Calling all students

[always2late]

I'm currently working towards my degree in Speech Pathology, was originally going for my Masters in nursing, but changed mid-stream when I decided that I needed a career change. And may I just say...I LOVE being a student! If I ever won the lottery, I would probably become a professional student...no major, just taking classes that interest me, about anything and everything! (and yes, I claim my Nerdy McGeekpants-ness proudly! LOL)

[lusciouskiwi]

What do you do to focus? Whether it's something you need to read or write...

[Semantics]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

What do you do to focus? Whether it's something you need to read or write...

Unfortunately, I usually need a crushing amount of pressure. Ha!
I do my best work if I procrastinate until the very last minute. Something about the intensity of scrambling, the empty library at midnight, and the fear of imminent consequences all seem to do it.

It's a terrible strategy and I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure it's just pure dumb luck that I've never had something come up, or that there was a book or a research article that I desperately needed for my work that I couldn't get my hands on at the last minute.

This semester I'm taking two grad courses, and I'm determined to be better. For my two undergrad degrees I stayed in an area that I knew well, but now I've veered off my planned path and into a field where I'm not so surefooted and things may not come as easily.

[lusciouskiwi]

Originally Posted by Semantics

Unfortunately, I usually need a crushing amount of pressure. Ha!
I do my best work if I procrastinate until the very last minute. Something about the intensity of scrambling, the empty library at midnight, and the fear of imminent consequences all seem to do it.

It's a terrible strategy and I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure it's just pure dumb luck that I've never had something come up, or that there was a book or a research article that I desperately needed for my work that I couldn't get my hands on at the last minute.

This semester I'm taking two grad courses, and I'm determined to be better. For my two undergrad degrees I stayed in an area that I knew well, but now I've veered off my planned path and into a field where I'm not so surefooted and things may not come as easily.

What are you studying Ms Semantics? Your user id is funny since my Master's is under the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.

I think the key to procrastination is finding out the root cause of it. I know what you mean. Lots of us do it though eh? Not healthy though.

[Nadeest]

I am going for my AAS in Culinary Arts, and will be studying some Baking and Pastry Arts as well. I don't know yet, though, if I am going to get an Associate's degree in Baking and Pastry, yet, or simply take a few classes to learn more about that side of the kitchen. I'll only need about 8 or 9 more classes to get my Associate's in that field, so I might end up doing that.

[QueenofSmirks]

I, too, love being a student! It took me 18 years to finally be able to go back to college. Don't get me wrong, I bitch every week about having to do homework, but I know someday, when I'm done and have my degree in hand, I'll be lost LOL. It's just so much a part of my life, even when I have a break I feel like I don't know what to do with the extra time!

As someone else posted, I'm also a "pressure student". I wait until an alarmingly late hour to start on papers and other important assignments, then work like a fiend to accomplish the task. I've tried other ways, but always revert back - it's just part of my nature - I always perform better under stress.

Kudos to all of my fellow students!

Medusa, wow! I am sending positive energy your way - that is quite a load!

[DamonK]

Been trying to go back for years. Assuming nothing goes wrong, I'm back for 3 math classes and one law.

[Martina]

I thought about it. It's a great career and interesting. But it's just too long a haul for me at this age.

I am going to be taking online classes -- free -- this year in math and science. They will allow me to be highly qualified as a teacher in these subjects -- as a Special Educator.

When I finished my credential, which was harder for me than any academic work I had done before (because of my age probably), I was like "NEVER AGAIN!"

But I think I knew when I said that that I couldn't hold to that.

I haven't started the online work yet. But I think it will be fine. Fun, even.

