Life of an Older College Student...AKA

[LoraJ]

Ksum,
I would see how it goes, you can always drop a class or two if you find it to be too much. Find out how many papers you have to write per class. I think once you see the class schedules for each, you should have a good idea if you can handle it all. See if you can view the syllabus now for each class to get an idea of the workload.

I was going to take intro to communications and college algebra next quarter. But then I saw that I have to write a paper for the comm class every other week. Since I have struggled with math in the past, I decided to take Human Nutrition instead since there are only 3 papers.

You can be my algebra study budy. lol.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Eh-hum! Excuse me, we are called "non-traditional students". NOT older students. TYVM!

 

[olena]

Good for you!

DH did a similar thing. He went to law school part time and was only about 4 years older than most of the full-timers who went straight out of college and had never lived the real world. Most of the part-timers had spouses, kids and mortgages, so it was tough for the two groups to relate. The part-timers did band together to help each other and commiserate. That's what I would suggest. Try befriending other non-traditional students. The smile from that one student was probably full of recognition and understanding...

 

[eddad]

I'm going back at the age of 42. My goal is to get a Bachelors in International Hotel and Tourism Management . I'm going to community college right now and plan to transfer to Johnson and Wales in Providence.

 

[Serena]

I did too! I more or less started my life over a few years back and I'll graduate in june.

I've stopped telling my age, people always get this shocked expression on their faces. lol

Some terms are easier than others, and I used to panic thinking I wasn't going to make it, but I have and I will. It's a great feeling.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

What a great thread!

I have my BA in Economics. Now at 45 I'm returning to a Community College to get a Paralegal Certificate. All of my work background is in Financial Services, and that sector is in the toilet, so no sense and trying to re-establish my career as a stock broker.

There are a few other gals my age and we have really bonded. We also have some younger gals (in their early 20's) that like to pal around with us. I just completed my 2nd semester and have 4 classes left plus an internship.

I'm toying with Law School once I complete this certificate and spend a few years working in law. But by then I'll be almost 50!

 

[Crankyshank]

The best advice I can give anyone taking more than 1 class is to get ahold of the syllabus in advance and check out ratemyproffesor.com as you do not want to be overloaded with papers.

This has been a very tough semester for me, even though I am taking less classes (3). My 80's professor seems to think this is a graduate course with the amount of writing we've been assigned. Add to my history class with 2 papers, 2 killer exams, and a presentation. Plus my philosophy class with lots of reading and writing. It's been non stop. Additionally there was a death in my family and I'm applying for grad schools. It's been insane. So for my final semester, I'm going with the easy as opposed to the interesting classes that look good on my transcripts. It's for my sanity

Of course I'm just a little bitter because my 80's professor gave us a take home final on Thurs that is so far 10 pages long and counting - due tonight at midnight. Additionally I have a 25 page philo paper due tomorrow. Thank God my history class wrapped up 3 weeks ago!

 

[LoraJ]

The best advice I can give anyone taking more than 1 class is to get ahold of the syllabus in advance and check out ratemyproffesor.com as you do not want to be overloaded with papers.

This has been a very tough semester for me, even though I am taking less classes (3). My 80's professor seems to think this is a graduate course with the amount of writing we've been assigned. Add to my history class with 2 papers, 2 killer exams, and a presentation. Plus my philosophy class with lots of reading and writing. It's been non stop. Additionally there was a death in my family and I'm applying for grad schools. It's been insane. So for my final semester, I'm going with the easy as opposed to the interesting classes that look good on my transcripts. It's for my sanity

Of course I'm just a little bitter because my 80's professor gave us a take home final on Thurs that is so far 10 pages long and counting - due tonight at midnight. Additionally I have a 25 page philo paper due tomorrow. Thank God my history class wrapped up 3 weeks ago!

Hope you got it all done.
And I am glad to hear you are going into your last semester. Woohoo!!!! You've been working so hard.

 

[OK!]

I just graduated in May with a BS in Computer Science at the ripe old age of 35, so I know how you're feeling! Especially with the CC classes I took to begin with, I almost always felt like I was 40 years older than everyone else. One of the classes I had to take there was Management, which I entered with a corporate-environment-type background (the reason I went back to school was because AT&T laid me off and I couldn't find anything that paid more than retail), so when we had class discussions on management topics, it was interesting to compare notes with some of the kids who'd been managers at fast food places, etc.

