ONLINE EDUCATION | EDUCATION | CAREER ADVICE

How much emphasis do admissions committees put on grades when evaluating applicants? The truth is that grades and GPAs are good long-term indicators of an individual’s performance as a student. Grades do not necessarily reflect intelligence; however, they do show a student’s ability to produce good work — or not-so-good work — over an extended period of time. Typically, admissions committees focus on grade trends. The best indicator of this is the grade point average, or GPA, which is a numerical way of measuring how a student performed over the course of a year or even throughout high school. As such, a few poor marks here and there won’t affect that overall trend. However, if students are concerned about any unusual marks in a given semester or with respect to a particular class or subject, they should outline the circumstances in the application (most applications include a section specifically for such explanations). Students should be candid as to why these marks fell outside of the trend and assure the admissions committee that similar problems won’t affect their performance in the future. On a more positive note, if students used poor grades to show how they overcame a challenge and then show how their grades improved, such grades may actually be used to their advantage. Finally, while admissions committees do focus on overall grade trends, they tend to put more weight on grades earned in the latter half of high school. Committees know that many students struggle at first to adapt to the rigors of high school. They also know that junior- and senior-level courses are more comparable to college-level courses. So students who struggled during their freshman and sophomore years shouldn’t fret. Remember the committee is looking for trends, and even more important than the overall trend is where the trend is heading at its conclusion — hopefully up. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.

Going back to school can be intimidating, especially if you’ve been away for awhile or, most especially, if you never went. Don’t worry — a little anxiety is perfectly normal. You might be concerned about being in a new environment or about the intellectual challenges school will bring. Maybe you worry about having enough time. Whatever your concerns, there is one thing you should not worry about — namely, the application process. This essay discusses three parts of the application process and explains why applications should not interfere with your academic goals.

SAT and ACT Scores

For many high school students, one of the most intimidating aspects of applying for college admission is taking the SAT or ACT. For millions of these college-hopefuls, these exams determine their fate — where they get in and what, if any, financial aid they will receive. The question is: if high school students get worked-up over these exams after being in an academic environment for most of their lives, then how should you — an adult student — feel about the prospect of taking these tests after being away from school for years? The answer: you should not be concerned in the least.

The fact is that many adult education or continuing education programs do not require tests like the SAT or ACT for admissions. Administrators realize that test results for adult students will likely prove inaccurate and are not necessarily good predictors of academic success. Granted, some programs may still require the SAT or ACT. If so, it may be a good idea to enroll in a prep course that caters to adult students. Just remember that these tests are not as important for adults as they are for high-school-age applicants, and test scores will ultimately be weighed against other factors, such as relevant work experience and other intangibles, which most adult students have in spades.

Essays

Unlike test scores, essays will probably be required with every college application. The good news is that essays provide adult students with an edge. The reason is that adult students have a great deal of real-world experience, which is great fodder for essays. Essays are designed to tell the admissions committee who the applicant is, what they are capable of, and how their unique life experience will contribute to their success as a student. And because adult students have a broader range of experience to draw from, essays are far more advantageous for them than for high-school-age applicants. Just let your work speak for itself.

Transcripts

Although essays will inform the admissions committee that you possess certain intangibles, such as experience or desire, the committee will also want to see numbers. As such, part of the application might include a high school transcript or GED scores. Committees realize that just because an applicant earned a poor grade in a class fifteen years ago, it doesn’t mean they’re doomed to the same fate now. What they are looking for is a broad academic picture. Thus, adult students in reasonably good standing shouldn’t have any problems, even with a few questionable marks here and there. Students whose transcripts are lacking are not doomed either, but they may need to show evidence of academic progress in other areas, such as work or perhaps in a non-credit continuing education course. Remember that if grades and transcripts don’t tell the real story, you simply need to find another way to demonstrate your academic potential.

Back in high school, academics were the focus of your life. So even though applying to college may have been frustrating and time-consuming, it was at least familiar. Applying as an adult, however, forces you to engage in the sort of work you may not have done in a long time. But the truth is, the application process will probably be easier now than it was when you were a teenager. The important thing is to play to your strengths and provide an honest assessment of your academic potential. Let the admissions committee take care of the rest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.

Have you already achieved your high school diploma? If you have, then you may be considering progressing on to that next level of adult education. It would be wise to continue your studies because an adult education such as a bachelor’s degree is practically essential in this day and age. Of course, it’s possible to acquire a decent paying job without going to college for four years. However, most of the people who land these jobs are not really doing something they really want. How about you? Do you want to land a job that you truly love? There are a lot of advantages in attaining an adult education. You will dramatically increase your chances of being employed if you have a bachelor’s degree or higher. You will also become much more desirable in the corporate world if you earn a college degree. This means that a college degree will give you a better chance of getting that position you truly want. The higher salary or income is also a benefit of acquiring an adult education. If you go on to college and achieve a four year degree, then there’s a good chance that you will make a better salary. Getting a college education can also give you a career or job that you really want. We know that it’s possible to find a job without a college degree, but it may not be a job that you would want to spend your life doing. This is really a big concern for many people. Getting a bachelor’s degree to do what you enjoy would really make it all worthwhile. Sometimes it has more to do with enjoyment and less with income. It’s a fact that you can’t acquire certain jobs without a college degree. We have also established an adult education is important. Now, it’s up to you to weigh your options. You can choose from a few options in this day and age such as online schooling. You can keep your current job and take care of your adult education from home in your spare time at the same time with this option. I really try and push the concept when it comes to acquiring adult education and college degrees. In my opinion, we should improve our lives by striving for a higher education. I simply can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to because it has been made so convenient these days. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Adult Education. Visit our site for more helpful information about Innovation in Adult Education and other similar topics.