1.3 Different Worlds of Different Students
Learning Objectives
Understand how you may be similar to, and different from, other traditional students or returning students.
Describe the characteristics of successful students.
Not all college students are the same, and college is usually a different experience for different students. Students answer the following questions in a variety of different ways:
Are you attending college directly from high school or within a year of graduation?
Are you a full-time student?
Is English your first language?
Are you the first person in your family to attend college?
Are you married or living with a partner? Do you have children?
Are you working full time now or have you in the past?
When thinking about different “types” of students, be careful to avoid stereotyping. Never assume an individual person has certain characteristics simply because he or she is a certain “type” of student. For example, if you answered yes to questions 1 through 3 and no to the other questions, you may be called a “traditional” studentA college student, typically age seventeen to nineteen, attending college directly or soon after completing high school.—young and attending college after high school. The word “traditional” is used simply because, in the past, this was often the largest group of college students—even though, at many colleges, these students are now the minority.
Depending on what type of student you are, many things discussed in this book will not apply to you. If you’re eighteen and living away from your family for the first time in a college dormitory, you will likely not face the same issues of finding time for studying as an older student who works full time and has children at home. If you’re thirty and returning to school after years of successfully managing a job, you may have to reestablish your study skills but will not face the same issues as a younger student who may be tempted by the sudden freedom of college and have difficulty setting boundaries.
“Traditional” Students
We put quotation marks around the word “traditional” because this group of college students is no longer the majority at many colleges, although the term is still sometimes used by educators. Coming directly or almost directly from high school, “traditional” students are used to attending classes, reading textbooks, and studying and thus may find the transition to college easier. Many are single and unattached and have fewer outside time commitments. Although many do work while in college, the work is typically part time or during the summer and often does not have a severe time impact on their studies. As first-year students, usually living on campus at a four-year college or university, they do not lose time to commuting, and typically their housing plan includes meals and otherwise simplifies their living arrangements. In all, many have few responsibilities other than their academic work.
On the other hand, “traditional” students living away from home for the first time may face more psychological and social issues than other student groups. They may be away from family and old friends, perhaps forced to cope with an incompatible roommate or living arrangements, and facing all sorts of new temptations. With this new freedom, many students develop habits such as a poor diet and little sleep, a lack of exercise, and sometimes substance abuse or other behaviors that disrupt their academic routine and study habits.
Returning Students
Students returning to their education are often older, may have worked for a number of years, and may be used to living on their own and being financially and psychologically independent. They are often more mature and know what they want from college; they may be more goal driven. They are likely to be paying their own way through college and want to get their money’s worth. They may be working and can take only a part-time course load. They often live off campus and may own a home. They may have children. Because they have made a very deliberate decision to go to college, returning studentsA college student, typically over age twenty, who has worked or engaged in other significant activities between high school and college. are often serious students and are motivated to do the work. Having spent time in the work world, they may also have developed good problem-solving and decision-making skills as a result of their “real-world” experience.
On the other hand, returning students may have less time for studying because of work and family commitments. They may feel more stress because of the time and financial requirements of college. Spending less time on campus may contribute to not feeling completely at home in the academic world. They may not have time for many extracurricularActivities at college, usually organized and involving a group, outside academic activities related to one’s courses. and campus activities. Although they may be dedicated and hardworking students, they may also be less patient with learning “theory” in their courses and want all their coursework to relate directly to the real world.
Transfer Students
A transfer student begins at one college but then switches to another college at some point—for any of many reasons. With the high costs of many four-year colleges, some students begin at a less expensive community college, planning to transfer after a year or two to a four-year college. While this can help save in overall costs, they should look ahead to make sure all their college credits will transfer to the new college, since they certainly don't want to pay to take similar courses again. It is especially important for students contemplating a transfer to talk with their academic advisor about their plans.
Other Student Groups
Other common differences also affect students' college experience.
