Old Dudes in College Anonymous

[stevew]

There's what, like 10-15 people, here who are giving it the "old" college try. So I figured maybe we could centralize something so that we could discuss stuff.

Some thoughts-
1. I probably go to a dumb kid school, but kids are dumber than expected. I can't imagine having to grade papers.
2. How much participation is too much participation? I feel like an asshole for talking a lot, but there will be times when nobody is contributing and class drags ass.
3. I'm married, but just in case, how young is too young? A friend wants to know.

[Izulde]

1. It's the nightmare you think it is.
2. If you're participating too much, the instructor will let you know or call on other people. Also depends on the style of the class. But in general, participation is a good thing.
3. Depends on the people in question.. no real hard and fast rule, other than if you're as old as Chevy Chase, you can pretty much forget any action.

[JediKooter]

There's what, like 10-15 people, here who are giving it the "old" college try. So I figured maybe we could centralize something so that we could discuss stuff.

Some thoughts-
1. I probably go to a dumb kid school, but kids are dumber than expected. I can't imagine having to grade papers.
2. How much participation is too much participation? I feel like an asshole for talking a lot, but there will be times when nobody is contributing and class drags ass.
3. I'm married, but just in case, how young is too young? A friend wants to know.

I can only answer number 3...

Yes, there is such a thing as too young. I don't think lawyer fees and jail time will help much with the dating prospects. However, that all goes away as soon as the object of his affection is 18. 18 be the magic number.

[Matthean]

3. I'm married, but just in case, how young is too young? A friend wants to know.

(Your age/2) + 7 = Their age. :D Also, if I have a niece who is older, that's a killer right there. I will say right now even as a person who can pass for 30, the only girl who looks my way on any remote level looks at every guy since she's the typical tall long legged blonde cheerleader type that all the guys flock to. Seriously, every guy around her talks to her as where the actual best looking girl in the room pretty much no guy talks to.

[larrymcg421]

1. Agreed. High School is really failing kids by not teaching them how to write a proper argumentative essay, much less a coherent research paper.

2. I participate as much as possible. I sense annoyance from time to time, but moreso from classmates than the professor. The prof will usually say "someone else answer this one" if I've been monopolizing too many of the answers.

3. Tell your "friend" that it depends on the girl. Some dig older guys. Some will think you're a creeper. Just avoid any situations where Chris Hansen would have a reason to show up.

[stevew]

4. Writer's cramp is intolerable

[stevew]

5. If you can't get an A, get the lowest B possible. Had some chick(correctly) give me a 89.4% B. I wish I would have given significantly less effort in that class.

[DaddyTorgo]

4. Writer's cramp is intolerable

I never really noticed this until I got out of college. I can't sit there and write for 90 minutes and not cramp up in my hand anymore.

[sterlingice]

I went to school and got burned out, worked for a couple of years, and then went back and finished up. Two things really stuck out:

1) I'm paying gobs of money to be there so I'll do it as I damn well please. That did mean monopolizing the class time sometimes when people didn't want to learn. I had a poly sci class on political parties where it was me, the 23 yo engineering student and a bunch of poly sci undecided freshmen. There were some decent discussions but sometimes it just got to the point of "it's time for you youngsters to be quiet, mom and dad (the professor and I) are talking big kids stuff".

2) GPA was already in the toilet so what stevew said really applied: pick what you want to learn for after school and study that hard. With the rest, just do enough to get by without putting yourself in any danger of not getting by at the whims of the professor.

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

I went to school and got burned out, worked for a couple of years, and then went back and finished up. Two things really stuck out:

1) I'm paying gobs of money to be there so I'll do it as I damn well please. That did mean monopolizing the class time sometimes when people didn't want to learn. I had a poly sci class on political parties where it was me, the 23 yo engineering student and a bunch of poly sci undecided freshmen. There were some decent discussions but sometimes it just got to the point of "it's time for you youngsters to be quiet, mom and dad (the professor and I) are talking big kids stuff".

2) GPA was already in the toilet so what stevew said really applied: pick what you want to learn for after school and study that hard. With the rest, just do enough to get by without putting yourself in any danger of not getting by at the whims of the professor.

