IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.
ADULTLEARNERS GUIDEBOOK
"IMAGINE where you can go with a scholarship and a dream!"
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF: Am I pursuing a specific career and looking for needed education to support that career? Do I have personal goals to finish my education I started earlier? Am I going back to complete a second or third degree? Will this education help me be better prepared for my future? What are the challenges that I need to overcome to accomplish this goal?
IMAGINE
WHERE YOU CAN GO
With a Scholarship and a Dream
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS what you need to know
Starting your education as an adult or going back to school as an adult is very rewarding. There are several things to consider to give you a head start and help you complete your education in record time.
I understand the challenges and the rewards of going back to school as an adult. I was a first generation college student who wasn't able to finish my education until I was an older adult with almost grown children. What I started when I was 18, I finally finished many years later. For me, it was a personal goal to complete my education and something I wanted to prove to myself I could do against many challenges and odds. I'm going to share with you a few things that were helpful to me along the way. They are broken down by section and will hopefully serve as a helpful companion along your journey! Above all, know that if you want to accomplish this goal, it IS within your reach. On the next few pages, we will address these topics: Choosing the best option The great balancing act Creative ways to earn college credit The applications The essays How to pay for your education Finding others on your path
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS choosing the best option
The options available to you are vast. The choice you make depends on your goal. Let's take a look at where you should begin to answer the question of "Where do I start? When I decided to go back to school to finish my education, everything had changed. Nothing was the same as it had been 30 years prior in the world of education. I was eager to tackle the challenge but the learning curve was profound. Since I was still raising my family, I chose to attend school online instead of in person. I also chose a school that had an opportunity for me to use life and work experiences as a way to earn college hours. Cost was factored into the decision as well as the length of time it would take me to complete my desired degree.
Here are a few of the first important steps in the process. Identify what your goals are Do your research Get "official transcripts" sent to schools you plan to apply to Be mindful of deadlines and supporting materials needed with applications Make sure you understand all costs, hidden and advertised Fill out the FAFSA Prepare those in your life for this new adventure - their support is critical to your success
"WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE EQUATOR, EVERYTHING BEGINS SOMEWHERE" CS LEWIS
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS GOING TO COLLEGE AS AN ADULT LEARNER
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS Most colleges and some trade schools have programs that are convenient for adults who have full time jobs. Online courses are great and can often be taken anytime of day at your own speed and pace. For example, you will have weekly assignments and can get those done any time during the week. This is an excellent option for those with busy lives.
TRADE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE? WHAT IS YOUR BEST CHOICE? Trade School or College is a great question to start with. Some skills and education can only be obtained at a trade school while other job opportunities require you to have a four year degree. In order to a make that decision, you might want to ask yourself these questions: Can I get the knowledge and training I need at a
WORK EXPERIENCE CAN BE SUBSTITUTED FOR COLLEGE CREDIT
trade school?
Have you been in the work force /
What will be the salary difference in the job I desire
Corporate World but didn’t get your degree
depending on the education I receive?
or finish the one you started? Are you looking to get your Masters without breaking the bank or spending years doing
Is a four year degree necessary to get the job I desire?
How much will college cost? How much will trade school cost? Are the courses I need offered online? Does the school I want to attend have courses that
it? Are you an adult and wants to go to
will fit into my schedule?
college but not sure where to start?
The answers to these questions will help lead you to the best educational opportunity for you.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS
FIRST GEN Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program: The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 151 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
FAMOUS FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS
The Center for Firstgeneration Student Success helps colleges and universities to help you to succeed as a first-gen student. While we do not work with first-gen students directly, we want to help you navigate your institutions and locate more information that will allow you to succeed.
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on increasing the college and career readiness of low-income students in communities nationwide.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS HOW SCHOLARSHIPS HELPS POST SECONDARY STUDENTS FINANCIAL BARRIERS financial barriers are one of the main reasons students choose not to enroll in college or leave before finishing their degree. While there are options for paying for school, such as federal financial aid and student loans, there is often a gap between what a student receives and the total cost of their education.