Commuter Students
Many working students commute to campus for classes. Many young people also continue to live at home after high school and come to campus only for classes. Commuter students may find it difficult to find time to talk with an instructor outside of class. At a four-year college they may feel less involved in college overall if they do not take part in any campus life. At many community colleges, however, all students are commuters.
First-Generation Students
The phrase “first-generation student” refers to students who are the first in their families to attend college. Students whose parents did not attend college may be less familiar with some or all aspects of the college experience and may face a bigger transition into their new life.
Recent Immigrant and International Students
Many college students have recently immigratedTo move to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence. to the United States or may be attending college here from their native country. Students coming from a different culture, and possibly speaking English as a second language, may have to make cultural accommodations. Language issues can be a serious obstacle for some, since so much of college education is based on reading and writing in English.
Students with Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits colleges and universities from discriminating on the basis of disabilities and ensures that both classes and extracurricular activities are accessible to students with disabilities. This includes both physical accessibility to campus buildings and housing and accessibility to services and aids necessary for effective communication. Students with disabilities have the right to request any accommodations needed to allow them to succeed in college. For more information or for answers to any specific questions, contact the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) at http://www.ahead.org.
Students Who Are Working
The key issue for working students often is time—how to find enough time to study enough to do well. For those working long hours, Chapter 2 “Staying Motivated, Organized, and On Track” presents many tips for managing your time when you have less of it; Chapter 11 “Taking Control of Your Finances” also suggests ways to cut back on expenses while in college so that you don’t have to work so many hours.
Students with a Family
Returning students often have families of their own. Having children of your own means you have different priorities from many other students, but a family shouldn’t be viewed as an obstacle to college success. Time may be short, but you can learn to manage it carefully to avoid falling behind in your studies. Chapter 2 “Staying Motivated, Organized, and On Track” describes some creative ways students can involve their families in the experience to prevent student stresses from disrupting family happiness.
Profile of a Successful Student
While all types of students can succeed, it’s important to develop a plan to make sure you have the knowledge and skills needed. Following are some of the characteristics of successful students you should strive for. Later chapters will offer tips for succeeding in all these different ways.
Successful students have a good attitude and know how to stay motivated.
Successful students have developed good time management strategies, such as scheduling study time and getting started early on assignments and projects.
Successful students develop their critical thinking skills and apply them in their studies.
Successful students have effective strategies for taking good notes in class and using them.
Successful students gain the most from their assigned readings for classes.
Successful students know how to prepare for and take tests successfully.
Successful students interact well with their instructors and fellow students in and outside of class.
Successful students write well in their classes.
Successful students have social relationships that contribute to, rather than detract from, their educational experiences.
Successful students stay healthy with good habits that help them be better students and feel less stress.
Successful students control their finances.
Successful students are able to transition well from the world of college into their future careers.
Key Takeaways
College students vary widely in terms of age, work experience, cultural background, family, and other factors that may affect how they learn.
Young students just out of high school face a transition involving new freedoms and new situations they may need to master in order to succeed academically.
Returning students who work and may also have family responsibilities often have time issues and may feel out of place in the college environment.
Other student groups include commuters, first-generation students, immigrant and international students, students with disabilities, and others, each of whom may need to face additional issues to be successful.
Regardless of individual differences, all successful students share a number of traits, including a good attitude, effective time management strategies, good studying and test-taking skills, and more.
Checkpoint Exercises
Are you a “traditional” or “returning” student? List an important advantage you have as a result of being this sort of student:
__________________________________________________________________
Check off which traits in this list are true of successful students:
They know how to stay motivated. They don’t need to schedule study periods because they study at every available moment every day. They know better than to try to think on their own. They know how to speed-read so they don’t have to underline or highlight in their textbooks. They avoid talking with their instructors, so they can remain anonymous. They develop their writing skills. They eat fast food so they have more time for studying. They have few friends, because social relationships distract one from academics. They use several credit cards so they don’t have to worry about finances until after graduation.