SI

Concur on #2. Once I went back and I had the bad GPA I stopped worrying so much about what grade I would get in classes that I wasn't interested in...didn't obsess about trying to get straight A's or anything. Didn't get anything bad, but it was a nice weight off my back to just focus on the classes I actually cared about (although lo and behold I didn't end up becoming a historian).

[sterlingice]

Funny how the final semester when all of my classes were engineering senior electives, I made the honor roll again ;)

SI

[sterlingice]

Also, I'll admit it- I really took school for granted when my parents were paying for it. It wasn't until it was my own damn money and racking up loans that I really changed my tune.

SI

[stevew]

-if you're a stickler about attendance, Fuck You. I need to know this ahead of time. Especially when half of every class seems to be review of the previous class.

[Autumn]

Good idea Steve. I've just been working on some stuff this morning for an online course, and it's a good thing it's online given how much eye rolling and swearing I do reading people's "contributions."

I'm going through U of Maine, whose distance learning stuff (they have a center in town I can take classes at, interactive TV, videoconference classrooms, and then online) is the main business at all but the central campus. And it's very clear that the bar is lowered. As far as I'm concerned 95% of every class i've been in so far should have failed, and I'm quite sure they didn't. They bend over backwards for these kids and adults, and people just don't even try.

So yeah, it's a bit awkward if you're actually engaging the material. I kind of like the online classes because I can post as much and as intelligently as I want without feeling as much of that awkwardness. In the in-person classes I don't talk as much because they're often so far off track that it's hard to say something without making it obvious how dumb they're being.

It's kind of funny that people push for more people to go back to school to help the economy, when it's clear that most of these people I'm seeing aren't coming out of college with anything approaching a college education. It's just kind of a rubberstamp. I wish I had the time and money to go somewhere more challenging.

But it is nice going back now that I know what the hell I'm doing, and have an interest, and a work ethic, and a passion, as well as just knowledge.

[stevew]

Nazi Alpha-dog every group project. Just assume you're doing 100% and it becomes much less stressful.

[sterlingice]

Nazi Alpha-dog every group project. Just assume you're doing 100% and it becomes much less stressful.

Oh hell, that went back to middle school for most of us, I imagine

SI

[JPhillips]

Some colleagues and I were discussing how students that come back after a few years shouldn't be burdened by a previous GPA. In my experience if they come back after several years they are a completely different student. The motivation and understanding of the consequences of fucking up are completely different than when they were a kid.

[Lathum]

I went back and graduated in 2010 with my BA in History from University of Washington.

I concur that when you are the one paying for it you take it far more seriously. I don't think there is too much participation, you are there to learn and be a part of it, plus I always found classes more tolerable when I was engaged instead of looking at the clock every 3 minutes.

I found not procrastinating as the key, it really helped to do a little for projects each day.

Also, I don't know what your end game is but see if there are any classes that are special projects where you can work directly with a professor. I did one where I got 3 credits for working 10 hours a week on a website project one of my history teachers was doing. I did a good job and he gave me a letter of recomendation when I was looking for a job.

[JPhillips]

I went back and graduated in 2010 with my BA in History from University of Washington.

I concur that when you are the one paying for it you take it far more seriously. I don't think there is too much participation, you are there to learn and be a part of it, plus I always found classes more tolerable when I was engaged instead of looking at the clock every 3 minutes.

I found not procrastinating as the key, it really helped to do a little for projects each day.

Also, I don't know what your end game is but see if there are any classes that are special projects where you can work directly with a professor. I did one where I got 3 credits for working 10 hours a week on a website project one of my history teachers was doing. I did a good job and he gave me a letter of recomendation when I was looking for a job.

I think finding some sort of mentor is hugely important.

[Autumn]

That's one of the reasons I keep knocking it out of the park with my work, even if the expectations are low, because I figure for me at this stage it's more about connecting with and being noticed by the professors. I want to leave an impression in case i need a recommendation, or they have something interesting to tell me about, have a recommendation for me, etc.

[Grover]

1. I'm in a community college, but I agree completely. I feel like there are some seriously brain dead people in 3 of my 4 courses.

