Going back to school!!!, How hard is it? Options

[Slick]

Well, after constant pressure from my fiancé, i'm starting college classes again, online. I know its going to be difficult because i have way too many distractions. I mean, i'm not really old, but I'm not a young kid either. I'm already over halfway through my career, but finishing my degree would make things easier for me career wise.

Anyone else been in this situation? Has anyone else felt helpless and lost? Any tips on getting through this as quickly and as painlessly as possible? I don't even know which course to start with!!

[95CelicaST]

Honestly, I think the best decision I ever made was to NOT take a break between High School and College. I know many people in your same situation. I tell everyone to get in school as fast as possible, because the longer you're out the more you like not being there... which doesn't really help much. When I started College I was still going to High School. I'm sure it's known that College can be/ is very overwhelming, but don't let yourself feel helpless and lost. Make a plan, and stick to it. You'll come out on top To get through it as painless as possible would be to just buckle down, do your work on time, and get it done. I had to retake a math class 3 times because I didn't grasp that concept. That hurt the pocketbook.... a lot.

I wish you the best of luck on your way back!

[monkey]

I do know what your talkin about.
i know im a younger guy but ud be supprised what people can go through reguardless of age. Being kicked out of school after school and sent to jail several times, i had to find a way to graduate highschool! I am fortunate enough to have a father who sent me to different boarding schools all but 2 i got kicked out of, then after graduating in Costa Rica i had a Costa Rican highschool diploma and not a US accredited one... Thus i had to go to a Community college to get it US accredited and take online classes on the side. I have just finished the online class and sent in my final exam after taking the course or a year and a half. yes a year and a half for a 6 month course just due to being lazy and always putting it off to mess around with friends or the g/f. If you have the dedication to pull an online class then id say go all out, but if ur like me and need a lil bit of reinforcement then id recomend a community college, also going this route you have and actual teacher who u can sit down with when the goin gets tuff and get some help, when i neeed help online i was screwed due to the help lines are run by students themselves aand you cant even talk to ur instuctor... Im not going to lie but going back to school is going to be hard, but it is deffinately worth it!

[GriffGirl]

I do know what your talkin about.
i know im a younger guy but ud be supprised what people can go through reguardless of age. Being kicked out of school after school and sent to jail several times, i had to find a way to graduate highschool! I am fortunate enough to have a father who sent me to different boarding schools all but 2 i got kicked out of, then after graduating in Costa Rica i had a Costa Rican highschool diploma and not a US accredited one... Thus i had to go to a Community college to get it US accredited and take online classes on the side. I have just finished the online class and sent in my final exam after taking the course or a year and a half. yes a year and a half for a 6 month course just due to being lazy and always putting it off to mess around with friends or the g/f. If you have the dedication to pull an online class then id say go all out, but if ur like me and need a lil bit of reinforcement then id recomend a community college, also going this route you have and actual teacher who u can sit down with when the goin gets tuff and get some help, when i neeed help online i was screwed due to the help lines are run by students themselves aand you cant even talk to ur instuctor... Im not going to lie but going back to school is going to be hard, but it is deffinately worth it!

You might consider retaking your English class, spelling in particular... just messin' with ya

[lagos]

Going back to school!!!, How hard is it?

I just started taking some classes part time, after being out of school for a very long time. You know what I realized? The hardest part about going to school, is the going part. As long as you show up everyday and pay a little attention, there is nothing difficult about it.

This post has been edited by lagos: Jan 4, 2008 - 8:55 PM

[Hanyo]

it really depends on how hard the classes are. At my university the classes are real difficult and trying hard ussually gets me a B grade. At my local junior college, not trying or even showing up to class gets be A-.

You just have to look at yourself, remember how hard school was for you back when you where young. Did you struggle on anything?

I just recomend you call up or talk to someone to find out what it takes to get your degree. Taking random classes that don't help you move towards your goal hurts your motivation. And Motivation is one of the most important thing in school. Once you figured out how many classes you need, you can get an idea of what your getting yourself into.

Since your taking online classes most of the learning will happen on your own time. Can you imagine yourself taking out a book and really reading it and doing the home work? When i say doing, i mean really work on them and get the right answers.

[Slick]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I do regret not going to college right after high school but since I joined the Corps at 18, spent 10 years traveling the world, and now working in the world of Foreign Service while being posted somewhere in Africa, I feel a bit better knowing that I got quite a bit of experience as a trade off. Luckily my military credit counted towards my AA and i'm 3 classes short of completing it. But i know I still have a ways to go. And yes, it will all be online. Perhaps when I get towards the end of my BA I might go back to Washington to finish it off. Wish me luck!

[tomazws]

The hardest part about going to school, is the going part.

So true.

[808celica]

The hardest part about going to school, is the going part.

So true.

x2

just stick to it all the way no regrets nothing.........keep pushing and pushing and never doubt yourself.

[uberschall]

best of luck, man. glad to see you're making the leap. i am finally seeing the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel on my bsme, i can relate.

as for online classes, if you've never taken one before....unless they're set up where you have to check in and participate all the time (which helps keep you on track), the degree of freedom you have is a double-edged sword. whatever you do, don't let the work stack up, it gets nearly impossible to finish the "catching up" you thought you would be able to do. trust me on that.

imho, the best thing to do is set aside a few hours a week for each class in which you do nothing but work for that class. if you need more or less time, fine, but don't let distraction get the better of you. i had a pretty hard time with that.

the funny things is that the more you focus, the faster it all goes!