Resumo de The Success Manual For Adult College Students

The ABC's of Adult Learning
Sep29'06

Author's Product Rating

Pros
Excellent resource for any adult thinking about returning to school.

Cons
None.

The Bottom Line
Jampacked with information, well-organized and readable.

Full ReviewMany adults, especially those working in industries undergoing severe changes, are looking to return to school to protect themselves in the job market. Fear can be a major motivator. Others are simply interested in expanding their knowledge, or preparing for promotions.

But doing so while trying to work, raise children and maintain sanity is a tough order. That's where the well-organized and designed and practically written "The Success Manual for Adult College Students" by Mike Doolin comes in.

Organized into 16 short, focused chapters, this book walks readers through the steps required to survive and at times even enjoy the process. And the book covers topics that may not have even occurred to potential students, including cost, getting support, getting organized and how to study and navigate the college system.

These chapters address every conceivable question I had, with lots of tips, background explanations and charts on how to determine goals and expenses.

Anyone considering returning to school should read this book first and avoid mistakes, such as taking the wrong courses, running up the time and money needed to complete a degree. People who have been out of school for years can easily be tripped up.

My favorite tip on keeping book costs under control was provided by an anonymous friend of the author who recommends asking the local public library to locate a book (some libraries will do national searches), then check it out for the semester, paying the usually small fine for returning it late. Note that most librarians will probably hate this idea but it seems pretty smart to me and a good way around the outrageously high prices required for many textbooks.

Similarly, I like the emphasis on using online or community college resources to keep costs down, especially in the early days of return to school. As Doolin points out, many community colleges are better than their reputations would lead you to believe and can cut costs significantly while helping adults make a smooth transition. I mean, do you really need Harvard prices to brush up on basic statistics or U.S. history? Don't think so. And as colleges cut back on tenured professorships, community colleges are attracting more qualified faculty.

Equally valuable are the tips on trying to balance school with family and job obligations. This may be the most difficult part for many people. Having people around you who understand what you need and are willing to adjust is critical, the book notes. But keep this in mind if you're nervous: One man cited in the book has a full-time and a parttime job, four young children and goes to school. So it's doable, if daunting. Getting rid of time-wasting activities--admit it, we all have them--is a good starting point.

And my favorite glad-I-don't-work-there moment: The worker-student who hoped to rearrange her work schedule to accommodate a must-have course and was told by the boss, "As I told you before, it's a choice between your job and your education." Nice.

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