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and Welcome to our podcast, Shockers Learning Out Loud, where we talk about the fear, the excitement, the setbacks, and most importantly, the accomplishments that come along with being an adult learner. That was your host, Dr. Pamela O'Neill, and I'm your co-host, Dr. Amber Anderson. And we are the Office of Online and Adult Learning. Although our department merged happened recently, Pam and I have been having fun collaborating for years. We have one goal at WSU, and that's to advocate for our online and adult learners. working full-time jobs, caretaking for a family member, raising a family themselves, and involved in the community. So needless to say, their time is limited. And we know that and we feel you guys. Our office wants to advocate for your success. So stay tuned for the voices of your adult learning peers as we unpack funny fails, inspiring wins, and mostly the adult learning experience. As usual, I'm your host. Dr. Pamela O'Neill and with me today is your co-host Dr. Amber Anderson and oh I'm Chad Steinkamp from Admissions. Chad what's your title in admissions real quick? I am the Director of Transfer Adult and Military Recruitment in the Office of Admissions. Welcome welcome. Thanks. Chad we've worked together for a number of years now right? Yeah. Since 2015 I've known Chad. How long have you known Chad? Two years, three years. I'm kind of new to the group. Okay. Yeah. But I very much enjoy Chad. New to the group, but most important person in our group. Absolutely. And so one of the reasons we wanted to bring Chad on was kind of talk about some of the myths. Myths? Myths? Myths. Admission myths. Yes, particularly, especially for our adult learners. Chad, how long have you been in that role at WSU? ten years. Wow, so you know everything there is to know about admissions. Admissions at Wichita State. Not everything. I'm always learning stuff every day. So when you're talking to our adult learners and I know like you and I have talked you can almost see the nervousness in their face. So what is one of the first things you might say to our adult learners when they're coming in and you see biggest fear is? Yeah, I just try to make them feel at ease at first. I think their biggest fear is the unknown really and what they're getting into because I think a lot of, since I come back to school, are really thinking about how they're gonna be in class with people a little bit younger than them. They don't know how I'm gonna fit in, how am I gonna work out my schedule with my family, my kids, my full-time job. So I think it's just right off the bat, really just put that they can do it. I mean, it's very possible and they're not the only one. So they're not the first person to walk through our door as a adult student and want to do this and take on this challenge. So I think the big thing is just convincing that they can do it, they can be done. Yeah. And you're not the oldest person in the world to be a student. Yeah, yeah. That's a big fear. Yes. Yeah, yes. Yeah, yeah. So a lot of students will come in and say, well, I'm this old, I don't think I can do it. I was like, well, you're never too old. old to go back to school. Even if it's for one class or for a full degree, you're definitely never too old to try it out. So one of the things that you know we said when you were talking a little bit earlier was that they're afraid they're going to be the youngest or the oldest person in the class and you know what and the other part was not fitting in. Myth number one may be true. You might be the oldest person in the class. As someone who has been there as the oldest taught. Yeah you might be but it's a strength and don't worry about fitting in because you will. You are probably going to become more of a leader in the class. Yeah so I feel like we're myth-busting over here. You may be the oldest but you could possibly be the coolest. That's right. Our oldest one we've named a lounge after so the cast. So yeah, you may be the coolest one. Good point Chad. What else you got there for myths? Let's see. I made a list. She's a good list maker. Is it true Chad that the only students admissions is attracted to are students who are streetie? No. Yeah. I think I think the benefit with we do have some guidelines as far as admissions side goes but typically we just want to to include all students. We have a really high acceptance rate at Wichita State, so we're just looking at a couple things. So like with adult students, mainly, it's really simple for adult students to get in. If you have transfer hours, you just have to have that 2.0 transfer GPA. If you have no transfer hours, you just have to have to graduate into high school. Or have a GED. Or have a GED. Yeah, and even if you just graduate high school, it doesn't matter what you did in high school. You know, it doesn't matter what your ACT. We don't need test scores as an adult student. So we're trying to make it as easy as possible for students to get The myth was that they had to have a perfect or high SAT or ACT score and that scared people away. It does. It does. I have a lot of students that, well, an adult student hit me up like, yeah, I took my ACT 20 plus years ago. How do I get that score? I was like, you don't need to worry about it. Same. