Going back to school after a long break can be daunting. It’s normal for returning students to feel overwhelmed by the course load, navigating campus or online tools, and trying to build relationships. These students struggle with fitting in with their classmates and balancing school with the competing priorities of work and family. 

Older students are not likely to join a study group in a dorm or  hang out in the dining hall after class. Being isolated makes it harder for students to finish school. Without study groups and access to classmates outside of class, students struggle with how to get help when they need it. 

CircleIn provides a low-stress way for adult learners to stay connected to their classmates without awkward conversations or trying to fit in with students who are much younger than they are. 

The Feed

For students who have been away awhile, it can take time to remember not just what was learned, but how it was learned. It can be overwhelming for students to sit down with their work and feel like they don’t know what they’re doing. The CircleIn Feed allows students to ask a question or to see the resources their classmates have posted. If they need to see all the resources on a topic, they can use the search feature to find exactly what they’re looking for on their own schedule. 

Workflow

Sometimes students are overwhelmed because they have so much to do that they don’t know what to do next. CircleIn Workflow helps students get and stay organized so they know what they need to work on. They simply add their assignments from their Syllabus to workflow, and they are able to see exactly what they need to work on each day. They don’t even need to figure out how to organize them, they input them and then as they work on them, they move them from Upcoming to In Progress. When they finish, they move it to Done. If they don’t move it to Done, the app will tell them it’s overdue.   

In addition to making it easier to be organized, workflow actually motivates students to get things done! They earn points every time they add a task to the workflow and when they complete it. These points can be redeemed for gift cards and mini-scholarships. 

Chat

No matter how long it’s been since they’ve been in school, with Circlein App, students don’t have to be overwhelmed because they have the collective power of 30 to 300 students in the palm of their hand. 

Students can go to class chat whenever they’re feeling overwhelmed to start up a study conversation. They can ask a question, get homework help, or announce that they’re open to studying. There are preloaded topics to help them figure out exactly what they need. 

In 2020, 37% of undergraduate students were 25 years or older. Among students 24-29 years-old, only 20.4% will graduate within 5 years, for students 30 and older, that number drops to 16.4%. 

For these non-traditional students, schools have to do all they can to support them in graduating. Sink or swim doesn’t work for anyone, and it certainly doesn't help students who have been out of the classroom a long time who have jobs and families feel connected and capable. 

CircleIn provides students with support, access, and most importantly, community.