Life of an Older College Student...AKA

[LoraJ]

I am in the final week of my first quarter at the new school. I really enjoyed it so much more than my old school. And so far I am getting and A in algebra. I actually understand it now. Well, I did hit a wall with graphing inequalities at one point, but I think I understand it a little better now. I am sure I will forget everything next month.

My nutrition class I really enjoyed as well. I had a couple of papers to write and I found them to be less of a chore than my history class last semester.

Next quarter I am signed up for a class on new media and also intro to programming. My advisor advised against the programming class, but I am up for the challenge. I have always been pretty good with computers.

Hope you all are doing well.

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

Congats on the Algebra grade! I failed it three consecutive times recently, just cannoot grasp it.

 

[Cindy B]

I have to brag on DH (also a non-traditional student).

He was working 40+ hours per week (closer to 50 each week). He was pulling a full time course load as well as working full time this past semester.

He finished his AS degree in ONE YEAR--with only an initial transfer of 6 credits. He took many 3 or 4 week classes and many overlap classes so in a traditional 15 week semester he would take 5 or 6 classes.

He earned his AS this past semester and applied for and got in a state university as a transfer student. He is going to be an Economics major.

It gets even better-- just a few days ago he got a form from the county college sent to our house. He has been nominated to be a commencement speaker! He has to complete two essays and get some paperwork in tomorrow but he is willing to do that just to see if he is going to be a commencement speaker.

I'm so proud of him! He is someone who graduated from high school almost 30 years ago.

 

[ksumn1]

LoraJ, that's awesome. Right now I have an 89 average in Math 097 (Beginning Algebra) but I hope I can pull it up to an A by the end of the semester. I have to take the other remedial math 099 this summer...THEN I can take the real Algebra course. It's really helped to take a refresher course, there's so much I had forgotten.

You should be very proud Cindy B!! A courseload like that would make my headspin. I plan on taking 2 classes this summer. I wanted 3 but with so few classes oferred, 2 was the most I could do with my schedule. IF I can get them because there are quite a few people I know wanting the classes. I just hope they don't fill up.

This week is my Spring Break so I'm working a couple of days but my boss gave me Wed, Thur and Friday OFF so I could relax a little. 2 days of rest but Friday and Saturday will be spent prepping for MIL's suprise 50th birthday party. SIL and I are preparing all the food ourselves for 65 people so I'll definately be busy. Same as always...no rest for the wicked!!

How's everyone else doing? Classes, life?

 

[LoraJ]

That's fantastic Cindy!!!! Did he feel he got a lot out of the 3-4 week classes? I was worried about my 10 week classes thinking they may be to short, but I got more out of them than I thought, but at times I wish we had spent more tim learning about certain things.

 

[Cindy B]

That's fantastic Cindy!!!! Did he feel he got a lot out of the 3-4 week classes? I was worried about my 10 week classes thinking they may be to short, but I got more out of them than I thought, but at times I wish we had spent more tim learning about certain things.

I've taken the 3-4 week classes myself and I just thought it was a means to an end type of thing. If I needed the course to graduate and the university needed it as well, it is just what I need. Of course I'd love to say I got so much out of it but sometimes it wasnt the case. If it was a non major requirement like sociology, it was worth it.. it was a class that I could complete and move on.

In some cases these 3 and 4 week classes are just what you need. You get it done, get the credit, move on. In these classes you are given what you need and not bogged down with extra unneccessary things.

 

[OK!]

I've taken the 3-4 week classes myself and I just thought it was a means to an end type of thing. If I needed the course to graduate and the university needed it as well, it is just what I need. Of course I'd love to say I got so much out of it but sometimes it wasnt the case. If it was a non major requirement like sociology, it was worth it.. it was a class that I could complete and move on.

In some cases these 3 and 4 week classes are just what you need. You get it done, get the credit, move on. In these classes you are given what you need and not bogged down with extra unneccessary things.

That was what I found when I took a few 3-week (intersession) classes as well--I used them for degree requirements in subjects I had little to no interest in (macroeconomics, anyone?) and was able to really buckle down and study this boring (IMO) stuff hardcore for the short period of time it took to get through the class. TBH, I don't know if I could have survived a full semester of macro.

 

[Cindy B]

That was what I found when I took a few 3-week (intersession) classes as well--I used them for degree requirements in subjects I had little to no interest in (macroeconomics, anyone?) and was able to really buckle down and study this boring (IMO) stuff hardcore for the short period of time it took to get through the class. TBH, I don't know if I could have survived a full semester of macro.

Don't let my DH hear you say that! He LOVED macro/micro so much he is majoring in economics at the university. It takes a special person to do that and it sure isn't me!

 

[soupy11]

36 Year old going to The University of Waterloo for Earth Science - Hydrogeology....nervous as heck but committed! Good luck everyone!

 

[Plantlady]

I wasn't an older student, but I was non traditional. I was married, and had three kids. So, I gravitated towards the other non traditional students.

there were so many of us, I never felt strange or out of place.

