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Thinking About Going Back to School as a Non-Traditional Student?

By Deb Peterson, About.com Guide to Continuing Education

If you're over 25 and returning to school as a non-traditional student, you'll find help here whether you're goal is your GED credential, a degree, professional certificate, or anything else.

  1. Decide - Should You Go Back to School?
  2. Find the Right School
  3. Get Your GED Credential
  4. Get Your Degree
  5. Get a Professional Certificate
  6. Learn English as a Second Language (ESL)
  1. Pay for School - Scholarships and Loans
  2. Study Smarter
  3. Balance Your Life
  4. Quiz Yourself
  5. Read - Books for Adult Students
  6. Extras

Decide - Should You Go Back to School?

Student with Laptop by Nick White / Digital Vision / Getty Images

Going back to school when you've already got a life filled with family, work, community, sports, and hobbies can be a real challenge. And yet many adults return to the classroom every year at every age. If you're thinking about going back to school, we can help with information and encouragement.

Find the Right School

Correspondence Course from the University of North Dakota

How do you know which school is right for you? Find school profiles here and other articles to help you make a wise choice.

Get Your GED Credential

All Kinds of GED Students by Nick White - Getty Images

It doesn't matter why you didn't finish high school. You still can. Passing the GED test is the equivalent of getting your high school diploma. Find out what's involved, and be on your way to a better job, a degree, or the accomplishment of a dream. It's never too late. You can do it. We're here to help.

Get Your Degree

Holland Hall at St. Olaf College

Still thinking about getting your Bachelor's degree? Master's? Doctorate? Here's the info you need to choose the right degree and the right school, make your way through the admissions process, and fit in with the other students, no matter how old you are.

Get a Professional Certificate

Professional Certification by Steve Cole / Getty Images

Many careers require certification, and most certificates require annual credits in continuing education to keep professionals current in their field. Are you up to date? Have you always wanted to get a better job through certification?

Learn English as a Second Language (ESL)

Managing Disruptive Behavior by Charlie Edwards / Digital Vision / Getty Images

Learning English as a second language is a dream for many people, and it can be a tough language to learn. It doesn't have to be any tougher because you're an adult. Find information and encouragement here, and check back often for new content.

Pay for School - Scholarships and Loans

Write a Learning Contract

One of your primary considerations in whether or not to go back to school is going to be finances. How will you pay for school? Where and how can you get a scholarship? There are people and resources available to help you.

Study Smarter

Reading by Yasuhide Fumoto - Getty Images

Once you've decided to go back to school, how do you fit it all in your already busy life? How do you balance going to work, studying for school, spending time with your family, and living your life? Study smarter. We'll help you.

Balance Your Life

Student Studying by Marili Forastieri / Getty Images

Balancing school, work, and life can be a challenge. Find help here, from child care options to time management tips.

Quiz Yourself

Classroom Energy by Digital Vision / Getty Images

Quizzes of all kinds, from learning styles inventories to personality tests, are handy tools that help students make learning easier. Do you know how your personality affects the way you learn? If you don't find what you need here, let me know and I'll do some digging for you. Check back often for new listings.

Read - Books for Adult Students

The Adult Student's Guide to Survival & Success by Al Siebert and Mary Karr

There are books galore to help you be a better student. Find reviews here.

Extras

We all love the extra little things about life, don't we? Here are a few extras for the non-trad student.

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