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In years past, high school graduates had to choose from one of two paths: either enter the world of higher education by going to college, or put education aside and enter the workforce. Now a third option is emerging: entering the workforce only to attend college years later as a non-traditional student.

The percentage of non-traditional students is rising across the nation, as more and more adults decide to continue their education. Non-traditional students nearly equal traditional students among U.S. undergraduates today according to the National Center of Education Statistics.

The reasons these adults become non-traditional students vary. Some are laid off from their jobs and must acquire new skills to enter a new career. Some are retired or divorced and seeking to start a new chapter in their lives. Some simply do it for themselves, seeking to enrich their lives in new and rewarding ways.

For some adults, going back to school can be a scary time. They can be afraid of entering classrooms with much younger classmates who are just out of high school. They can have self-doubts as to whether or not they can accomplish their goal of getting a degree. They can be nervous about term papers, pop quizzes, tests and final exams. They can worry about where this new adventure is going to take them.

For these reasons, here is a list of the top five tips for adults as non-traditional students:

5. People are inherently good. Your classmates, even if they are younger, will likely be willing to help you study and will explain concepts you don’t understand. Teachers may be authority figures in the classroom, but most are happy to take their own time to help students with the subjects they are studying.

4. Develop a college support network. Make sure your friends and family understand why you are returning to college and why you feel this is something that will be a healthy new adventure for you. They will form a great support group around you, and you may need to lean on a shoulder every now and again.

3. Financial aid is out there. School is expensive - there’s no way around that. No one is trying to tell you it isn’t. But with a little investigation (including phone calls to your university), you will likely find there are scholarships available for non-traditional students. Don’t think twice about calling the financial aid office; it’s what they are there for.

2. Time management is key. Non-traditional students typically have spouses, children and jobs to worry about in addition to their school work. Make yourself a schedule and follow it religiously. Make sure you have back-up plans in place in case you need to juggle multiple activities (homework and picking the kids up for soccer practice, for example).

1. Be yourself and have fun. Teachers don’t want to educate drones. Speak up in class. Share your valuable life experience with younger students. Challenge ideas that you may question. Remember, you are paying for your education. You will only get out of it what you put in.

Student loan interest rates are changing this July – are you ready?

Preparing for the Loan Interest Rate Change
It’s true. Rates will definitely go up on July 1, 2006. Whether you can get those pre-July 1 rates if you apply now depends on your lender. Some lenders will guarantee the rate at the time of application, while others give you the rate at the time of approval, which will likely be after July 1 (Sneaky, isn’t it?). Currently, school loan interest rates are at an all-time low. So it would be wise to try and preserve this low interest rate by reorganizing your payment schedule.

Overall, it’s best to have your application finished and turned in as soon as possible, but at the absolute latest your application must be postmarked by June 30 to meet the deadline with most lenders. Now would be a good time to think about refinancing your student loans or consolidating them. It will take some phone calls and a little work to get this done, but it will be worth the effort, so don’t back down. It’s not as complex as it may seem at first.

What do I Need to Know About Student Loan Consolidation?
If you have any loans that are guaranteed by the government (Stafford, Perkins, etc.), they can be consolidated into one loan. Do you have a fixed rate loan or a variable rate loan?

The rate for the new consolidation loan is fixed at the rate you are currently paying for your loans. For loans that already have a fixed rate, like Perkins loans, this isn’t a big deal. But for Stafford loans, it is, because they are variable rate loans, and the rate for these loans is at its lowest point ever.

The rate of interest is guaranteed to go up on July 1, because the rate is changed each year on that day, using the rate for 90-day T-bills at the end of May plus 1.7 percent. As the rate for T-bills went up from last May to this year, consolidation rates will definitely increase, so that is why everyone is recommending consolidation before July 1.

Another reason to consolidate is that the time in which you can pay is often extended, thus resulting in lower monthly payments.

How do I Know if I can Consolidate My Student Loans?
Are you eligible for loan consolidation? If you are already making payments or if you are in the grace period, you can consolidate.

The rule used to be that you couldn’t consolidate if you were still in school, but that rule has recently been changed. This is to your benefit and can make your repayment schedule even easier.

Who do I Consolidate My Loans With?
If your school is a direct program lender (i.e., they directly loan you the money and are funded by the Department of Education), then you have to consolidate with the government.

If the funds are provided by a private lender like the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), then you have to consolidate through your existing lender. While theoretically the FFELP lender can decline to consolidate your loan, since it’s a guaranteed money maker for the loan consolidator, they never will. You just want to make sure you don’t let them make too much money off of this.

Ask your lender about incentives that are called borrower benefits. The most common borrower benefits are to give you 0.25 percent off your interest rate if you make payments through automatic withdrawal and a certain percent rate cut (typically 1 percent or less) after a certain number of timely payments.

If you still have questions or want advice on whether a certain consolidator is a good one, talk to your school’s financial aid office. Even if you’ve already left school, they’ll probably be willing to help you out.

The Commitment
As a newly enlisted member of the U.S. Armed Services, you know that the U.S. military is made of committed enlisted soldiers and officers serving together to protect America’s freedoms and to preserve the peace. This kind of commitment makes your dedication the embodiment of selfless service, and you are called on by the world persistently to do your job anywhere, anytime. But who do you call on when you need help in finding a satisfying civilian life after your active duty?

The Desire
One of the better ways to boost your value in the civilian sector is by improving your education. And one of the best ways to improve your education is through the Montgomery GI Bill. You may have heard of it, but do you really know what it can do for you?

The Problem
The rising cost of tuition can be hard to manage, but the Military’s Tuition Assistance Program pays for up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition or expenses, up to a maximum of $250 per semester credit hour and a personal maximum of $4,500 per fiscal year per student. This program is the same for full-time duty members in each military service. Selected military reserve and National Guard units also offer a Tuition Assistance Program, although the benefits may vary from the full-time duty program.

The Solution
The Montgomery GI Bill offers more than $36,000 in tuition as a benefit for a three-year commitment on full-time duty. Service members contribute $100 a month for a year. In return, they get more than $1,000 a month for three years - a very handsome return on investment.

The GI Bill can be used not only for college degree programs but also for technical certifications, flight training, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, online degrees and correspondence courses, among others.

You can apply for the GI Bill by filling out and following the instructions on VA Form 22-1990, which is the Application for Education Benefits. But did you also know about additional features and details of the GI Bill?

Since 2001, there have been numerous features added to the GI Bill that have greatly improved the benefits. Here is a list of the most important ways the Act has improved your MGIB/VA benefits. These additional benefits include:

• Transferability (to help your dependents)
• Buy-up (an extra $150 each month)
• Top-up (available to those enlisted two years or more)
• Accelerated payments (up to $6,000 for jobs in high-tech!)
• Certification Programs (if you would rather graduate quickly)

The Kicker
Here’s another little-known secret with a large payoff. Enlistees in the Armed Services who become eligible for their College Fund Programs receive up to $65,000 toward college tuition, when combined with the Montgomery GI Bill, and upon honorable discharge. Enlistees who are awarded the College Fund by the Marine Corps or Coast Guard receive additional dollars that can make up a significant part - or all - of the funds needed to complete a college education.

A great education should be something to look forward to after your active duty and can help you find the perfect path back to a productive civilian life, if you plan ahead and take a few simple steps. Take the time to find out more about the Montgomery GI Bill soon.