Back To School!

[Ash]

I feel like Rodney Dangerfield in that movie Back To School.
No, I don't look like him, but it definitely feels weird being back in college now that I'm almost 35 years old.

I graduated high school in 1992.
The thought of going to college right out of high school like most of my classmates did was unthinkable to me.  I needed to get out into the real world and experience life for myself.
I've had some great times throughout the years.  I've traveled to other countries, dated numerous women, drank tons of beer and partied my ass off.
But I always regretted not getting a college degree and that's something that has been weighing heavily on my mind for years.
So I decided to do something about it.

I got sick and tired of working dead-end jobs.  It was one right after the other and none of them were exciting or challenging.
After getting let go from my most recent job due to lack of business, I decided that I needed to take the plunge and finish my degree.

I registered for classes and started yesterday.    
My major is Business Management, and, as of right now, I'm going for a degree of applied science.
Most of my classes are entreprenuership classes.
If I am to open my own business, I'm going to need these classes.

So far it's been good! 
Everything is crazy expensive.  I'm going full-time and have four classes five days a week.  Each class requires one textbook and they're pricey. 
Four books came to $512!
On top of that, I bought Microsoft Office Professional 2007 (which I'm gonna need) and that set me back $200.

The other thing that blows me away is that it's like being back in high school again.
I'm the oldest student in every single class.  When I walk through the halls, every person I pass is at least 10-15 years younger than me.
It's kind of surreal.

It's almost like I've started my life again.

Any thoughts?

[Doggett]

Try to hang out with the cool kids.

I'm thinking about going back to collage myself.

It's just kinda embarrassing when everyone's at least 5 years younger...

I'll pluck up the courage somehow.

Education here I come !!!
             

[Torgo]

I graduated from high school in 1993 and I went to college for a year after that summer.  My grades weren't up to my usual standard (I was a mostly A student in high school) but I got mostly B's with a couple of C's if I remember right.

There was a lot of turmoil going on with myself and my family and my mind really wasn't on continuing going to college.  So I didn't go back for a second year.

But I did check a couple of years ago and they actually still have my stuff there still on file so I could always go back if I wanted to and at least get my associates.

As for my current job, I'm pretty happy with it and I've doubled my salary in just 6 years. But if would be nice to have an actual college degree to fall back on if necessary.

oh yeah, and congrats on getting back to school Ash!   

[AndyC]

Going to college in your 30s is great for one reason. You're mature, you have real-world experience, and you're there to work. You're not a teenager away from home for the first time and perpetually in the mood to party. Everybody might call you "Dad," but you'll do fine.

My sister, with basically a high-school diploma, started training to become a doctor when she was a little older than you, Ash. She's been practicing for a while now. I recall she did very well in her courses, partly because she is smart, but also because she was more focused than the younger students.

[Trevor]

The other thing that blows me away is that it's like being back in high school again.
I'm the oldest student in every single class.  When I walk through the halls, every person I pass is at least 10-15 years younger than me.
It's kind of surreal.

It's almost like I've started my life again.

Any thoughts?

That is ultra-cool, Ash. 

I'm now 41 and hopefully my bosses will soon approve my bursary application to go to film school ~ this at the ripe old age of.......42! 

[Trevor]

Everybody might call you "Dad," but you'll do fine.

Karma!

[Derf]

Congrats, Ash! I always found the returning students in the classes I taught were by far the better students--more focused, able to think/reason better, etc. Life experience can be a great teacher.

I've thought about going back to school myself, just to take a few classes, though, not to seek a new degree. I've been on college campuses quite a bit, and the older I get, the more the college-age kids seem like empty-headed little twits, at least on some levels. Not all of them, of course, and I'll qualify that further by saying that most that I've encountered on an individual basis are quite nice, but the whole "party now before I have to grow up" mentality has never appealed to me.

[Hammock Rider]

Good Luck Ash! I'm going bacl to school now at 43 and while it's kinda weird learning amongst the young'uns its also kinda fun. You don't realize how far you've come until you see where you used to be. I'm sure you'll do well as long as you don't start specchifying about how cheap a Coke used to be back in the day.

[Psycho Circus]

I'm a college drop-out....and damn proud! 

[Doggett]

I'm a college drop-out....and damn proud! 

I dropped out 3 times!!!!

Why did they keep letting me in ?

[akiratubo]

Congratulations, Ash.  I'm starting classes tomorrow, myself.  I feel as though I've wasted twelve years of my life not going to college and it's great to finally be doing it.

[Doggett]

I'm a college drop-out....and damn proud! 

I dropped out 3 times!!!!

Why did they keep letting me in ?

I'm gonna try to get in for a forth time...
Fingers crossed.

[asimpson2006]

Congrats on going back to school Ash.  I've only been out of tech school for 2 and half years now (Seems like yesterday since I got my degree) and I want to go back to school to get my bachelors degree.  I would have gone back if my health hasn't been bad I would have looking for classes to take.  I'm looking at getting a degree in IT management.  I was looking at Penn Sate for classes online but they have associate degrees for Information Sciences and Technology and well I have already have an associates degree in IT.  It would be easier for me with online classes since I wouldn't have to go to the state capital or drive 30 miles or so just to take classes like I used to.  I'll look at other colleges as well, but the only thing that's going to hurt me with my choices is the fact that I didn't do so well with the SAT in high school (I got an 890 if I remember correct.)
 

[BeyondTheGrave]

Congrats Ash! I graduated college about a year ago with a bachelors degree. I went in right after high school and just got it done. It was very expensive to say the least. I went to St. Johns University and the tution went about about 2 times when I was there.

[Rev. Powell]

Congrats Ash, akiraturbo, and good luck Trevor (given your work experience, you may be the most qualified candidate the school has ever had!)

I went to law school at the advanced age of 37.  It was actually much easier than when I was a kid.  I got better grades than I did in undergrad, just because I had the discipline to do the homework and actually go to class!  The younger kids may have nimbler minds, but we make up for it with real life wisdom. 

Also, I went to night school, where a large number of my fellow students were ambitious adults looking for a second career.  It made it a lot easier to form relationships, since most of us were in the same boat.

Hang in there, my man (men)!  Life can turn out much better if you get that degree!