Students High Non Traditional School Family College Attend Working

Traditionally, students attend college "straight out of" (immediately after graduating from) high school and their studies are their main focus, with students not working or not working very much during their studies. However, many students are "non-traditional students" who do not "fit the image" (meet people's expectations) of a traditional student.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a "non-traditional student" is a student who has one or more of the following characteristics:

• "Delays" (does something later) "enrollment" (officially registering to take classes) by more than one year after the high school graduation

• Is a part-time student for at least part of the year

• Works 35 or more hours per week

• Is "financially independent" (responsible for one's own expenses, without receiving significant financial assistance from family members)

• "Supports a family" (is responsible for children or other family members)

• Is a "single parent" (someone who is raising children without being married to the mother/father, and without the help of the father/mother)

• Does not have a high school "diploma" (a certificate stating that one has completed high school)

Universities recognize that many non-traditional students "face" (deal with) significant "challenges" (something that makes it more difficult to achieve one's goals) and require additional support in order to earn their degree. "Consequently" (as a result), many colleges offer special programs and scholarships that are designed for non-traditional students.

For example, single mothers who are studying at the university might have access to scholarships that are not available to other students, and they might be invited to attend meetings of "support groups" (groups of people with similar problems) to talk about their problems and learn how their "peers" (people with similar characteristics) are "coping" (dealing with a difficult situation).