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Interacting with Younger Students
Do they Bite?
You may or may not be worried about attending college with individuals who most likely average the age of your children. If you are worried about this scenario, relax! Most of these youngsters are just as nervous about attending college as you are.
Now, grant it, the younger generation may be a bit more familiar with the current style of teaching and what is expected of them, but if you dig deep in your memory you will recall some of this information too.
Knowledge or Ambition?
While methods may change in the curriculum arena, human nature is still the same. If you give it your all, try your best, get help when you need it and communicate with your professor, chances are you will do just fine.
Most professors just want to see that you are trying and that their efforts are appreciated. They are more apt to curve the grade of a student, regardless of age, if they think that student is trying their hardest and giving it their all.
You can know the material inside and out, but show lack of enthusiasm, a bad attitude in class, and only give it half an effort and guess what? Chances are the struggling student will be the one to pass the class! Trust me, I have experienced this first hand (yes I was the struggling adult!).
Whipper Snappers!
Now, back to the young whipper-snappers! Yes, you are going to have some immature classmates and some are there just to appease their parents, but the majority of them are there for a quality education and to ensure their future. Most of them are just as serious about their education as you are! Your job is going to be to scope out those that are serious about their education and those who aren't.
You normally can make this deduction the first week or two in class. Watch how attentive they are in class. Are they taking notes? Slouching in their seats? Draped over their desks, drooling on a blank piece of paper? I am not saying to ignore your professor and intensely study every student in the class, but common sense and some keen observation can help you quickly deduce who will make a good partner if you suspect group projects are on the horizon in your class.
Wealth of Information!
As an adult, you may have a hard time refraining from treating your younger classmates like one of your kids. Remember that they have also worked hard to get to the same point as you. They are now college students and want to be treated as such.
Interact with them as you would of your friends. Refrain from forming judgment on what they do or do not know. These students have just come from high school, they are still in the 'learning mode' and are familiar with today's curriculum and style of teaching and they can be a wealth of information along your college journey!
The Golden Rule
Remember the 'Golden Rule' you so painstakingly drilled into your kids; Treat others as you would have others treat you. The same rule still applies here.
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