Nontrads (non-traditional students) are those who do not follow the traditional path of completing high school and then immediately enrolling in college or university. They are often over 25 years of age and may have been in the job market or been stay-at-home parents prior to making the decision to pursue a higher education degree or certificate. Some attended college for a semester or two and then dropped out, only to decide later that they want to return and finish a degree. Some have been downsized and are looking for a change in vocation. Most of them share one common concern: getting through the math general studies requirement.

This is a valid concern. Math is developmental in that your knowledge and skills in math are added to in successive courses with each class being a critical stone in the foundation necessary for passing general studies math (often College Algebra or Finite Math). If you had a couple of bad years or if you have been away from math for some time you really won’t know until you try if it is going to be like getting back on a bicycle or getting run over by a truck.

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