Success Tips

Fitting college into a busy life full of existing work and family commitments can often be a challenge to the returning student. The following tips may help you balance your responsibilities so you can complete your degree and keep your sanity.

Get your family on board

Have a series of conversations with your family about the financial and time obligations of returning to college.  Make a list of the pros and cons of each issue and decide, as a family, if the long term gains of earning a degree will outweigh any short term sacrifices.

Create a degree plan

Meet with your Re-Entry Concierge to review your transcripts and develop a plan that identifies the classes you need and the order in which you should take them so you can complete your degree on time and on budget.

Schedule your study time

Put together a realistic schedule of your existing commitments and block out set times each day to study.  A rule of thumb is to plan on three hours of study for each hour of class time per week for most courses and four hours of study for more difficult courses. For example, a four-credit calculus class that meets four hours each week would require 16 hours of study each week. 

Find a dedicated study area

Find a quiet place to study and complete your assignments. This can be at home, in the school library or at a neighborhood coffee shop. Actually, you may need to line up more than one study area if you are running from home to work to school.  When you are in your study area, turn off your cell phone and let your family and friends know you cannot be disturbed.

Take full advantage of on-campus advising and tutoring services

Every NSHE institution offers free advising and tutoring services to help you succeed in your studies.  If you need to brush up on your basic math, writing, computer or note taking skills, or even need extra help in a class, visit your school’s academic support centers to learn more about the resources available to you.