Continuing Education

I don't advocate dropping out of high school. It's definitely not an easier route through life, although it might seem like it in the throes of teen angst.

Nevertheless, some very famous people did just that and went on to college without their high school diploma. If you think you're in the ranks of Albert Einstein and William Faulkner, maybe Norman Rockwell, dropping out of high school may be the right path. Find out who else went to college without a high school diploma: 10 Celebrity Dropouts Who Went to College Without a High School Diploma.

It's pretty easy to just Google whatever you need to learn. We're talking quickie learning here. I do it myself everyday.

But there are other search engines out there that might give you better results, depending on what you need. Did you know there's a search engine specifically for calculations? Neither did I. It's called Wolfram|Alpha.

Check out our list. We picked 10 for you to try, with the help of Wendy Boswell, Guide to Web Search: 10 Search Engines for Students

Whether or not you like the idea of the Occupy Wall Street Movement, it's definitely an interesting addition to United States history. Any time "the people" demand to be heard, something significant usually results, even if that something takes a few years to develop.

There are lots of things to be learned from these movements, and universities are starting to offer courses to examine the movement as it happens.

Our own guest author Ron Gross wrote Learning About Democracy at Zuccotti Park in the Occupy Wall Street Movement months ago, calling it "this era's most important achievement in non-formal adult education."

Now, Natalie DiBlasio writes about some of the new college courses for USA Today: "This movement is playing out in front of us and I thought it would be negligent if I didn't create a space for our students to evaluate it," says Professor Jeff Edwards, who is teaching "Occupy Everywhere" at Roosevelt University in Chicago this semester.

I see a lot of derogatory comments posted online about this movement. It definitely elicits emotional responses from people. Isn't that worth examination? I think so.

Thanks, Ron, for bringing Occupy learnings to us in early November. You know a good thing when you see it!

There are just two days left in the nomination period for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards. Be sure to get your favorites in. The categories are:

• Best Scholarships for Adult Students
• Best School for Adult Students
• Best Learning Vacations
• Best Free Online Education
• Best GED Study Guide

Nominations close February 15. Voting runs from February 22 to March 21. Winners will be announced March 30.

This is a chance for you to promote your own program! Good luck!

I love how things tend to evolve. A few weeks ago a friend told me she was dating a much younger man. She laughed about being a cougar. I didn't think much about it. It doesn't matter to  me.

When I decided to write about what not to wear to school as an adult student, a fellow guide mentioned cougars on campus. This had nothing to do with my friend, by the way.

When I mentioned cougars in my fashion article, I realized I really should have an article about cougars on campus, which is the subject of a new reality show in the making.

And then I thought it would be interesting to tell the story from the cougar's point of view. And this is where you, if you're a cougar on campus, come in. I want to hear your side of the story.

Are you a cougar on campus? Send your story to me at adulted.guide@about.com.

The older we get, the easier it is to forget things it seems. If you can't remember the new stuff you just learned, try one of these: 3 Ways to Improve Memory While Studying.

If you have other secrets, share with us!

Whether spring semester started for you in January or February, there's still time to up your game if you're feeling a tad overwhelmed.

If you're the teacher, check out:

• 5 Crucial Skills for the Teacher of Adults
• 5 Reasons to Use Ice Breakers in the Classroom
• Managing Disruptive Behavior

If you're the student:

• 3 Ways to Improve Memory While Studying
• 5 Tips for Going Back to School as an Adult
• 10 Ways to Improve Your Writing

And just for fun, whether you're the teacher or the student:

• What NOT to Wear to School

One of the very best things about non-traditional students is the rich life experience they bring to the classroom. How do you, as the student or the teacher, make the most of that experience?

One way is by recognizing the archetypes in that experience. The what? The archetypes. Archetypes are ancient patterns of human personality that are amazingly constant across cultures and throughout time.

Have you helped people to learn? You've embodied the mentor. Have you been the one who can see things coming? You've been a herald. You've probably also been a hero and a trickster at times.

When we understand these constant patterns, we understand the roles characters play, including our own roles, and that understanding will make you a better student, a better writer, a better teacher.

The Archetypes of the Hero's Journey

More on the Hero's Journey:

• An Introduction
• Readers Respond: How does the hero's journey help you in your reading or writing?

This is one of the coolest activities I've seen a non-traditional student group plan--a Valentine cooking class, free for the first 50 non-traditional students who sign up at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The university has more than 4,000 non-trad students, according to Cynda Alexander, coordinator of UALR's Non-Traditional Student Programs. She knows that students juggling school, work, and families may not have time to plan a romantic holiday. So an afternoon of fun with Chef Sebastian was planned for 50 students and their dates.

They'll be cooking chateaubriand, potato baskets, asparagus bundles, nicoise salad, and chocolate-cherry crepes, and then they get to sit down and eat it all. That's what I call a fun date!

What is your school doing for its non-traditional students?

Balancing tips for non-trads:

• Begin with the end in mind
• Get organized
• Improve your efficiency

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, emphasis on the free. You apply by going to fafsa.ed.gov and filling out the online application, which happens to be on the complicated side.

There are services that will help you fill out the application in the best possible way, improving your chances of getting a loan, but these services do cost you--about $80. Last year, Mary Fallon of Student Financial Aid Services, Inc. contacted me to clarify why a service like hers can help you: fafsa.gov vs. fafsa.com.

It's good to understand your choices. Now is the time to be thinking about financial aid if you haven't already. Here are some related articles to get you going:

• 10 Facts About Financial Aid
• Financial Aid is First Step in College Admissions
• FAFSA Application Advice
• June 30 Deadline for Financial Aid
• Scholarships - The Gift of Confidence