Where are the Footnotes? A Guide for the Non-traditional Female College Student

While one of the main barriers to education for younger students is financial, this is usually not the case for non-traditional female students. Adult women have jobs, and they must pay bills. They have children and sometimes they help raise their grandchildren. They are wives, divorcees, widows, and caretakers for their aging parents. Their lives do not start and end in the classroom, so they need to integrate all of their responsibilities into a format that works for them. This ground-breaking reference tool was designed for women who will be attending college for the first time, or returning to the classroom after an extended absence. Whether you are a displaced worker, need to upgrade yourself for a promotion, or have put off completing your dissertation, you will find something within these pages that can help you to reach your goal. What you will find between the pages of this book is encouragement, information and solutions for some of the concerns that women have about enrolling in school--things that books written for traditional students and those who are not responsible for child care or running a household do not discuss.

EXCERPT FROM PAGES VI AND VII
Part I (Preparing for College) addresses in detail what you need to do before you enter college. In this part, you will be introduced to a tool called journaling that can assist with emotional readiness by helping you to shed emotional baggage that possibly prevented you from moving forward and acting on your dreams in the first place. We will talk about common fears, such as learning disabilities, lack of a GED, and fear of modern technology. You will find suggestions on how to secure affordable child and/or elder care, and organize your life through the effective use of time management. You will also work through exercises that are in the form of stories designed to help you learn how to think your way out of situations.

Part II (Getting Down to Business) provides step-by-step instructions on how to select a college that would be right for you and walks you through the enrollment process. You will learn what types of colleges are available and be introduced to different educational options, college entrance tests, and become familiar with different types of classes and instructional strategies. You will also learn how to schedule time for classes, be made aware of traps to avoid, and learn about the offices on campus and what they do.

Part III (School Basics) will refresh your memory with long forgotten test-taking strategies and study techniques that you will need to succeed in college. You will find useful information about college itself, terminology, learning styles, memory tools, useful catch-up tips, and definitions that you will need to know before you start school. There are also tips to help older students learn to work smarter, and we will revisit how to read a textbook, take notes, and listen effectively. Suggestions on how to make study time for yourself are also included here.

Part IV (Caring for Yourself) discusses ways to care for your emotional, and physical health. In this part, we will discuss how to get enough quiet time, sleep, and exercise. We will also talk about self esteem, methods to reduce stress, how to organize your personal life with techniques and tools, and how to handle negative people in your life who can hinder your education.

Part V (Caring for your Home) contains tips for organizing your family and your home, so that you can get the most out of your day and have time left for yourself and your studies. Time saving methods for accomplishing chores, running errands, and meal preparation are discussed in depth.

Gail A. Brown lives in Michigan, and is a first-time college student who returned to the classroom after an absence of thirty years. During her academic journey, Gail saw the need and wrote this unique and indispensable book that can help women enroll in, stay in, and succeed in school.