staceyfe said:
I'm just curious...there are many responses stating the college years taught you so many things, you wouldn't trade it for anything. Can anyone be specific? I went to college for a year (lived at home w/ Mom & Dad) then transferred to a hospital-based x-ray program and graduated 2 years later. I'm not really sure what those years taught me other than to study hard and be persistent, which I was already doing in high school. I never had much of a social life, so is that the "experience"?
Well, without spending TOO much time thinking it all through, the first and main things that come to mind are the experiences gained from meeting new people. This does include the social life, but more importantly to me, the intellectual side as well.
I met professors who spent their entire lives studying archeology and evolution, human relationships and developmental stages, mathematical concepts, etc etc etc. I came in contact with people from all walks of life, from many countries, social backgrounds, ethnicities... These people are forever etched into my memory, and when I encounter things in my daily life, I think them often. I remember one professor who sung praises to my writing, and helped give me confidence to stand up for what I believe in. I had science professors who, while I dont share their passion for the subject, showed me the intricacies involved in scientific thinking. I had amazing education professors, teachers who spent years being the best of their field, and now to the time to share their great wealth of knowledge with me. In my experience, I gained so much more from most of my college professors than my grade school teachers. I think this this is maybe because college was more of a choice than hs, so I listened more, but the main reason I think is becuase most of my teachers were absolutely PASSIONATE about what they were teaching, so it was easier to get interested.
In my classes, I met so many students that I probably wouldnt have gotten to know outside of school. I met people who were raised in poverty, who had worked their butts off to get to where they were, who gave me a great appreciation for anyone who has to work so hard to get where they need to go. I met people from other countries who had come here to get the great education that I often took for granted. I met children in my work in the schools, kids whose stories would shock you, who gave me a strong desire to DO something, to help the kids, to make it better for them. I met kids that were amazing little people, who reaffirmed my faith in humanity, kids who I just know will do amazing things with their life. I also met a few kids that really helped me understand what my future children would NOT behave like
I know that life experience happens outside of college as well. I have learned alot outside of school, as well as inside. I was a bit of a nontraditional student, having gone two years, then taking two off to work, and then returning for the final two years of college. But my experience in college gave me so much, in such a short amount of time. I can only speak of my experience, and I know each person is different. But the wide array of individuals I had the opportunity to learn from, both inside and outside the classroom, made my college experience especially fulfilling and rewarding.
so it's been 17 years! I love it and since I worked at a bank (FT) during college, they paid for most of my schooling. My college loans at graduation were only $10,000! And that's for 5 years of school!
and as far as nursing- the starting pay for a RN in my hospital is $20.15. thats either a AA or a BA...
Not that it is wrong to choose to go to college for monetary reasons...just that one should consider the intangibles when considering whether or not college is worth it. 
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all medically related fields offer exceptional career opportunities. You and DH are definitely in the right field at the right time! And the supply of trained people will not be able to keep up with demand, either. At the university where I teach, we have a terrific nursing program, but we are turning well qualified students away. Why? 
This is true throughout the country. Not only is there a shortage of nurses which is expected to get worse, there is also a shortage of people qualified to teach in nursing progams. 
Any of you folks in the nursing field who are interested in teaching, give it some thought... the demand will be there for a long time.
what I do!