2. There is no such thing as too much, I feel. I'm a huge contributor in most of my classes. We do free-writes in every English class. I always share mine, nobody else wants to. I hate the silence with the professor waiting for someone to say something. I'll fill the gaps.

3. There's a girl in two of my classes that I'd love to sink my hooks into. Through talking to her today I've estimated she is 23-24. Lots of attractive girls, but a lot of them are clearly under 20. I won't go under 21/22.

[sabotai]

Funny how the final semester when all of my classes were engineering senior electives, I made the honor roll again ;)

SI

Pretty much how it went for me in my first run through with college (I say first, because if things keep going the way they are going for me, there's going to be a second - so I'm reading this thread with a lot of interest). First half of college with the classes being all general studies, and core classes that were all theory, "book learnin'" and tests, I got mostly Cs. The second half where most of my classes were core classes, and my grades depended much more on the programs I coded and presentations I gave, I made the Dean's List most of the time (I think 4 out of my last 5 semesters).

Nazi Alpha-dog every group project. Just assume you're doing 100% and it becomes much less stressful.

Another contributing factor to the raise in my grades. I learned this by the end of my Sophomore year.

[sabotai]

Oh, and dola...

3. I'm married, but just in case, how young is too young? A friend wants to know.

18 if you don't mind that she's probably just fucking you so you will buy her and her friends alcohol. 21 otherwise.

[Grover]

Oh, and dola...



18 if you don't mind that she's probably just fucking you so you will buy her and her friends alcohol. 21 otherwise.

Hmm, I could probably make this work for me.

[sterlingice]

As long as both parties understand the terms of the arrangement, I guess...

SI

[Coffee Warlord]

Oh, and dola...



18 if you don't mind that she's probably just fucking you so you will buy her and her friends alcohol. 21 otherwise.

Buy her booze only if she provides pics. For us. :)

[JediKooter]

Ok. 18 if drinking isn't a concern. 21 otherwise. However, that's so you can have her stop and get it before she comes over to your place.

[Scoobz0202]

I'm 25 and in nursing school so I am surrounded by girls. The age isn't so much a problem for me in regards to society standards, but I do get uneasy talking to girls that I get the feeling are only 19 years old. Something weird about her not being able to join me for a drink if we would like to kind of makes me uneasy.

[JediKooter]

Don't let irrational fears get in the way of having fun, young man! ;)

[Grover]

I'm 25 and in nursing school so I am surrounded by girls. The age isn't so much a problem for me in regards to society standards, but I do get uneasy talking to girls that I get the feeling are only 19 years old. Something weird about her not being able to join me for a drink if we would like to kind of makes me uneasy.

Bingo.

When the girl I mentioned said "I haven't had time to get out, sometimes you just need to get out and have a beer," my interest was certainly raised.

[molson]

If I had it all over again I would definitely participate more, and make more of an effort to forge relationships with professors. I'd think that's one of the big advantages of going back when you're a little older, you might have more confidence, and you might not be as concerned about having the wrong answer or whatever.

[Autumn]

Yes, I feel basically on par with my professors, even if they're the experts in this particular field. It removes that sense of hierarchy and makes the experience more purely intellectual.

[Lathum]

Something weird about her not being able to join me for a drink if we would like to kind of makes me uneasy.

Makes it hard to slip them a roofie

[stevew]

Scheduling probably starts soon. I suggest that you do some work on this cause it's important. Game plan this shit. Basically there's the shit you want to take, and the shit you have to take for your major. But the shit they make you take for gen-ed requirements? Fuck those classes in the ear. For instance, we need two classes on this long list of humanities. I could take subjectively graded mythological literature, or I could take history of film.

And always make friends with the people you sit around, if only cause you want to know what gen-ed's they've taken and if those particular classes are easy. Always ask what foreign language they took and who they had. I hear there's a dramatic variance onto what your experience can be.

[stevew]

I'm 25 and in nursing school so I am surrounded by girls. The age isn't so much a problem for me in regards to society standards, but I do get uneasy talking to girls that I get the feeling are only 19 years old. Something weird about her not being able to join me for a drink if we would like to kind of makes me uneasy.

There's something about tramp stamps and nurse scrubs that just go together. Assuming the chick isn't really fat.

