Back to School as a Non-Traditional Student

By KSU Counseling Services Staff

Non-traditional students attend college and university at virtually all institutions of higher education.

What is a Non-Traditional Student?

A non-traditional student is one who does not fit the typical mode of a freshman student out of high school. The National Center for Educational Statistics describes a non-traditional student as one who...

"Delays enrollment (does not enter post-secondary education in the same calendar year that he or she finished high school);
Attends part time for at least part of the academic year;
Works full time (35 hours or more per week) while enrolled;
Is considered financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid;
Has dependents other than a spouse (usually children, but sometimes others);
Is a single parent (either not married or married but separated and has dependents); or
Does not have a high school diploma (completed high school with a GED or other high school completion certificate or did not finish high school)."

Using these guidelines, some 73% of undergraduates in 1999 – 2000 were seen as non-traditional.

A Different College Experience?

Non-traditional students may be taking classes alongside their more traditional peers. They may be earning undergraduate or graduate degrees, or they may be going after certificate programs. Whatever the case may be, their college experiences will be necessarily different from their peers.

Non-traditional students may already have had a career or several of them by the time they enter college. Many may be returning to school after a change in family circumstance or a change in work life (such as coming off an injury).

They may have different expectations in terms of a social scene, such as meeting others of a like age vs. some of the more typical social scene issues like dating or starting young families—that may be more typical of younger-age students.

The new classrooms, with high-tech equipment and software, whiteboards, and other elements, may be new for some. Teaching styles may also be very different, with a more relaxed instructional style by some teachers and many giving over a lot more responsibility to students. It's rare to have traditional by-the-book learning today. Students may also be expected to take a lot more initiative about their own research and studies, which may mean more time spent both in the library and online.

Making Your Own Space on Campus

It may take a couple academic terms to acclimate to campus life. Taking courses whether full-time or part-time often will involve a change in lifestyle, in time allocation, and in finances.
Even if a student is a commuting student, which many non-traditional students tend to be, the new academic responsibilities will affect people's lives. There will be new stresses, of meeting academic deadlines and instructor expectations.

This acclimating may involve finding comfortable hangouts or study nooks on campus. It may involve setting up a constructive study situation that fits around family and other commitments. It may mean prioritizing some aspects of life over others.

Welcome to Campus!

K-State has a large number of non-traditional students on campus studying in a wide range of fields. It also has many comfortable spaces all over campus for study and for socializing with others.