According to a survey supported by Sallie May in 2020 during the pandemic
73% of 851 respondents indicated they did not apply for scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS Consider scholarships, which offer students a chance at free money and another pathway for paying for their education. These funds pay for tuition and fees. Offering services that help students find viable scholarships is a winwin for both students and schools.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS FAFSA - FINANCIAL AID One of the most important steps in going back to school is filling out the FAFSA. Many adults will qualify for grants and loans from the FAFSA. It opens every October 1st and the sooner you fill it out, the better. You have to fill out one each year that you’d like to receive aid.
In addition, I’d like to recommend other options that can be used separately or in conjunction with the above programs. There are a couple of sources that allow you to take college courses and gain credit that will possibly transfer to the school of your choice. For example, Colorado Christian partners with Straighterline. 1. Straighterline is a great option if you want to finish courses quickly and inexpensively. ($159) Make sure to know if they will transfer to the school of your choice. To use Straighterline is a fee of $99.00 per month and each course is between $59 and $79 dollars. There are also coupon codes online for free or discounted courses. This is a great option but many schools do not accept Straighterline as transfer credit so be sure to know your long term plan before beginning this path. 2. Study.com is a similar option to consider. 3. FEMA courses are another great option to consider. Some schools will allow you to take up to 30 hours of FEMA courses and transfer them in. This can be up to two semesters of college credit that you can do at your own pace through FEMA courses. Even though the courses are free to take, they each cost $88 to transfer into the college you are attending. Not all schools will accept these credits so again, know your long term plan before signing up for this option.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS APPEAL FINANCIAL AID
With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, financial aid is more important than ever. You may be wondering what you can do to request more money or you may not have realized that appealing your financial aid awards was even an option.
Helpful tips when writing a letter of appeal: 1. Write your appeal as soon as possible. Waiting only means that the funds will have been given away to other students. The sooner you request, the better the chance of getting an adjustment. 2. Open communication. Reach out to the school financial aid office and ask questions. Ask about their award appeal process and who is the best person for you to contact. 3. Be respectful and polite. This goes back to the old saying, you always catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
What to include in your letter of appeal: 1. Be sure to state exactly how much money you need and why you think this appeal is justified. 2. Let them know of any circumstances that wasn’t revealed in your financial aid package. 3. Include any documentation that will help support the information you are presenting. 4. If you have any competing offers, let them know of these and ask them to match them. 5. Ask what your next steps should be in moving forward with your appeal. 6. Show your gratitude at their willingness to consider your request. 7. Keep the letter under 1 page. If you are not successful in receiving additional funding from the school you’ve selected, there is still hope.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS COMPANIES THAT HELP YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE
Walt Disney and many other companies offer programs to help you pay for college. They are all different plans and approaches but all excellent ways to help fund your education.
DISNEY LOWES APPLE UPS COMCAST SMUCKERS TACO BELL JET BLUE BEST BUY FEDEX
READ more details on the BLOG IMAGINESCHOLARSHIPS.COM
STARBUCKS PROCTOR AND GAMBLE DUNKIN DNOUTS BANK OF AMERICA WELLS FARGO HOME DEPOT VERIZON MCDONALDS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FIAT CHRYSLER
WAL-MART BOEING BP PUBLIX BOEING CHIPOTLE FIDELITY ORACLE T-MOBILE ATT INTEL
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS 21% more likely to work in their desired field
4% higher employment rate
The drop out rate of trade schools is significantly less than that at college campuses.
27% Grads earn more money
AVERAGE STARTING SALARY COLLEGE DEGREE $47,000 TRADE SCHOOL $35,000
TRADE SCHOOLS BENEFITS OF TRADE SCHOOLS A trade school is a school that teaches skills for a specific occupation rather than a generalized education. Some students need training in a very specific area or field rather than the broader education offered by the traditional college route. What many people don’t realize is that those who go to trade schools can often make more money in their career than some college graduates.