[DanGarion]

4. Writer's cramp is intolerable

You actually write? What they won't let you type your answers?!?!?

[korme]

17 is too young. 18 is your lucky number, Stevew!!!!!!

[Swaggs]

I'm 35 and back in. It is about a billion times harder when you have a (small) child.

[stevew]

You actually write? What they won't let you type your answers?!?!?

Hell no. It's maddening.

[JediKooter]

Hell no. It's maddening.

4270

[larrymcg421]

5. If you can't get an A, get the lowest B possible. Had some chick(correctly) give me a 89.4% B. I wish I would have given significantly less effort in that class.

I go to Georgia State and they use a sliding GPA system, where the + or - affects your GPA. You would've got a 3.3 for your B+, but only a 2.7 if you slacked and got a B-.

[stevew]

That is crap.

[stevew]

As is any scale other than 90-100=A, etc.

[CrimsonFox]

4270


DOINK! :D

[JediKooter]

DOINK! :D

I don't know why, but, that was the first thing that popped into my head.

[Scoobz0202]

As is any scale other than 90-100=A, etc.

Ugh. I was told before starting Nursing school that the sooner I was happy being a B student and able to forget about straight A's the easier the adjustment would be, but their 93-100(A), 85-92(B), 75-84(C), 0-74(Fail), scale is so frustrating.

When asked a professor gave us some, "Would you want a nurse that just barely got a C taking care of you?"

I do know a student body group is pushing for the minimum 75 to stay, but to revert back to 90-100, 80-90, 75-80. Their reasoning is that they would still have that increased minimum, but students could still maintain their GPA for graduate school prospects. I really want to go for my Masters, NP, PA, etc but I cant help but wonder what my prospects will be when I graduate and my almost 4.0 is a 3.3. Nursing school is already difficult enough, let alone battling a tougher scale. One of my classes has six ways to fail.

Hopefully they institute this new scale before I am already 3 semesters deep in B's.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Scheduling probably starts soon. I suggest that you do some work on this cause it's important. Game plan this shit. Basically there's the shit you want to take, and the shit you have to take for your major. But the shit they make you take for gen-ed requirements? Fuck those classes in the ear. For instance, we need two classes on this long list of humanities. I could take subjectively graded mythological literature, or I could take history of film.
I have a great story from a history of film class, but it's really only great if you've taken a history of film class.

[Izulde]

I have a great story from a history of film class, but it's really only great if you've taken a history of film class.


"And then I told him, 'Buster, you ain't Keaton about that Eisenstein fella.'"

[Vince, Pt. II]

The biggest thing I found was realizing that your professors are people too, and it is easy and extremely helpful to befriend them. Or at least, if not befriend them, talk with them outside of class. Not only will they help, you'll learn more and it's liable to be very interesting stuff (and it can't hurt your grade to be in good with the professor). I graduated with a BA in History back in 2003, and it wasn't until my last year or so that I realized I could pick the professors I enjoyed and go take only the classes they taught. Made a HUGE difference.

[stevew]

I have a great story from a history of film class, but it's really only great if you've taken a history of film class.

The lady who taught our class had ginormous tracks of land.

[JeeberD]

I'm 35 and back in. It is about a billion times harder when you have a (small) child.

In my case, thank god for daycare and a job with irregular hours. The mornings before I work night shifts and my days off during the week are prime homework time. If I worked a 9-5 I don't think I would ever see my family...

[Matthean]

Cranked on my final precalc test before the final and my midterm for my C++ class.

[larrymcg421]

Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 I have 5 papers due and 6 exams to take. It will be a "fun" week.

[Izulde]

I do not miss the undergrad end semester crunch in the least.

[sterlingice]

No- that was always crazy. And it would be really rare that classes would give out the assignments early so you could pace yourself a little bit in November.

SI

[Matthean]

I would love for my C++ class to show what assignments are due for the term. I would be done by now. I only have two classes but one is an 8-week precalc II class. Our next test covers 8 sections and even the teacher is trying to figure out how to properly cover all of the material in an one hour test. Test isn't until Tuesday, and I think I'm going to start prepping for it tomorrow and and then start going back through old tests and redoing them so I can prep for the final. That thing is going to be a beast.