*I recognize this is an old thread.. but still my 2 cents.*

 

[nephthys43]

36 Year old going to The University of Waterloo for Earth Science - Hydrogeology....nervous as heck but committed! Good luck everyone!

good luck... that's some hard studying in that subject

 

[Crankyshank]

The 3 week courses aren't too bad. I would very much recommend getting a copy of the syllabus before registering if at all possible. I've taken a bunch of 10 day, 3 week, and 6 week courses and have had concerns about my brain exploding or my hand falling off for some of them, and others have been great.
Don't ever take History of Ireland as a wintersession (10 day course). Trust me on that one Especially when the professor is the head of the graduate history program.


I'm on my last semester and am looking forward to finally being done. It's been a tough year and this semester is very tough despite my lighter course load. I've heard back from all but 1 graduate school so I'll be attending graduate school in the fall. Going for 2 masters. One in History and the other in Library & Info studies. I just don't know where yet. I have an interview tomorrow at the one program I haven't heard from yet.

 

[LoraJ]

With the shorter classes, do you usually have a paper to write? Or just a test. just wondering in case I get the chance to take one some day.

Jenn, good news about the grad schools!!!

 

[Cindy B]

With the shorter classes, do you usually have a paper to write? Or just a test. just wondering in case I get the chance to take one some day.

Jenn, good news about the grad schools!!!

It all depends on the class. I took many 6 week classes. Some of them were American Lit I and II, Macroeconomics, Cultural Geography, Human Biology and Educational Psychology. (I may be missing a few!). In the lit classes, I had to write some very easy papers but no true finals. I had to write papers and had weekly tests in Macro. Geography and Ed. Psych was one big final at the end and some asynchorous discussions. Human bio was a pain!

 

[LoraJ]

It's been a while.

How is everyone doing???

I took 3 quarters at my last school and did very well. However, it was very expensive. I get tuition reimbursement, but I got slammed with taxes.

I discovered that CUNY has an online Communications program so I will be starting there in January. Looking forward to it. I took this semester off but am itching to hit the books.

Now that tuition is cheaper, I will be taking 3 classes instead of 2. I am registered for Spanish 101, Math 102 and an Earth Science class about the nature of NYC. Field trips! Yay! Just a few more general studies classes and I will be starting the core program. It will take me 2 - 3 years to complete my degree.

 

[ksumn1]

It's so great that you found a cheaper alternative and that you can take MORE classes. Here in GA, the board of Regents approved an additional $100 per semester fee, which my college implemented as an institutional fee. $100 less toward books and tuition for me.

I was planning on taking 15 credit hours next semester and now I'm going to drop a British Lit class. It'll save me about $350 ttal between tuition and books but I hate it.

I had to take a semster off also. We had a house fire in July, and I was trying to go back and forth getting papers for the mortgage, move, take care of 2 kids with DH working out of town all week and deal with living with myself, 2 DD's , my DMoM, DSis, and DN in a 3 bedroom house. I spet on the couch for 3months. needless to say, schoowork was the last thing on my mind!!

How's everyone else been doing?

 

[Gina]

I had totally forgotten about this thread! Been too busy with school, I guess! lol But I am very, very, deliriously happy to announce,


I FINALLY GRADUATE ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!!




And then, of course, I'm going off to celebrate with The Mouse.

Since 2005, I have had no weekends and no life... and I will be in debt the rest of my life... but I will finally be able to say -- to myself and to my son -- that I did it. It feels SO good.

I have 2 finals to take this weekend and a PowerPoint presentation to finish, and then I am all done. DONE!! I'm sorry, it just feels so good to say... haha.

I hope the rest of you are doing well with your studies also!!


-gina-

 

[LoraJ]

Congratulations Gina!!!!! I am so happy for you. Great way to celebrate!



Ksumn1, sorry about the fire. I can only imagine how stressful that was.

 

[Gina]

Thanks, Lora!!

And I feel horrible -- Ksumn1, I totally did not mean to ignore your post... I have developed tunnel vision thanks to school, but that's no excuse. I am really sorry about the fire, and I hope things are getting back to normal for you, and that you're able to get back to your studies very soon.

 

[ksumn1]

Thanks, Lora!!

And I feel horrible -- Ksumn1, I totally did not mean to ignore your post... I have developed tunnel vision thanks to school, but that's no excuse. I am really sorry about the fire, and I hope things are getting back to normal for you, and that you're able to get back to your studies very soon.

I didn't think you were ignoring me. I just figured that you were busy and hadn't checked in becaue you'd been having "one of those days" for a month.

You know one the days where you woke up, took kids to school, went to class, wrote a paper, took kids to practice, cleaned up the house, made dinner, and only remembered at midnight that you hadn't eaten anything all day except some M&M's and a Coke you snatched form a vending machine between classes that morning?

As for life, it's good. In a much nicer, larger home than before. Plenty of room for me to study and banish the kids to their room when I go back in January. I don't think thigs will ever be normal again, though. In a good way. Now I try to let the small stuff go and remember what's really important. Good luck to all!!