Well - here it goes!!

[padalyn]

Ok - I have been hemming and hawing for 2 years about going back to school. I was talking to an old professor of mine one night (from my associates program), and she told me that my most recent alma mater had FINALLY gotten their masters programs online, and that she is heavily involved with it.

hmm I say to self. gotta check that out.


so, I do. Seems that the master's level classes I took in my bachelors program will EXPIRE :eek: :eek: in 2009. So - I called the dean of the school. It was a small program and everyone was very close.

Kathy answered me on 4th of July. What are you doing in the office I ask - getting stuff done she answered!!!

She told me I was in the masters program, I just had to fill out some paperwork. I did so, and today I actually registered for and paid for my class.

I am SO not mentally ready to do this again - but - here I go!!! Like swimming in cold water - just jump in I guess ;)

Online classes are usually a lot more work than in person - but have huge flexibility.

Wish me luck!!!

[jlewisinsyr]

I have been very successful in my career without a college degree, but I too recently decided it was time to go back to school, so I just started last week at Columbia College in their online program.

They offer 5 semesters a year and are very reasonably priced and are a highly respected college, both in the physical sense as well as the online studies.

[wallyb]

Ok - I have been hemming and hawing for 2 years about going back to school. Wish me luck!!!

WOW - Good for you -
Best of luck!
:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

[DVC~OKW~96]

Congratulations to both of you! Study hard! :thumbsup2

[npmommie]

That is exciting!! good luck!
what will your degree be in?

[Tony-NJ]

It takes alot of guts! Good for you!

[padalyn]

That is exciting!! good luck!
what will your degree be in?

This degree is a MSN/MNE or Master in Science Nursing/ Masters in Nursing Education

[npmommie]

This degree is a MSN/MNE or Master in Science Nursing/ Masters in Nursing Education

great! I didn't know you are a nurse........me too:thumbsup2
I have a Masters in Nursing........:)

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Ok - I have been hemming and hawing for 2 years about going back to school. I was talking to an old professor of mine one night (from my associates program), and she told me that my most recent alma mater had FINALLY gotten their masters programs online, and that she is heavily involved with it.

hmm I say to self. gotta check that out.


so, I do. Seems that the master's level classes I took in my bachelors program will EXPIRE :eek: :eek: in 2009. So - I called the dean of the school. It was a small program and everyone was very close.

Kathy answered me on 4th of July. What are you doing in the office I ask - getting stuff done she answered!!!

She told me I was in the masters program, I just had to fill out some paperwork. I did so, and today I actually registered for and paid for my class.

I am SO not mentally ready to do this again - but - here I go!!! Like swimming in cold water - just jump in I guess ;)

Online classes are usually a lot more work than in person - but have huge flexibility.

Wish me luck!!!

Awesome!!!!! GOOD FOR YOU!:thumbsup2

[padalyn]

great! I didn't know you are a nurse........me too:thumbsup2
I have a Masters in Nursing........:)

I think your NP name sorta gave you away! I don't work full time as a nurse - I work in a community ED 2 nights a week. My full time gig is paramedic at a local trauma center. 5 days at 12 hrs - a busy person....school will be a challenge, but I am slowly wrapping my head around it.

The MNE is so I can teach once I decide to grow up a little (just a kid at 48!)

[npmommie]

I think your NP name sorta gave you away! I don't work full time as a nurse - I work in a community ED 2 nights a week. My full time gig is paramedic at a local trauma center. 5 days at 12 hrs - a busy person....school will be a challenge, but I am slowly wrapping my head around it.

The MNE is so I can teach once I decide to grow up a little (just a kid at 48!)

LOL.....lots of people have asked what is np for? LOL so I never assume people know what it means. I don't work right now........only do a little per diem on occasion. not much.
I was thinking of going the teaching route at some point too. I have a friend who teaches in a BSN program and she loves it.

school will be challenging ( especially in nursing), but you will do great!:thumbsup2

[padalyn]

Well - I am all set. I am enrolled in my class (it meets on Tuesdays online!!) and all paid up. Just a bit more paperwork and all is done.

I am in a 700 level class since I can't commit to the in person class at the 600 level (the other 600 level isn't offered) so I am all out of order - no big deal. It will all work out in the long run.

Thanks for all the well wishes - I am sure I will fall off the planet once class actually begins. I know I am in for a LOT of work and many papers to write.

[padalyn]

gee, I had forgotten how hard it is to write in correct English. I have spent the whole day re-writing a paper...ugh.

Luckily Office 2007 makes all the citations a lot easier.

No grades yet, just waiting for the first paper (last week) to be graded, I have the paper I have been working on all day to post, and another due on Tuesday.

This has been my "h**l" week...2 papers and one is based on the first. I can't even start it until I get the graded first version back. I hope she does it today - the re-work is due on Tuesday!!!

[Tigger&Belle]

Congrats! I just went back to school after not going for 23 years. :scared: So far I'm surviving, but I should be working on a paper that's due in a few days. I haven't written a paper in many years and now have to learn APA format to top it all off.

[padalyn]

Congrats! I just went back to school after not going for 23 years. :scared: So far I'm surviving, but I should be working on a paper that's due in a few days. I haven't written a paper in many years and now have to learn APA format to top it all off.

