College Bound High School Seniors & Adult Learners: 6 Things You Should Know

It’s a whole different process when looking at the adult learner and what they bring verses the traditional high school student entering college."

Eddie Pawlawski is the Director of Engagement and Outreach with the College Board.

By: Linda E. Alberty, M.A. ​​

​With the school year looming closely around the corner, classes all across the U.S. will be in session sooner than we know. Naturally, the back-to-school season can trigger a mix of feelings for children, parents and adults alike.

School Year Rings in a Second New Year 

​Nostalgic childhood memories surrounding the excitement of a new academic year to nervousness for parents as they watch their children advance into a new grade, traditionally the end of August signals a monumental notion of a “New Year,” no doubt.

It can also signal a psychological cue or reminder of a educational goal left unfulfilled—the journey to embark upon an advanced degree or complete an unfinished degree from long ago.

CULTIVATE EXCELLENCE recently interviewed 30-year higher education expert, Eddie Pawlawski,  Director of Engagement and Outreach with the College Board, to break-down a few myths and give advice for college bound high schoolers and adult learners returning to the classroom.

College Bound Senior vs. Adult Learner— Understanding It Isn’t The Same
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It’s a whole different process when looking at the adult learner and what they bring verses the traditional high school student entering college. Eddie continues “Many times, the assumption for high school students is that they come into the college setting not necessarily knowing what they want to do, what they love to do or what their niche is.”

Exploratory, Good for the 18-22 Person 

According to The New York Times, “Exploratory” is the new undeclared as institutions are moving away from the negative-sounding “undecided” label to encourage students to experiment.  It is commonly expected that first-year students may change their major more than once, as they are “ joining the flow, growing, changing, and building who they are as an 18-22 person,” adds Eddie.

​Take Penn State, for example … 80 percent of freshmen — even those who have declared a major — say they are uncertain about their major, and half will change their minds after they declare, sometimes more than once.

It is commonly expected that first-year students may change their major more than once, as they are joining the flow, growing, changing, and building who they are as an 18-22 person."

Adult Learner: Same Goal, Different Package 

Adult learners have a very different set of expectations. They are looking for very specific training that might be related to their years in the workforce or in industry. Eddie describes, “The questions they are asking are somewhat different in that they may be heavily weighted toward a particular profession, and they typically bring an array of credentials that include previous training and previous college credit.  The package they present may be vastly different than the traditional admissions package of grades, test scores, and recommendations.

‘What can you [X College] do for me? How quickly? And can I afford it?’  They may even be an advanced learner who has worked over 20 years. And that’s not the only thing they are seeking.“ Adult learners crave the opportunity to complete things quickly and have contact, collaboration and conversation with faculty to receive assistance as quickly as they can.” 

Adult learners will often select whichever institution provides what they need. And if that institution can deliver it quickly, they are loyal. If not, the adult learner will go somewhere else."

​As such, many institutions offer flexible, adult-friendly degree programs and have adopted customer-centric admissions processes where they evaluate transcripts and previous experiential learning, encouraging many adult learners to realize that a return to the classroom is possible.

​“It is not always about the name brand of the institution. "Adult learners will often select whichever institution provides what they need. And if that institution can deliver it quickly, they are loyal. If not, the adult learner will go somewhere else."

Feel Good By The Degree 

Most adults don’t have time. They know what they need, they just might not have all the time in the world to do a proper search of every institution out there. Eddie recommends that searching for the right institution for both college bound high school seniors and adult learners is every bit of a negotiation as one would think. “The best way to really dive into the process is to become hands-on: 

• Go Browsing - Do a search on the institution’s site to determine prerequisites or visit industry sites.
• Get Picky - Once you’ve narrowed a few institutions down, contact the admissions office (hopefully there is an adult learning admissions process for adult learners).
• Start A Meaningful Conversation - Be sure to talk to an advisor whether it is via email, by phone or if local, in person. Those are not meant to be sales type of presentations — it’s intended so that you can feel each other out to see if it is a mutually good fit.” 

There are some places that are going to be fits for individuals and some places that will not. Here are some key indicators to reinforce that a program is truly meant for you:

• Does it Feel Right? - Eddie warns, “If they want you to commit today, sign of the dotted line, and it doesn’t feel good when you talk with them, there will likely be disappointment all around.”
• Clarify Expectations - If you are comfortable as a self directed student, it’s a fit. If you’re expecting personal identification time, you probably won’t be happy.
• Follow Your Gut Reaction - Eddie reminds us that there are some places that are going to be fits for individuals and some places will not. 

On the other hand, if the institution is methodical about the process, and walks you through in a logical process, shows that it is a collaborative decision, with a smile, Eddie assures, “then perhaps you found your home.”

Since 1983, Eddie Pawlawski has specialized in every facet of higher education management for both the traditional college student and the adult learner, including online studies. His passion and enthusiasm to see how students are performing and achieving in the academic world enables him to have a direct role in shaping the dialogue around the U.S. college admission process, course taking patterns and best practices for the next level of the college experience.

Previously, Eddie served as the Executive Vice President at Cumberland University, located in the greater Nashville area.