Non-Traditional Student Anxiety

Non-traditional students can refer to those who are over 30, are not enrolled full time, do not live on campus, or are employed full time. These students have concerns not typically shared by recent high school graduates who are not employed.

Time Frame

Many non-traditional students feel they will have difficulty pursuing a college degree because they have been out of high school for a long time. While this might mean their skills are rusty in some areas, these students usually are very motivated to learn, which helps them to catch up in areas they are struggling in.

Work

Non-traditional college students may have anxiety caused by trying to balance other obligations to their employers in addition to their studies. This is because their full-time jobs occupy a great deal of their time. This can cause frustration for the student who might find it difficult to study because of the time spent at work.

Family

Non-traditional students can have frustration due to obligations with family. Many of these students have children at home who require a great deal of their attention. Students may also have to make a decision whether or not to miss classes in order to attend their children's school functions. The guilt associated with these conflicts can also cause tension.

References

• High Beam: Article: Statistics anxiety: the nontraditional student
• Students Over 30: You Are Never Too Old to Go Back to School
• National Center for Education Statistics: Nontraditional Undergraduates / Definitions and Data