the financial aspects can be a stumbling block for mature students. The average degree now costs over $100,000. It is a significant debt for someone who has a 50-year career ahead of them. However, it is an even bigger issue for a graduate that only has a 25-year career to come. The reduced costs are another advantage of distance learning, but mature students must also look at their situation as a whole.
Many mature students go back to college after a major moment in their life. If it’s after a divorce, asking “What is a Partition Action?” could be a key step to managing the financial aspects. Conversely, the birth of a child may have sparked the desire to become a better person. If so, students should research how it impacts their entitlements.
Money isn’t the most important thing in this world, but it’s hard to concentrate without financial stability.
Removing Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is very common among mature students, and it surfaces for many reasons.
Parents may question “Does returning to education make me selfish?” or wonder if it stops them from parenting. Others may simply question “How can I do this at this stage of life?”, especially if they wanted to study as a young adult. Removing any form of imposter syndrome is vital because a student that has a clear mind will be positioned to thrive.
A variety of tools may be used to help beat those limiting beliefs. Acknowledging past achievements, showing self-compassion, and avoiding comparisons to others are all vital. Crucially, mature students should remember that they are their own worst critics. Besides, there is no one defined path to success. There is still time to reach the intended destination
Meanwhile, a range of tech features can support mature students target any perceived weaknesses too.
Staying Motivated
Feeling capable is one thing, but staying motivated is another. A lot of mature students will ask “Is this really for me?” at several stages. It’s not hard to understand why, either. Juggling studies with a job and other adult commitments is tough. However, the benefits of gaining a degree will make it all worthwhile. This is especially true for mature students that have always wanted to achieve this goal. Still, staying motivated can be a challenge.
There will be points where natural motivation suffers. Worse still, mature students will find it hard to rediscover their motivation by communicating with their peers. However, intrinsic motivation should be far easier to find. In most cases, mature students wouldn’t even consider a return to education without a genuine reason.
In addition to the proverbial carrot, the financial elements can be used as a stick. When used together, motivation comes with ease.
Building Alignment With Younger Group Members
As mentioned earlier, mature students and younger students shouldn’t find it hard to reach common ground in their love of the subject. Nevertheless, there can be a clash in work ethic and approaches to time management. Mature students are more likely to get their work done early rather than waiting until the deadline. Not least because they have other commitments to consider. For solo projects, it’s not much of an issue. Sadly, group projects could suffer.
Furthermore, mature students are often better equipped to work autonomously. This is largely due to their experience of the working world. Mature students can bypass many of the issues by working with other mature students. Or they can opt for group members that are organized and willing to work. When teams are on the same page, the benefits will show.
Besides, learning to work well with people of different ages is a key skill in the business world too.
Managing Health Issues
Finally, mature students may find that they have to manage their physical and mental health issues. While it’s not an issue that’s limited to older students, aging plays a role in several health conditions. Even conditions that are primarily linked to senior citizens can show symptoms when adults are in their thirties and forties. Discomfort can significantly impact a student’s retention and engagement. So, managing them is vital.
Whether it means taking medications, seeing a physio, or seeking treatments doesn’t matter. Learning to effectively manage health conditions will put the student in a far stronger position. It should also extend to issues like getting hearing aids, eyeglasses, or any other products needed for daily life.
In addition to aiding their studies, it should translate to improvement in all parts of their world. If that doesn’t inspire a conscious effort to change, nothing will.