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. I couldn't even tell you where to find it. But yeah, it doesn't matter. When you're an adult learner, the big thing we're just going to look at is did you graduate high school? Did you get that GED? And then we'll kind of build off from there. Well, Chad, let me give you, and I know that we've worked with you. on this scenario before. Let's say I've got a 25, 30, 35 year old student that comes to me or even to you or Amber or whatever and say, you know what, when I went to school I was there to party and they will tell you that and they're kind of embarrassed but they're coming back and so their GPA may not be at that 2.0 and they're thinking maybe they can't get in. Is that true? No, that's not true either. So we have ways, we have ways to work with each student. We have process, which is kind of like an appeal process, because that happens. We have a lot of adult students that have been out of the college game for years, and like pretty much most first years, it didn't go very well. Well, it might have gone well for them, but not their academics. Yeah, but not academic side. But not academic side. So they're like, well, do I even apply? Do I even waste my time? Like, yes, still try. Still try. Because we have this exceptions process. That's what we're here for. Yeah, to try to help them through that. And really, it's just one extra step. Basically, they just tell us our story. adult learners are great at telling stories, which is fantastic. So basically you're just writing down your story of why, what happened your first year to, why you think it happened, and then why you think you'd make a good student now, which is how I stay. And so we'll work with you and hopefully get you admitted through that process as well. So if you don't meet the criteria, don't let that stop you from moving forward with whatever your goals are. Still come in and ask questions. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yes. So another myth was that, and I think this was written for first year students, but loading up on extracurriculars is always the best option. I think for adult learners that would be loading up on the max course level is the best option. I would say that is not. I don't think it is. So do most adult learners do full time? Do they come back part time? What vibe do you? So pretty much the vibe I get is more of if they go full time it's usually lower level full time. Yeah. Yeah. So I mean there's full time and there's really, really full time. So if you're full time you're just taking about four classes a semester. For most adult students that's pretty manageable especially with all the options of online classes, evening classes, weekend classes, that sort of thing. Some might just come in, I do get a lot, they just want to be part time, hey I just want to get my feet wet. I want to get used to this whole process. going back to class. Let's try one class. Yeah, that's exactly how I get. Yeah, she knows the story. Yeah, let's try one class. Let's get my feet wet. Let's see how that one class works with going to class, studying, still spending time with my family. And if that works, all right, maybe I can build up another class or another two classes. And so we get a lot of students that do that, that just aren't ready to dive in full time, which is totally fine. You know, we're going to help them through that process either way. It's so true. I think that's part of success in college for me. was knowing when to not take classes. Right, yeah. And chill out for a second. Well, and chill out. And so what I found, you know, I was in high school, I wasn't particularly good with math. And so when it came to college algebra, that's all I took. And I took it in the summer. And I'm glad I did it that way, because I could concentrate on college algebra. Turns out I wasn't that bad at it. Just out of practice. Out of practice. Yeah, and I think that's really good advice for some of those subjects that you're just not really comfortable with to take those by themselves It's a whole different game I remember in my time of it going through the whole constant I had to take biology on its own in the summer the science not my strong point But it worked out well because there's only class I don't worry about and so I think a lot of adult learners could benefit from that too by just taking those one or two classes that are really gonna be a challenge for them and Kind of separate those from the others, right? So I'm gonna take us off a little script a little bit. Every summer Chad and I and I think you've been there with us Amber we do these adult learner info sessions. Can you talk to us a little bit about those info sessions Chad and what they do? Yeah so typically the Office of Admissions works really closely with online and adult learning here at Wichita State and we put together just a couple of small events on our main campus and then of course a couple of our satellite campuses Wichita and South Wichita. And we just send invites to adult learners that want to gather more information about what we have to offer. So about Wichita State in general, the admissions process, learn more about online classes, the adult learning resources. And then we invite you just to meet with us in person. And we really kind of like to open up for Q and A. One thing I love about adult