Hawley Center

Tips for Adult Students

Adjusting to campus

With all of their offices, departments, and requirements, college campuses can be a bit overwhelming.  It's easy to feel like everyone knows what's going on except you.  It's also easy to get lost in the crowd, or to feel uncertain about who to go to if you have a question.  The following is some general advice about adjusting to campus so that you feel more comfortable both academically and socially.

Learn more about various student resources on campus

  • The Division of Adult Learning offices located in Indianola, West Des Moines, and Ankeny
  • Your advisor
  • Your instructor
  • Counseling Services (located in Brenton Student Center)
  • The Hawley Academic Resource Center (located in Dunn Library)
  • Dunn Library
  • The computer labs in Dunn Library and in the Carver Science building on the Indianola campus and the computer labs in the West Des Moines office
  • The Registrar's office (located in Hillman Hall)
  • The Office of Financial Aid (located in College Hall)

Get involved

  • Introduce yourself to classmates.  Get to class early if possible and break the ice by discussing the previous assignment, or stay late and talk about the lecture.
  • Form a study group.  Plan to meet before the class, after class, or even on a different night to go over class notes, assignments, and readings.  Working together is not only a great way to learn -- it's also a great way to gain much needed support.
  • Form a support group.  If you're dealing with a specific issue in your life, such as balancing school with the demands of raising a family, consider asking others to meet informally once a week to share frustrations and methods of coping.  People with common problems can share common solutions, too.
  • Join a campus organization.  Organizations like the Commuter Club, Religious Life Council, the Campus Activities Board, Student Senate, Student Democrats, Student Republicans, Concerned Multicultural Students, Amnesty International and departmental clubs can provide a great way to meet people and explore your own interests.
  • Perform!  Try out for choir or band, or audition for a part in a Simpson production.  Having a creative outlet is a great way to manage stress, and it's also a wonderful way to meet people.
  • Get involved in intramural sports.  Exercise is also a well-researched way to manage stress, and intramural sports bring together all different kinds of people on campus, from professors to students, staff, and administrators.

General study tips

As an adult student you may be juggling a full work load along with the demands of school, family, and a social life, drastically limiting the amount of study time available to you.  The following tips can help you make the most out of the time that you do have.

Regularly-scheduled part of your week

Ideally, make a weekly schedule identifying when you will study, and post that where you and your family can see it.  This way others can be sensitive about respecting the time you need to get your classwork done.  Also, this way you've made an "appointment" with yourself to do your classwork, which is a good way to stay motivated.

Develop a regular study area

Make sure this area ensures some privacy, is quiet, is well-lit, contains all the materials you need, and is comfortable.

Keep an ongoing "To Do" list

Update this To-Do list daily or once a week, and circle or put a star by the things that need to be done first.  You can also use a "To Do" list to write down any worries or reminders to yourself that may distract you while you're studying.  By writing these things down, you can clear your mind for studying.

Studying difficult subjects

If you're taking more than one class at a time, study difficult subjects and those you don't find very interesting first, when your energy level is higher.  Don't put those off until it's midnight and you can only think about sleep.

Take regular breaks

Don't try to study for hours on end -- you'll just become tired and less productive that way.  Study for 45 minutes or so, then take a break.

Take time for review

Spend up to 15 minutes before class reviewing your previous notes and assignments and spend up to 15 minutes after class looking over your notes from that day.  This regular review reinforces information, making it easier to study for tests.  It also makes it easier to stay on track with your day-to-day assignments.

Get enough rest

Try to get enough rest so you will be ready to concentrate when you want to study.  Fatigue leads to poor learning and even poorer retention of information.

Find some help

For difficult courses, set up a study group with other students from your course.  If a course is especially difficult for you, or if you feel that you have a poor background for a course you're taking, sign up for a free tutor at Hawley.  Working with a tutor is a great way to learn at your own pace and to review difficult information.  Remember, it is a good idea to get a tutor at the beginning of the course.

Studying with children underfoot

Stress management and time management are essential to academic success, but some students feel that finding any time to study can be difficult when they have young children at home.  Try some of the following techniques to balance both your responsibilities as a student and your responsibilities as a parent.  Of course, the methods you use will depend on the age of your children, how many children you have, etc.

Plan tasks ahead of time

When you need to study, plan tasks ahead of time for your child.  Get out some toys or games that allow your child to be creative, and set up a "work station" for him or her to use while you study.  You can even offer rewards for him or her getting an "assignment" done.  Tell your child that you need him or her to play quietly while you get some work done.  Using a kitchen timer can be a good way for him/her to keep track of the time.  Afterwards, reward your child for playing quietly with some time together, reading a book or playing outside, for example.

Childproof a room

Childproof a room in the house and allow your children to play freely with their favorite toys in this room while you study.  Again, set a time limit, and reward your children for playing together quietly with a treat or a special activity.

Adjust your studying

Try to study in ways that allow for interruptions when you're with your children, like looking over your notes or skimming through a chapter, instead of doing work that requires more uninterrupted attention, like writing a paper.  Save those kinds of tasks for when you're at school or after your children have gone to sleep.

Find a quiet place

If you can, find a quiet place on campus and study for half an hour before and/or after class, when you know you will be able to concentrate.  Even this short time can ease the amount of homework you have to do when you're home with your children.

Include your children

Include your children in your studying, if possible.  Have them drill you using notecards that you have created, or have them ask you questions that you give them to help you study for tests.  Children can learn to be good students in this process as well.

Put your child first

When you get home, put aside at least 10 to 15 minutes to spend entirely with your child.  Ask about his/her day, give him/her a hug, or read a short book together.  Then tell your child that you need 30 minutes to study before dinner.  Your child will be more likely to leave you alone to study if he/she feels like he/she has come first.

Develop a routine

Develop a routine in which you study for certain periods of the evening.  If children get used to the fact that you're studying from 7 to 8 p.m., for example, they'll be more likely to develop ways to play or to do their own homework independently during that time.

Find a playmate for the child

Some children can play with their friends quietly in their rooms with minimal supervision, allowing you to get some homework done.

Ask for help

Ask other adults for help, as your classmates are likely to feel the same demands.  Maybe you could take another student's children for several hours one evening, in exchange for that student taking your children for several hours another day.  This way you can both get some homework done while knowing your children are well-supervised.

Use the TV if necessary

If your child has a favorite television show that you have already approved of, use the time when he or she is watching that show to get some homework done.  You can also use videotapes your child likes.  This should be done in moderation, however, to avoid encouraging your child to become a "couch potato".

Last Updated: 11/18/11