[larrymcg421]

I started back in school last summer after getting laid off from my job. I had 63 credit hours but no patience, so I took 6 classes in the summer, 7 in the fall, and 7 more this spring. That's a pretty hectic and sometimes incredibly stressful schedule but I've managed it well with a 3.87 GPA and will be graduating in May.

[HeavyReign]

That's impressive. I remember not having nearly enough time while doing 5 classes and 20 credits for most of my final year.

[Dutch]

Congrats! I did 10 classes over the course of a year, at night after work, to finish my degree at UMUC and whlie I had enough time, the self-discipline to keep going once I could see the end became the biggest challenge.

[SackAttack]

I started back in school last summer after getting laid off from my job. I had 63 credit hours but no patience, so I took 6 classes in the summer, 7 in the fall, and 7 more this spring. That's a pretty hectic and sometimes incredibly stressful schedule but I've managed it well with a 3.87 GPA and will be graduating in May.

That's insane (but, uh, props all the same).

I took 5 classes in the fall and am hoping for 6 this spring (but realistically probably going to be 5 again).

Got a 4.0 last semester, first time since high school. Kind of weird to realize I've been in college long enough that the last time I had over a 3.0, Clinton was President.

[finketr]

I'm not sure how I missed this the first time around, but.. I completed my bachelors in May 2011. 21 full scholastic years after starting in Fall of 1990 at my alma mater (and original school). Thank God for online university.

[Scoobz0202]

I started back in school last summer after getting laid off from my job. I had 63 credit hours but no patience, so I took 6 classes in the summer, 7 in the fall, and 7 more this spring. That's a pretty hectic and sometimes incredibly stressful schedule but I've managed it well with a 3.87 GPA and will be graduating in May.

Yea, that is insane. I don't really know how it is possible. I am in Nursing school and taking three classes right now. Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and an Intro to Clinical class. The Clinical is a three hour lecture, a four hour clinical, a four hour lab. The Patho is a three hour lecture. The Pharm is a 3 hour lecture. This week I had 14 chapters of reading and my clinical work on top of that.

Two more classes I would kill myself.

[Autumn]

I was stoked that one of my classes I was able to get the books used for literally $4. Of course that class got canceled and I had to pick up another one. This one I couldn't get a used book for less than $100. Then once the class started I realized that I needed an access code to the Web site that only comes with new books, so had to pay another $100 for the e-text and access code. That's a way to describe my luck.

[stevew]

Congrats Larry. I struggle to take 12 hours and I'm taking this spring off

[Matthean]

This one I couldn't get a used book for less than $100. Then once the class started I realized that I needed an access code to the Web site that only comes with new books, so had to pay another $100 for the e-text and access code. That's a way to describe my luck.

Starting to see this with classes as well. Thankfully no teacher has required it. It so far has been merely supplemental material.

[Scoobz0202]

I was stoked that one of my classes I was able to get the books used for literally $4. Of course that class got canceled and I had to pick up another one. This one I couldn't get a used book for less than $100. Then once the class started I realized that I needed an access code to the Web site that only comes with new books, so had to pay another $100 for the e-text and access code. That's a way to describe my luck.

Oh yea, fuck that shit. Of course I spent $180 for a new Microbiology text book last semester because I needed to access code and found out the online portion with the code was optional, supplemental material. Never even registered that damn code.

Or the dosage calculation program that I paid $100 for a code last semester that turned out to be a terrible program and the Nursing program admitted as much.

[larrymcg421]

Had my first freakout of the semester last week when I totally forgot about an assignment and had to pull an all nighter to get it done. A major case of writer's block made it way worse than it had to be.

Good news is that graduation is exactly three months from today.

[larrymcg421]

Graduating from GSU today!

[Dutch]

Graduating from GSU today!

w00t!

[finketr]

Woohoo!

[Buccaneer]

It is incredulous to me that there has not been a concerted outcry against the scams that are textbooks cost. I am not aware of any commodities we pay for that allows you to get royally ripped off, esp. since you sometimes have no choice. I wonder why this has become so accepted and tolerated?