Congrats and welcome to the returning student issues thread (just kidding!)

Do yourself a HUGE favor - now that you have a student ID - contact a company called provantage.com you can get office 2007 for a student discount. In the references section there is a whole setup for the software to do the APA for you!!!

I so am loving it!! Makes the whole process so much easier. If you have to submit the paper in a lower format the APA citations loose their dynamic status, but still are there. In 2007, you can add the page number and update the citaton without a lot of work. It makes it so much easier, and takes a lot of the worry out of it.

This software is available for MAC also, if that is the platform you are using. I don't usually go around pushing Microsoft products, but for the returning student who can't be wasting time trying to remember where all the italics and semicolons go - this works.

I use the readablility statistics to tell me if I am writing to a good level. The NY Times is written at a Fleisher/Kincade (spelling???) of 4 - I wrote at 12 for my BS and now am using 15 (no particular reason - just seemed right to 'up the bar' a bit). This makes sure that the sentences are grammer correct as well as style correct. Helps a lot.

I got the grade on the first paper. a 92. a B....oh well. I will try harder on the next.

[Tigger&Belle]

I think someone was talking about Student Office in a class of mine. I'll look into that. I'm still working on the damn paper...last night I was in a panic, wondering why I'd decided to go back to school and wondering how I'd pull everything together. I have a better attitude today...couldn't have any worse of an attitude than yesterday. :rotfl:

[rosiep]

I think you should be very proud of that grade!! Last time I took a college class my kids hung my papers on the fridge....:lmao:

[padalyn]

I think someone was talking about Student Office in a class of mine. I'll look into that. I'm still working on the damn paper...last night I was in a panic, wondering why I'd decided to go back to school and wondering how I'd pull everything together. I have a better attitude today...couldn't have any worse of an attitude than yesterday. :rotfl:

Oh - is that attitude supposed to improve???? I feel that way every day, when I try to get homework done, and life interferes. Depending on the type of classes you are planning on taking - I would stay away from the Student Office version of Office, some of the software has been lobotomized. I use Access and Excel a LOT so I bought the professional package. If you don't plan on doing web building or database work, you don't really need the professional package. Some of my classes will cause me to use Front Page - the office web page builder so it is good I have that version. There is a pretty deep discount for active student IDs. (up to 50% is some cases!)

I think you should be very proud of that grade!! Last time I took a college class my kids hung my papers on the fridge....:lmao:

The cats haven't quite figured out how to work the fridge magnets yet. Plus none of my papers are every printed - all electronic!

The second grade was a little better - 94 - still a B. Oh well.

[jlewisinsyr]

I received an offer from Columbia College with an offer for Office 2007 Ultimate really cheap with a student ID (and I mean REALLY cheap - as in $59.95 if you choose to download and $72.95 with media) and college e-mail address (which you should have if you're doing class online).

The program is called Ultimate Steal and is sponsored by Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/terms.aspx

The list of approved Univerisities and Colleges is here:

http://store.digitalriver.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=ContentTheme&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=msshus&pbPage=schools

I personally don't need a copy of office as I have Office 2007 Ultimate which I received free for participating in Microsoft's Feedback Program, but if anyone is eligible its an amazing deal.

[padalyn]

I received an offer from Columbia College with an offer for Office 2007 Ultimate really cheap with a student ID (and I mean REALLY cheap - as in $59.95 if you choose to download and $72.95 with media) and college e-mail address (which you should have if you're doing class online).

The program is called Ultimate Steal and is sponsored by Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/terms.aspx

The list of approved Univerisities and Colleges is here:

http://store.digitalriver.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=ContentTheme&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=msshus&pbPage=schools

I personally don't need a copy of office as I have Office 2007 Ultimate which I received free for participating in Microsoft's Feedback Program, but if anyone is eligible its an amazing deal.


WOW!! that is an amazing price. I don't need it, since I already have it - but wow...thanks for posting that!

[padalyn]

OMG, I am so happy this semester is finally over. I started out so enthused...well, the professor has really been unavailable, actually left the country for 3 different weeks during the semester.

She had no assignments due for 4 weeks in the middle of the semester...then 9 :mad: assignments due in the last 3 weeks of the semester. UGH.

I took a week off from work just to do homework. EEWWW.:headache:

She told us not to "re-work" any assignments, then when we have to include the earlier assignments...she REGRADED and pulled my larger paper's grade down due to the earlier work. It felt like being double graded on the same paper. So unfair.

It has been a long semester, I am glad it is over. I am sitting in class as we just talk about who we are (at the END????:eek: ). The professor is so disorganized.

Last week she finally told us how she wants the papers formatted for this class. (again - at the END??:eek: )

I am hoping that I will get an A, but have the feeling she is going to downgrade me to a B. I am so mad at her about the lack of availability, assistance, and she never answered her phone during office hours. I am really thankful I didn't drive up to the school to actually try to see her!

[Tigger&Belle]

Bummer that you had a bad professor! Make sure you rate her on the rateyourprofessor website. I'm done with my classes, also. Had my last final yesterday and also had some other work due. Feels wonderful to be done for awhile. :cool1:

[DVC~OKW~96]

Remember, the Dean of Students is there for a reason. :) Do you evaluate your professors at the end of the semester? If so, have at it.

Good that you are done. It's been a rough time for you. :hug: