Why You Want a Mature Student in Your Study Group

There are many reasons to study with some of the older students in your class.

When you’re asked to pick study groups, there are a few different ways to find people to work with. Many will simply gather with people that they already know and get along with. Others will select group members based on who they feel might have high marks. And of course, some people simply go looking for the best looking person of the opposite sex – no scholastic intentions involved.

But the next time you have to pick a group in class, take a look up towards the front couple of rows in the lecture hall. Chances are, sitting quietly and attentively, will be a few mature students.

Mature students make great additions to study groups, for a few reasons. For one, mature students tend to be coming back to the hallowed halls of higher learning after a stint in the real-world workforce. They are in class for a specific reason – whether it is to upgrade or to change careers completely – they are there to learn.

They tend to be highly focused, very goal-oriented, and willing to put in the work required to get the best marks possible.

Mature students also tend to be efficient organizers. Those who have worked for a few years prior to coming back to school tend to have that extra experience working with others, and sometimes have been in previous supervisory roles. In these cases, they know how to efficiently manage their own time and can help to make sure your group work stays on track. Should another member of your group drop the ball, they are most likely to be ready with a back-up plan.

They may not know many other students in the class, so they will not be the ones selecting their own groups. Including a mature student on your team will take some of the pressure off of them in trying to hunt down other people to work with. They will show their appreciation by becoming a valuable member to your group.

There are lots of other reasons to work with some of the older students in your class. Everything from their ability to converse more easily with the professor, to their increased likelihood of being able to offer their homes as a quiet place to meet for study sessions (sans parents or dorm roommates). In the end, these benefits are going to mean a more productive group, and better marks for everyone involved.