[oykib]

It is incredulous to me that there has not been a concerted outcry against the scams that are textbooks cost. I am not aware of any commodities we pay for that allows you to get royally ripped off, esp. since you sometimes have no choice. I wonder why this has become so accepted and tolerated?

I took Anthropology 101 back in college because I needed a social science credit and my roommate was an Anthropology major. I figured I could just use his Anthropology textbook, which he still had from freshman year. I show up to class and the professor tells us we have to by his ethnography of the people of the Faroe Islands, whom he had studied. It was $25 for book he would up using for a total of ten questions on the midterm (His tests averaged about 50 questions, and there were five per semester). Of course, the student store wouldn't buy it back at the end of the year either. F*&%ing scam! I'm still pissed over fifteen years later.

[Autumn]

Wow ,just finished my last paper for the semester. This one killed me. I'm going half-time and was taking a class on Research methods in teh Social Sciences, and then a music history class on the Classical-Era. Guess which one killed me?

This music teacher was the hardest I've had so far. Dude doesn't give As easily, and the papers were non-stop. I'm one of those guys who can't make myself halfass it, and this guy has high standards, so every week I was killing myself trying to outdo the last paper. I got good grades on the papers, but I felt like I was doing nothing else but writing. As soon as one was done it was right into prepping for the next one. I'm so glad for this semester to be over. I only have about a week until summer sessoin starts though. Damn.

[Autumn]

And yeah I paid thorugh the nose for that research book. It was like $110 (and that was a cheap price I found somewhere). Then I realized that didn't include access to the electronic resources, which we needed for the class, so I ended up having to pay another $90 for that.

On the flipside, I was able to get books for a history class for literally seven dollars total.

[Izulde]

It is incredulous to me that there has not been a concerted outcry against the scams that are textbooks cost. I am not aware of any commodities we pay for that allows you to get royally ripped off, esp. since you sometimes have no choice. I wonder why this has become so accepted and tolerated?

Basically, the publishers control the market. College faculty aren't happy about it either, and many do what they can to alleviate the costs of materials for the course, but in many cases, their hands are tied by administration, especially for graduate assistants and adjunct instructors.

[JPhillips]

It is incredulous to me that there has not been a concerted outcry against the scams that are textbooks cost. I am not aware of any commodities we pay for that allows you to get royally ripped off, esp. since you sometimes have no choice. I wonder why this has become so accepted and tolerated?

Some of it is tied to the assessment racket. The accreditation bodies prefer classes with text books as that makes them easier to assess. I'd teach my Intro class without a book, as I cover things outside of any Intro book I have seen and include a lot of practical projects, but not having a book is almost assuring me of being called out by the Promotion and Tenure committee. That would be a fight I couldn't win.

I do my best by using an online text, but that still costs the students 40$ a semester.

[finketr]

It is incredulous to me that there has not been a concerted outcry against the scams that are textbooks cost. I am not aware of any commodities we pay for that allows you to get royally ripped off, esp. since you sometimes have no choice. I wonder why this has become so accepted and tolerated?

That's the truth. I tried to do the buy the book via amazon but the price difference wasn't that great. And worse, it didn't seem to come with the required e-subscription to some anti-plagiarizing service.?

[JeeberD]

Just seven more weeks until graduation. Just keep pushing through, Jeeber. It's almost over...

[Neuqua]

Missed this thread the first time around..

I partied too much my first time around in college. Worked a bit, ran my own business, and then after selling the business decided to go back to school.

Graduated with my BA a couple years ago with a 3.73 GPA, it's amazing what a few years does in regards to maturation.

I have recently contemplated becoming a Physician Assistant and thus this semester started taking some pre-reqs at a local community college. It's not quite as easy (haven't taken science classes in a long time, and medical terminology is just not fun period), but I'm continuing to move forward.

Problem is PA schools from what I've gathered are incredibly difficult to get into and will not discount my previous struggles in college when I was 18. I have a big mountain to climb, and I'm my own worst enemy. Silly as it sounds, I get ideas that I'm too old to be changing careers. I turn 30 in December.