The job search for trade schools is often easier after graduation since it is more specific to the trade learned. Other benefits of trade schools is that they often cost less than the traditional university and they take less time to complete. The drop out rate of trade schools is significantly less than that at college campuses. There are many options for trade school students. Some schools are online while some are in person. CONTINUE TO THE NEXT PAGE FOR A LIST OF TRADE SCHOOL OPTIONS.
“MY ADVICE IS DON'T RULE OUT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR A COLLEGE TRADE SCHOOL. THAT'S WHAT I TUITION COST DID. I GRADUATED AT A On average, a trade school COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND IT programs cost $33,000, which is WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID.” ROWE, THE FORMER HOST OF “DIRTY JOBS,” SAYS HIS COLLEGE EDUCATION COST HIM ABOUT $12,500.
less than one of tuition in some 4 year universities.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS THERE ARE MANY TRADE SCHOOL OPTIONS TO CONSIDER: Cosmetology Massage therapy Carpentry Culinary arts Auto mechanics Engineering Technology Applied science Health Applied economics High School CTE programs Tech prep education Postsecondary vocational school Apprenticeship programs On-the-job training Continuous development Military training Distance learning programs Mechanical and automotive schools Business schools Culinary schools Art and design schools Electrician Computer programming Web site design Dressmaking Pet grooming
Education programs Health care schools Legal and criminal justice schools Real estate schools Technology schools Travel and tourism schools Bookkeeping Carpentry Home remodeling and repair Computer programming Web site design Dressmaking Pet grooming Photography Daycare management Motorcycle or small engine repair Animal Care Respiratory Therapist Court reporting Welding Plumbing Dental Assistant Animal Care Respiratory Therapist Photography Daycare management Motorcycle or small engine repair
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR APPLYING FOR COLLEGE GET ORGANIZED
BUILD A RESUME LIST SCHOOLS OF INTEREST GET ON THE SCHOOL MAILING LIST SCHEDULE A TOUR GET TO KNOW ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR WRITE YOUR ESSAYS FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS READ more details on the BLOG
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS PERSONALITY TRAITS
MINDSETS
PEOPLE SKILLS
COMMUNICATION
CAREER ATTRIBUTES
EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH STRONG SOFT SKILLS
Though it sounds like an oxymoron; strong, soft skills are important! Here are a few of my favorite Oxymorons: Jumbo Shrimp Sweet Tart Good Grief Hot Chili Great Depression Baby Grand Piano Down Escalator Fuzzy Logic Icy Hot
Another Oxymoron that is a favorite is Strong, Soft Skills. While it’s true, it is an oxymoron, it is also incredibly important to your success in life, college, career and in reaching your full potential.
ATTITUDES
WHAT ARE STRONG SOFT SKILLS The skills needed to help you communicate and successfully engage with those around you. 8 SOFT SKILLS THAT WILL EMPOWER YOU 1. Leadership 2. Time Management 3. Networking 4. Teamwork 5. Creative Thinking 6. Conflict Resolution 7. Adaptability 8. Organizational Skills
IT IS YOUR TIME
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS MEDICAL SALES COLLEGE
"We provide world-class medical device education, creating graduates who are more employable and achieve a high-level of success in their careers."
Medical Sales College is a unique career opportunity that provides great opportunity to students of all ages. "For over a decade, we’ve helped thousands land their dream job in the medical device industry. Affordable 8 and 12 week programs provide you with the clinical knowledge, hands-on experience, consultative sales training, and career development that has resulted in over a 97% job placement rate. With our growing network of campuses across the country and financing options, we help more people break into the rewarding industry of medical device sales than ever before."
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS SINGLE PARENTS
Regardless of your age, you are never too old to go back to college and build the life you’ve always dreamed of for both you and your children.