Personally, I felt much more at home when I transferred to the university from which I eventually graduated. I felt more at ease with the professors than I ever had when I went to school straight out of high school, and I wasn't the only "old" student in the classes anymore! The workload definitely took some time to get used to, though, and there was more than one occasion in which I just broke down and cried due to the stress, exhaustion, etc. For my last semester (which was broken up into 2 separate 8-week terms), I took 4 4000-level classes; they usually recommend you take 1 4000-level class per 8-week term, but I was SO ready to be done that I piled it on. For the last 2 months of my collegiate life (for right now, anyway), I spent an average of 14 hours a day doing nothing but sitting in front of the computer, hammering away on the 2 theses I had to complete. One was a fully-functional database that I had to design and construct, along with designing the interface, and then present to the class, and the other was a 150-page document detailing the systems analysis and design process of a fictitious design company who was constructing a database for equipment tracking for another fictitious company. GOOD TIMES. Or not.

It was SO worth it, though. I still get a thrill every time I see my diploma (you bet I framed it and hung it in the office at home!) and my tassel, and now, blessedly, I actually have a job I love. I'm finally starting to let go of some of the bitterness toward AT&T. Not all of it, but some.

 

[KateandEmysmom]

I go back in January and finally finish my bachelors in Elementary Ed. I will be finished by this time next year, so at least the end is in sight.
I will have class on M, Th, F mornings/early afternoons and T/W full day in a classroom. Needless to say, from someone who has only done a class or two at a time and stayed home with kids for the last 10 years, im a bit freaked out. This is on top of all the kids stuff, a major kitchen reno we are in the middle of, and two dogs that arent used to being home alone all day.
I have been going to school for this degree for 10 years and just want to be done. My kids are in school full days, I have no night classes, and my hubby is super supportive and (generally) very helpful. I have no more excuses to not finish. Yet, here I sit, freaking about a bit over what this will be like.

Thanks for letting me vent. I look forward to us supporting each other to success.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Of course I'm just a little bitter because my 80's professor gave us a take home final on Thurs that is so far 10 pages long and counting - due tonight at midnight.

I'm confused? Does this mean you are taking a class about the 1980's?? IS that now considered somehow historical!

Oh, please say it ain't so......it doesn't seem that long ago!!

 

[natenapril]

I am back in school after 11 years of being a SAHM. My DH is finally in a career field with no deployments and no more PCSing. So I decided to go back to school and get my nursing degree. Right now I am working on myprereqs and taking them in the evening so My DH is home with the kiddos.

I took a Math class last semester and boy did it kick my butt But next semester I plan on taking English and Psychology. I need a break from Math

 

[ReneeA]

I'm 35 and have 2 more semesters to go until I have my degree as a RN. It is tougher than I ever expected, but really rewarding as well. For whatever reason, we have quite a few "non-traditional" students in my class - I figure it's because when you are a youngster, caring for people in that way is foreign to many people. It wasn't until after I had kids I had a strong urge to return to school for this degree.

I only wish I had done it before I had my kids - I feel bad that I haven't spent the time in their classrooms as I did when they were in preschool.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'm confused? Does this mean you are taking a class about the 1980's?? IS that now considered somehow historical!

Oh, please say it ain't so......it doesn't seem that long ago!!

I did take a class on the 80's but it was more of a sociology class than a history class. I admit it was very disconcerting to have students say the only thing they knew about the 80's was what they learned on VH1's I Love the 80's series.

One person even thought Top Gun had an anti-war message.

 

[Crankyshank]

Hope you got it all done.
And I am glad to hear you are going into your last semester. Woohoo!!!! You've been working so hard.

Thank you. I am very glad I am almost done, even though it's really just the end of the chapter for me and I'll be on to grad school. At the moment I am enjoying the fact that all of my work has been submitted as of 10 minutes ago and now maybe I can do all of the christmas stuff I've been neglecting.

 

[jennseiler]

I forgot to mention that I am working toward my BS in speech communication - broadcasting.

I am cheering major league since I got my final grades in 2 of my classes. I got a B in Spanish 101 (the professor who was new to our school thought we should be on a 300 level - the class definitely proved him wrong!) and an A in Broadcast Workshop 1. I won't get my 2 other final grades until Friday.

