As an adult student, you've learned how to cope with much in your life. But you may not have learned how to learn, and will most likely find your study skills very rusty. Instead of jumping right into a subject, your first priority is to learn how to cope with your new environment. Some of your effort must be reserved for developing good study habits that will serve you throughout your education. This will pay off not only in better grades, but also in increased confidence.

Support is the key to success in every venture. We really can't go it alone. You may be surprised at how much help you'll get just by speaking up. The trick is to talk about your experiences. Share your studies with your classmates or friends. Ask their advice. They may not know your subject, but you're sure to gain perspective from their feedback. Talk to your teachers and advisor. Take a few minutes to stay after class. Let them know who you are. And never be embarrassed to admit you don't understand something, or that you have a problem. I've found that if you don't ask, they'll simply think you don't need them.