[JeeberD]

You're still a pup at almost 30, Neuq. My advice is to get it done while you're still young and don't have that many obligations. I'm pretty sure you're not married yet...it gets more difficult once you have that other person in your life. Then kiddos come into the picture, and it gets even more difficult. Don't put it off or talk yourself out of it if it's what you really want to do.

While I'm 36 and about to finally get my Bachelor's, my brother is 43 and will be getting his Master's in Occupational Therapy in May. It's never too late to do what you truly want to do, but it definitely gets more complicated.

Good luck!

[Neuqua]

Appreciate it Jeebs.

I enjoy hearing stories like that. Been spending a lot of time on PA-based forums to continually remind myself that the non-traditional student has almost become the norm at this point.

Much respect to you, your brother, and everyone else in this thread for trying to better themselves educationally.

[JeeberD]

I guess this will be my last post in this thread as a member of the club. I took my last final this morning (and likely did worse on it than any test I've taken since I've been back in school) and will be graduating tomorrow. It's been a challenge, but I'm so happy to accomplish this after having given up on it years ago.

[Dutch]

Congrats!

[sterlingice]

Rock on! :)

SI

[vex]

Congrats!

[vex]

I also missed this thread last year but I just received my Associate Degree in Business Administration and just finished my first semester as a Finance major. Would love to try and get my MBA after this, but my poor GPA when I was young will make that difficult.

[cartman]

Congrats JeeberD! It must have been rough commuting back and forth between DFW and El Paso for the classes! :D

[Autumn]

Bumping for old time's sake. I graduate in a week, finally. Took me six years going half-time spring, summer, and fall to get it done. I did my student teaching this semester, which is not something that's easy to do as a parent with a job and bills. But I'm done, will graduate with my BA in psychology and education, and a certificate in teaching secondary English. It sure was harder doing it this way, but then again I never would have studied this stuff back when I was the "right" age, so I'm getting more out of it. Glad, glad, glad it's over though. Going back to just having one job seems like a dream.

[JAG]

Congrats Autumn, that's exciting news!

[miami_fan]

Well Done

[Eaglesfan27]

Awesome stuff. Congrats Autumn!

I'm back in school for my MBA. I'm now 2/3 of the way done.

[NobodyHere]

I got a year left on my GI Bill, might as well try to work my ways to a Master's degree.

[NobodyHere]

I started courses this week in order to get a Master's degree in Information Technology. Wish me luck!

[NobodyHere]

I started courses this week in order to get a Master's degree in Information Technology. Wish me luck!

First two courses are complete!

Next Up:
Object Oriented App Development
Innovation in Info Technology

Wish me luck! Again!

[NobodyHere]

Still trying to decide on my minor. I'm leaning towards web development or software application development. There's also data analytics and database design.

Any recommendations? Which one would be most likely to help me find a job?

[Edward64]

Still trying to decide on my minor. I'm leaning towards web development or software application development. There's also data analytics and database design.

Any recommendations? Which one would be most likely to help me find a job?

Just my opinion. Assuming in the US ...

Web development is pretty commoditized. I suspect alot of these jobs are offshored or done by the gig economy (e.g. part-time).

Application development is offshored also. Unless you are lucky enough to get into a start-up doing brand new things. And if it is a start-up, they will likely want experience.

Don't know much about database design. There may be 2 levels here, working for Oracle/Microsoft on their DB products, or working for a company supporting their Oracle/Microsoft DB products. I don't see alot of growth here.

Analytics is big in my world and its pretty wide open. I would take a bet on this for the future.

[GoldenCrest Games]

Love this thread! I don't think people get enough encouragement to go back to school as they get older.

I got my bachelor's while I was in my mid 30's, and it changed my life. It was hard to get over the hump and make it happen, but I finally realized that even as a 40-year old, I still have something like 30+ years of work ahead of me. That's plenty of time to make use of a new degree.

The funny thing is that I have a lot of engineers around age 26-28 that are depressed because they think they are too old to change careers.

I try real hard not to giggle. :)

[hollmt]

I finally had enough of my job (and that is what it is, a job most times) and with encouragement am back in school as of yesterday.

I work in Healthcare Info Tech as a Systems Analyst and for awhile now I have thought about changing careers.