 

[december]

I'm 36, mother of 2 with one on the way, teaching high school math full time, and working on my masters in school counseling online through UWA. And I'm tired!!!!!!!!!!!! UWA is on 8 week terms, and I'm taking one at a time (2 in the summer). I should be finished in May of 2010. I love the educational environment, but I'm so burned out on the classroom. I want an office! I'm really hoping that I can get a job on an emergency license next year, instead of teaching one more year. There is a shortage of counselors here (as well as teachers) so there is hope for me.

I finished my 4th class last week, and I don't have another one until Jan 12. I'm so happy for the break. I'll take a 3hr class the 1st spring term, and another class plus begin my 300 hour practicum the 2nd spring term. I'm still trying to figure out how to fit it all in, since I'm due in May.

 

[ksumn1]

I took my Colle Placement Exam today. I won't get the results until Thursday but I'm definately sure that I will have to take a Learning Support Math class. I've been studying up using my sisters College Algebra book and it did help some with the basic equation, area, perimeter exponents stuff but I definately need help with planes, angles, graphing and all that stuff that I haven't thought about in at least 14 years. But it's OK. I'd rather take it and and really understand it than scrape by the test and struggle taking the College level ALgebra.

I breezed through the Reading Comprehension and English part...I might have missed 1 or 2 questions out of 80 so I feel really good about taking the College level courses.

It's sooo nice to be able to talk to people who really understand my concerns. My DH is very supportive and he has no doubts that I will not only be able to do it all but that I will get straight A's. "Because you're totally smart and stubborn...if you want to do it, you will." SO i tell him I'm concerned about juggling it al but have never shared the "OMG WTH am I doing...I'm 31 going back to college, 2 kids, DH, work, ball practice, games, class, homework, term papers, studying...........I JUST CAN"T DO IT!!!!" thoughts with him. It's great to know that ya'll understand, you've all had those moments, vent it get it out and then go on and do it all anyway. Thanks!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Nice to see this thread again!

I just finished my semester and it feels WONDERFUL!

Not sure what grades I'll end up with. That will depend on my finals. I'm pretty sure I have an A in one class. I had a strong A in Social Policy/Social Welfare, but the final was terrible and I may have dropped my grade because of that. Hopefully not, though. Not sure about my Human Behavior Theory class, but I think I did well on the final.

My struggle is more personal. Going to school and dealing with depression like I do is tough. Add in that my husband and I will be separating before long and that I'm in early recovery and it's a recipe for LOTS of stress. I need this semester break to regroup and do some things I've been neglecting. Tomorrow I'm getting a massage and will go shopping for holiday presents.

Hey, Tig! I didn't see this before. Congrats on your return to school!

What are you going to be when you grow up? If you're not too far into it, let me plug nursing. It's hard at school (but I'd help you - write all your care plans) and it's not the easiest job in the world, BUT you stay busy at work, so the time flies by AND there isn't a more rewarding job on the planet.

Whatever you do, I know you'll do well.

I've been thinking about going for a masters. I know I'd be old and I don't give a ****. So you shouldn't, either.

Yeah, go back Garbanzo!

I'm a social work major. LOVE going to class and participating. I'm so much more vocal now that when I first went to college. And I have a helluva lot of fun!

T/Th classes only
PolySci1101 American Government 8:00-9:15 am
Math 1111 College Algebra 10:30-10:45 am
Geography 1013 World Geography 11:00-12:15 pm
English 1101 Basic Composition 2:00-3:00 pm

That looks tough, but like was mentioned, you can always drop a class if it's too much.

I'm going back at the age of 42. My goal is to get a Bachelors in International Hotel and Tourism Management . I'm going to community college right now and plan to transfer to Johnson and Wales in Providence.

Hi Ed! How are you feeling?

 

[Crankyshank]

I took my Colle Placement Exam today. I won't get the results until Thursday but I'm definately sure that I will have to take a Learning Support Math class. I've been studying up using my sisters College Algebra book and it did help some with the basic equation, area, perimeter exponents stuff but I definately need help with planes, angles, graphing and all that stuff that I haven't thought about in at least 14 years. But it's OK. I'd rather take it and and really understand it than scrape by the test and struggle taking the College level ALgebra.

ksumn, I understand what you are going through with math. I have always been math impaired and I was freaked out having to take math 16 years after I'd done it the last time. I had never taken Calc and I was also terrified of taking the GRE last month (also with lots of math).
I took my time, took the lowest level math class I could, and I was fine. I actually got an A- in math, and got a 490 on the math portion of the GRE. It wasn't spectacular but I did much better than I thought. So have faith in yourself