Housing Assistance for Single Moms Loans for College Grants and Financial Assistance Additional Resources Organizations who help single mothers Healthcare for Single Mothers financialassistanceforsinglemothers.co m/ Straighterline - This is an excellent way to get college credit for very inexpensive. The monthly fee is $99.00 and each course is $79.00. You can finish these courses on your own time frame and some have even finished them in a week or two. The one catch here is that these credits only transfer to certain schools for college credit. Grand Canyon University and Colorado Christian University are both schools that accepts Straighterline credits and is a great place for single parents to finish their education. Most degrees are often 100% online and their classes are only 5 weeks long, allowing for quicker completion. Some schools not only accept Straighterline credits but also up to 30 hours of FEMA credits. FEMA courses are free to take but cost $88.00 to transfer. This is an excellent resource to consider. All of this can be done online at your convenience.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS
About 19% of students pursuing postsecondary education have a disability.
COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY
In an effort to support the college experience of students with disabilities, the team at BestColleges.com created the below resources. With all of the other important decisions and to-dos that come along with college admittance, they wanted to create resources that would ensure not vital steps were missed when requesting disability-related accommodation and financial aid. Included is information on accessing services, financial aid, and scholarships for students with various disabilities.
RESOURCES/FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS
Services and Financial Aid for College Students with Disabilities
Colleges and universities offer a wide range of services to ensure support to these students while providing certain basic disability access. However, the responsibility ultimately falls on the student to request the disabilityrelated accommodations required.
How to Access College Disability Services: https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/how-to-access-collegedisability-services/ Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities https://www.bestcolleges.com/financial-aid/students-withdisabilities/ In addition to the resources above, take a look at Imagine Scholarships for excellent resources and scholarships for high school and college students.
IT IS YOUR TIME
ADULTLEARNERS SINGLE PARENTS
Companies who help single moms{PARENTS} pay for school Another great option to consider is that there are many companies that will pay for your school while you are working for them. Check out those options here. For example, Starbucks has a College Achievement Plan. If you work at-least 20 hours per week, Starbucks will pay for your online education as well as pay you an hourly wage for your work. There are many other routes to gaining financial independence as a single parent other than a four year college degree. There are many certification programs and technical schools to help you learn skills that you can begin utilizing right away. Taking a few courses at a community college can be very effective in training you for a trade or a skill. There are many career paths that don’t require a Bachelors Degree. A Few Options to Consider: Academic Core Curriculum Aircraft Airframe Technology Aircraft Dispatch Technology Aircraft Pilot Training Technology Aircraft Powerplant Technology Auto Collision & Management Technology Automation and Controls Technology Automotive Technology Avionics Technology Biology Biomedical Equipment Technology Building Construction Technology Business Management Technology Chemical Dependency Counseling Cloud Computing Computer Programming Computer Science
Culinary Arts Cybersecurity Dental Hygiene Digital Media Design Drafting & Design Education and Training Electrical Construction Electrical Line worker Technology Electrical Power & Controls Emergency Medical Services Energy Efficiency Specialist Engineering Environmental Technology Health Information Technology Industrial Maintenance Instrumentation Technology Mathematics
Mechatronics Technology Nursing Occupational Safety Compliance Technology Physics Plumbing & Pipefitting Technology Precision Machining Technology Process Operations Robotics Technology Solar Energy Technology Surgical Technology Visual Communication Technology Web Design & Development Technology Welding Technology Wind Energy Technology
IMAGINE SCHOLARSHIPS FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS STUDENTS PURSUING ASSOCIATES DEGREES UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
ready to get started? sign up for imagine scholarships today! IMAGINE SCHOLARSHIPS is an extensive collection of over $9 Billion in scholarship opportunities that are researched and updated daily to give maximum access to all available education dollars. Our system has the ability to add internal scholarships upon request. In addition, we have internship opportunities and our "secret sauce" - a growing library of videos to mentor and keep students engaged in the process. Many students can't afford the privilege of having a personal "college coach." That is why we have taken our experience from mentoring students over the last 15 years and built a library for all students to have access to the very best information for college and career success.
Personalized Video Resource Library
Our library of videos will help you through each step of the process of going to school as an adult learner!