learners is they have lots of questions. And they aren't afraid to ask. And they're not afraid, right. Right, I mean, you get these high school kids that are just not, don't want to speak up, but adult learners, I love them. Because they speak up. They say what's on their mind. and what questions they have. Time is money and we gotta ask the questions we need to ask and then we're gonna leave and do the next thing we have to do on our list. Well, and I think they understand, like, you know, myself, when I was coming, I was like, okay, this is money I'm spending and I'm going to make sure I get my money's worth. And so it was asking the questions. And I think sometimes they come to the table with that idea that, you know, I'm going to learn everything I can and so I'm going, and that takes asking a question. Yeah, yeah. And from what we do, we love our questions. Oh yeah. We don't do what we do without the questions. So we want to make sure you guys ask those questions and give you guys the opportunity, the adults the opportunity at these programs to come in person and ask us those questions. And it's mainly more of a Q&A session. I mean it turns out to be about 30 minutes of us presenting, but then the rest of the time we're there for up to an hour longer just answering questions and visiting with students and what their concerns are and busting some of these myths that we're bringing up. What you got on that list? Amber has a list over here. Another fear, I think, has to do with the application process. thinking or believing that family duties and family responsibilities and work responsibilities won't be worth much when written down on your application. Is that anything taken into consideration as far as applying? Not really, not really. So the only time we really look into that is if you went through like the, had to go through the exceptions process. So if for some reason we didn't image you based off of past GPA or transfer GPA, just because we have to go by Kansas Board of Regents tells us to, but then the exceptions process is really up to us. So if we go through that exceptions process, then we may ask or you may tell us some situations that are going on with family, was taking up your time, and kind of some things that we will definitely take in consideration when it comes to getting you admitted through that process. But the initial application process, we really don't. of questions that you just addressed Amber and you're talking about. Having those answers ready to go for our OSHER scholarship form or OSHER scholarship is really good. Talking about the families, that's what we want to know or the OSHER scholarship committee wants to hear about. So those things are very important I would say when it comes to filling out scholarship. Maybe not for and those things ready to go and being able to write out an essay really quick, Eric, it's a good thing. Next would be, receiving a rejection from admissions is far more likely than getting in. Two or false? False. So like I said before, we have a very high admissions rate. So we want you to be students here at Wichita State. you on some things that we should be accepting you on. So like I said, we'll work with you if for some initial reason based off like a transfer GPA or something that you don't initially get admitted, that could happen and you will actually receive that denial email or that denial phone call, which is kind of a gut punch in a way. Just keep in mind that we'll follow that up with some other options to get you in because like I said, we want to work with you and I want to say we're close to 80, maybe 90% right here at Wichita State, so it's really high. So chance of getting a denial letter or denial from us is pretty low. But there's still options to work. And there's still options towards it. Yep. I love that. I do too. Yeah. So we're what did you say almost halfway through our list here, but I'm gonna throw something fun. All right. So I spent the morning with Chad in meetings and you know what I heard Amber? Oh no, no, no. Yeah, he's Chad Dad. Chad Dad, why? They can... Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha the vibe we get from you Chad and that's why I think our adult learners really enjoy their time here, why they enjoy coming to meet with you because yeah we care about your story, we care about you as a person. When you come in, yes you're a student, you're not just a number though. People like Chad are There are a lot of them here. And he does give off those dad vibes. Chad dad. Chad dad. I'm always going to read the comments. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you have any dad jokes for us, Chad? Yeah, you have a dad joke to put you on the spot? To see if he'll put me on the spot. He does have a graduate this weekend. Oh, that's right. Yeah, my daughter's graduating high school this weekend. Yeah. Yeah. Dad vibes. Dad vibes is running low this week. graduated the daughter's kind of draining but yeah I'm trying to think I did tell one to my son the other day he said what's the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? I might have an idea. I think Pam I know. Like the weight? Body weight? One says see you later the one says after a while. Yeah. See dad joke. Yes. Let's give it a second for them to laugh and applaud. Next myth! Are there any recommendations as far as people having letters of recommendation written? Does that depend on the program that they're applying to? Yeah, not really. I mean, from the admissions side, there's no, there's no letter of recommendation required. There may be for like with the scholarship opportunities with the Osher scholarship, but maybe also with a different program on campus, there might be a requirement. Before general admissions to Wichita State, no, there's no requirements. And I think the one good thing about the application process to Wichita State, it gets you admitted to the university, but more than likely it's gonna get you admitted to your program as well. There's a few separate programs on campus that rule will require a separate application once you're admitted to the university, but that's few and far between. So most of the colleges, like if you're a business, engineering, you can just apply for admissions, you'll get into the university and get specifically into that program. Awesome. Yeah. I think another thing that people like to do is attend tours, and you do those. Yep. Yes. Do you feel like students who can't be on campus regularly or can't attend a tour, are missing out or disconnected? It depends on your comfort level. Yeah, I don't think you necessarily feel disconnected or you're missing out. It's really, I mean, I love this campus. And for some people it may seem like a huge campus, but really you can find your way around pretty quickly. So I'm not gonna say you're missing out. I think it's helpful, for sure. If you can come for a campus visit and do a tour, visit with myself or one another, staff member and admissions. I think that's super helpful just to get an idea into especially as adult learner if you've been out of it for a while and been out of that college scene for a while it's definitely a good way to start if you can if you can figure out how to get on campus kind of just check it out you can even check it out yourself for a public university so you can come on campus at any time and kind of tour around yourself but if you want more formal one just let us know. Sure, perfect. Yeah. So I'm looking at this these myths and Chad you know because we've worked together and we've done these info One of them on here I feel maybe not so much a myth, but just let me read this here. Private or Ivy League colleges are just too expensive. Now that might be for them, but still, let's not beat around the bush. An education is not cheap. But what do you always tell our audience members that attend these info sessions? Yeah, so one message I want to get across is when you see the price of college, don't let that hinder your decision. don't let that make or break what you decide to do. Because it is scary. There's so many options to help with scholarships, financial aid, just other opportunities to help with the cost. Try not to let that be the main factor of why you don't attend, just because of what the options out there. It's kind of like reading a shop for a car, and you see the sticker price of the car. Typically you're not gonna pay the sticker price of the car. You can usually negotiate that, figure that, same with college, there's scholarships, there's financial aid, there's ways to help that cost. That's why we're here as well, you know, between myself and Amara Pam, you know, we can help find opportunities or at least get you to the right people that can help you find opportunities to help pay for that. I just hate to hear, one thing I really, really hate to hear and I've been in this game for a long time is I'm not going to school because I can't afford it. One way or the other, you can't afford it. It's just figuring out your resources. Figuring out what you're going to do, your plan. Yes, because we do have a lot of ways to help and I think, I feel like more and more scholars scholarships are becoming more popular, we have more of them. You also talk, and it's not on my little myth buster here, but it is one way or something that I found as an adult learner that internship is a good way even to earn money now. Am I wrong Chad? No, you're right. You're right. Internships have come a long ways. I mean a lot of internships that you get in now are all paid. So not only can you get of course paid for this internship. gives you an opportunity to network, get yourself out there, market yourself, plus build connections in the profession that you may want to get into by going through the internship opportunities. And like I mentioned before, with MPAID, back when I was going to school, there's no such thing as paying internships. It was all like you volunteered your time, you did coffee runs, you did whatever you needed to. We're the door dash back then. Yeah, so but there was no paid opportunities, but now anymore there's just a lot of paid opportunities and there's even some companies on campus that are putting up buildings that are working with our students. So it's convenient for you to just walk across campus and you can start your internship. Right, yeah, and I think they, these companies really will see the value of an adult learner with an internship because they know what these students bring in. And they know what skills they're looking for. Right, yeah. Yeah, oh yeah, yeah absolutely. And I think with adult students they may favor the adult students too