End goal is to be a Diabetic Educator with the Dietician path to get there. I have to take 5 science courses to enroll in the program though. I haven't taken science courses since high school and that was 1990-1993. So, good times ahead. Taking Chem and Anatomy and Physiology this semester.

Did you know, you can take that shit online? Well, you can. They mail you the lab kit and sheep eyeballs to dissect at home. That isn't going to go over well with the lady.

Also, I noticed the student roster. In the A&P class, I am the only male. Most the females (based on their intro post) are nursing majors or dental assistant majors. In the Chem class, I think I am 1 of 3 males. I do not think I am the oldest student though as some have a profile pic up and I can guestimate.

It is never too late to learn something new and change careers. I want to do something more fulfilling to me and others...not stare at some monitors and deal with claim data.

[nilodor]

When I was going through my undergrad work (Civil Engineering) we had a one student in his 30's and another in his late 40's. Both did quite well in the program and have been enjoying successful careers. It made a huge difference that they chose to be there instead of having their parents tell them they should go, or being half committed.

Best of luck to you!

[Edward64]

When I was going through my undergrad work (Civil Engineering) we had a one student in his 30's and another in his late 40's. Both did quite well in the program and have been enjoying successful careers. It made a huge difference that they chose to be there instead of having their parents tell them they should go, or being half committed.

Best of luck to you!

When I was in college we have some veterans come thru on the GI Bill.

I remembered admiring them for doing that.

[Dreghorn2]

Tremendous thread.

I too went back to school in my mid 30s, similar backstory to many of you, but what i would like to mention is that my uncle went back at the age of 70.

He was a flight instructor for years (including WW2), and after retirement he decided to get a history degree, i shared a class with him.

He graduated in 4 years, a very cool man.

[jct32]

I started my first semester this year. I did 8 years in the military.

I can understand some of the frustration about being the only one who talks in class. In my Calculus class, we have a "quiz" class where we go over homework and take exams/quizzes. Every Tuesday, the day homework is due at the end of the night, I'm always the only person who is done with homework.

Maybe it's like you guys mentioned about choosing to be here. I didn't work my butt off for 8 years to slack in college. All that effort will not go unwasted.

By the way, I am an Electrical Engineering major (26 years old). Taking Calculus I, Calculus Quiz, Chemistry I, Chemistry Lab, Exposition and Argument (writing class), Digital Systems Principles, Digital Systems Lab.

I'm loving it so far.

[Edward64]

Thinking back in my college days, I'm sure you have much more maturity and discipline (after 8 years) than I had back then.

Congrats and keep up the good work.

[GoldenCrest Games]

I can understand some of the frustration about being the only one who talks in class. In my Calculus class, we have a "quiz" class where we go over homework and take exams/quizzes. Every Tuesday, the day homework is due at the end of the night, I'm always the only person who is done with homework.


That's one of the things that stuck out for me, too. Nobody else seemed to take it seriously and actually learn. Around my 2nd year, I found that I spent at least as much time teaching the material to the other kids as I spent doing my own homework.

It turned into a daily 6:00 AM "study with the old guy" session. Kind of funny now, looking back.

[JeeberD]

That's one of the things that stuck out for me, too. Nobody else seemed to take it seriously and actually learn. Around my 2nd year, I found that I spent at least as much time teaching the material to the other kids as I spent doing my own homework.

It turned into a daily 6:00 AM "study with the old guy" session. Kind of funny now, looking back.

That happened when I took Stats at 34 years old...the kids were constantly coming up to me and asking how I got the right answers on the homework, and I would teach them what to do.

[tarcone]

I started 9 hours of online courses this past weekend.
Oh boy.
Amazing at how things have changed. I havent taken a class in 20 years. But need some salary movement, so here I am.

So much new stuff out there. I was worried about my procrastination problem and taking online courses. But I have overcome. Got a third of the first class done Sunday. On my way.

[NobodyHere]

Just got done with my latest semester (I earned As, woohoo!). My GI Bill ran out so I'll have to shell out some of my limited dough to finish my Masters degree. I only have two classes left. One will probably be a class in statistical analysis and the other my capstone.

Wish me luck! Also will somebody please hire me?

[Thomkal]

That's great NH! Congrats!