Going Back to College: Frequently Asked Questions
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I Would Like to Find a Traditional Program with a High Ratio of Nontraditional Students.
For adult students looking for a traditional on-campus program, check out Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students by Carole Fungaroli. Fungaroli writes from her own unique experience as an adult returning student. She has also interviewed scores of adult students at colleges and universities across the country, including the University of California at Berkeley, Smith College, the University of Wisconsin- Madison, Bryn Mawr College, the University of Michigan, and Harvard. Other helpful resources are The Adult Student's Guide by Leigh Grossman and Lesly McBain, detailing more than 600 adult bachelor's degree programs by state. Also, you can check out the University of Phoenix. They have undergraduate and graduate programs (many accelerated), and the classes are mostly non-traditional. The average student age is 34 and you have to be at least 23 to attend. They have many campuses across the U.S. or you can take online courses which require lots of dedication. Classes are one night a week, with a learning team meeting once a week. It is very accelerated, 3 credit hours every 5 weeks. For a directory of tools to help you locate on-campus programs in your area see the Degree Programs section.

Are There Any Services or Organizations Especially for Adult Students? What About Child Care?
Many institutions have reentry centers, special programs, and support services for adults, and colleges often offer child care facilities at lower rates. Be sure to take full advantage of these services as they are designed to provide counseling and help meet the special needs of older students. An example of this is Penn State University's Student Affairs Center for Adult Learner Services. The center provides information about campus services, child care, financial aid, programs for adult learners, and many other helpful resources. And because of the rising need for child care services on college campuses, Congress has approved a significant increase in program funding that provides child care for single parents in financial need. The Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools (CCAMPIS) budget rose in 2001 to $25 million from $5 million in the year 2000. In its first two years, CCAMPIS supported child care centers at 87 colleges, and includes nearly 300 additional college programs. In October 2001, the U.S. Education secretary launched 222 new grants totaling $10.5 million to assist institutions in providing low-income students (those eligible for Pell Grants) with quality child care. Information on the program and additional resources for child care are available on the Department of Education Web site.

Why are Textbooks so Expensive, and How Can I Reduce the Cost?
The College Board reported that due to the rising costs of textbooks, students spent approximately $853 on college books and supplies in 2004–2005 at public universities, which is nearly a $200 increase within five years. This issue is currently being investigated by policymakers who are seeking to ensure affordability. Methods to reduce costs include buying, renting, or swapping textbooks online, downloading free or viewing digital textbooks, checking the textbook out from the college library, and asking your instructor or professor if you can substitute an older edition of the book or one without any bundled additions, (such as CDs or workbooks). According to studies by the California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), 65 percent of faculty rarely or never use the bundled add-ons in their classes, and many say that the practice of continually issuing new editions is justified “never” to “half the time.” Students are experiencing difficulty finding used textbooks, as expensive new editions are moving older, previous editions off the market. Because it is important to begin your search early to get the best prices, ask your professors before classes start what materials are required, or check your school Web site, as many colleges are providing listings of required course textbooks online. For more information, see Discount Textbooks, Sticker Shock and Textbook Buybacks.

See also: Financial Aid: Frequently Asked Questions.

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