because the adult students is a little bit more mature and plus has maybe some other life experiences that they can share with these companies that a lot of the younger college crowd may not be able to. Is there a success story that you've experienced with students? I know that you probably help a lot of students cross those barriers whatever they are. Sure. You know all the fears the costs or whatnot but is has there been any students that have Yeah, I honestly can't think of anyone specific, to be honest with you, but success for me for adult learners is actually get them admitted and enrolled. Once I find out they're admitted and enrolled, unfortunately they really don't have ties with our office anymore. They come to us. Yep, that's Pam. They move on to the next best thing and work with Amber and Pam for sure. So unfortunately I lose track of where they go, but just to see them go through the process and to work with them to get them through that process. to see them, okay, they've already been admitted, they got enrolled in their classes. I mean, to me that is a good success right there for an adult learner that I want to see them go through. And I love working with Amber and Pam and being able to hear some of their stories. And then also when I help with the Osher Scholarship and the Adult Learner of the Year awards, I get to see some of these adult students that, oh yeah, I recognize you. I remember you coming through our office and working with your application and getting in. And now look at you now. You're an Osher scholar right now. So that's exciting for me. So Chad, a couple weeks ago, maybe months now, time gets away from me. We had an adult learner in here, Cynthia Pizzini, and she remembered you. And so yeah, there are success stories all over. And yeah, you touch a lot of lives. Yeah, even if you're the front end of it, you know you solve a lot of problems for people. Right, right. So your job does not go. unnoticed by any of us and we we'd certainly love working with Chad don't we yeah but now from now on it's Chad Dad. I think on teams meetings I'm gonna meet Chad Dad. Chad Dad. Poor Chad, he has to work with us. No, I love working with this team, they make my job exciting. So you guys totally make my job exciting. So working with you guys and working with the same goals of mine. idealizations. It's just been awesome. So I've had an opportunity to travel with Amber and Pam to different conferences. Just those adventures themselves have been totally worth it. So yeah, it's been a great opportunity and it's been a lot of fun and I enjoy working with these adult learners. I think it's just working with adult learners is just a different breed. And a different kind of, I guess, rush for me because I used to work with, so back in my early days of recruitment, if it's always been adult learners. It has not. So this is my 25th year in admissions, but not at Wichita State. I was at Butler Community College before. So I worked with your typical high school student, which is great. Which is great. So I didn't start working with it. Different breed. Right, different breed. So I really didn't start working with adult learners until I came to Wichita State. I worked with a few at Butler, but not as much as here. And then I also wouldn't trade it, because I love hearing their stories. I think that's big for me, and I love adult learners because they share their stories. They're not our friends who share their stories. And I know they're here because they want to be here. Yeah, and they want to have root for other adult learners. They want to give tips and tricks and they want to talk about their successes. So I just thought of something. If Chad's time in academia or being employed, you know, in a university setting, were if that was like a person or a time, that timeframe, you'd be an adult learner. I would be an adult learner. I told you I'm an adult learner. If I decide to go back to school, I'm coming to Panda Inn. and Amber for telling me about this process. Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel old. Oh no, I know I'm old. I know I'm old. I got a kid graduating high school here this weekend. Well, congratulations on that. Totally old. Yeah, and we certainly do love working with our Chad and with all the members here at Wichita State. Yeah, it's fun. I guess my message would be don't ever hesitate to not go back to school. Yeah, ask questions. Reach out. Yeah, and honestly, there's not a better team than what's in this room right now. Exactly. I feel like we are virtual. Right? That's a tune way on horn. Or... But I have read the bag on Amber and Pam and how amazing they are to work with and I've seen them work with adult learners and it's just awesome. And so yeah, you got help. You can't do college alone. That's one thing I've told a lot of students is you can't do it by yourself. So you take advantage of folks like us because we want to. We totally want you. We want you to ask us questions. We will help you be successful. Yeah, absolutely. We want to advocate for you. Right. Alright, I think that does it for today. Chad, that has been Chad Dad. It's been an honor to be here with you two. I've been listening to your podcast for a while and so I was like oh my gosh I can't wait to be a part of it. I think that's it then. Thank you so much for coming.