Originally Posted by always2late

I'm currently working towards my degree in Speech Pathology, was originally going for my Masters in nursing, but changed mid-stream when I decided that I needed a career change. And may I just say...I LOVE being a student! If I ever won the lottery, I would probably become a professional student...no major, just taking classes that interest me, about anything and everything! (and yes, I claim my Nerdy McGeekpants-ness proudly! LOL)

[stephfromMIT]

Quantum Field Theory III
Quantum Mechanics I
Statistical Mechanics I

[cinnamongrrl]

I'm planning on starting skool in Sept. I'm taking my pre reqs for the RN program but hoping to get into an LPN program next September. I've always enjoyed school and im VERY much looking forward to it

[always2late]

After reading the posts, I thought I would throw a question out there....how many are taking online classes as opposed to the actual classroom? When I got my nursing degree, many of my classes couldn't be taken online (for obvious reasons...a lot of them were clinical in nature). Luckily, I was able to transfer many of my credits, and CLEP even more...so now, I have the option to take a good number of classes online. I've always been a bit leery of online classes, because I felt that I needed the discipline of an actual classroom setting. However, this summer I took two online classes and, to my surprise, really enjoyed it! I'm thinking of perhaps splitting the rest of my remaining classes 50-50 between online and classroom. If you are taking online classes...what have been your experiences with them? Do you find them easier or harder? Are you online by choice, or is that all that is available?

My Fall classes:
Speech Science I
Sign Language
Aging and the Law
Intro to Physical Science

[stephfromMIT]

2late-All my classes will be on MIT's campus.

[always2late]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

What do you do to focus? Whether it's something you need to read or write...

Originally Posted by Semantics

Unfortunately, I usually need a crushing amount of pressure. Ha!
I do my best work if I procrastinate until the very last minute. Something about the intensity of scrambling, the empty library at midnight, and the fear of imminent consequences all seem to do it.

It's a terrible strategy and I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure it's just pure dumb luck that I've never had something come up, or that there was a book or a research article that I desperately needed for my work that I couldn't get my hands on at the last minute.

This semester I'm taking two grad courses, and I'm determined to be better. For my two undergrad degrees I stayed in an area that I knew well, but now I've veered off my planned path and into a field where I'm not so surefooted and things may not come as easily.

I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only person who does this! I, too, seem to function much better under extreme pressure...I write better papers, find I retain more of what I study, etc... And I also beat myself up for it every semester, always telling myself that I MUST get into better study habits, that I am setting myself up for failure should something unexpected come up. This year, I think I might finally have to break the bad habit of waiting until almost the last minute. One of my classes is Sign Language...and since I'll be learning an entirely new language, and a physical one at that, I don't think I'll be able to fall back on my "last minute" methods.

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

Hi Always,

I'm curious to hear how your sign language class goes; assuming it is one you are taking online.

Hi Novela! The sign language class is one that I will be taking on campus. They aren't offering it online, and I don't think they will. I haven't seen it offered as an online class in past semesters. Given the nature of the course..I'm not sure that it could be effective online. It's funny...when some family members and friends heard that I was taking the course, they all hit me up for lessons...so it looks like I will have ample practice! LOL

On a totally different note...your books look REALLY interesting!

[BoDy*ShOt]

"it is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot

a favorite quote that inspires me to work at the person I am meant to be.

I'll be returning to school to finish an undergrad degree, finally. because it is never too late.

[DamonK]

Originally Posted by always2late

After reading the posts, I thought I would throw a question out there....how many are taking online classes as opposed to the actual classroom? When I got my nursing degree, many of my classes couldn't be taken online (for obvious reasons...a lot of them were clinical in nature). Luckily, I was able to transfer many of my credits, and CLEP even more...so now, I have the option to take a good number of classes online. I've always been a bit leery of online classes, because I felt that I needed the discipline of an actual classroom setting. However, this summer I took two online classes and, to my surprise, really enjoyed it! I'm thinking of perhaps splitting the rest of my remaining classes 50-50 between online and classroom. If you are taking online classes...what have been your experiences with them? Do you find them easier or harder? Are you online by choice, or is that all that is available?

My Fall classes:
Speech Science I
Sign Language
Aging and the Law
Intro to Physical Science

My classes are all online. It has its drawbacks. I don't go to class therefore accountability falls on me and me alone. Likely, my dom will end up making rules to help me do the work.

For me, being deaf, it makes sense. Otherwise, I get to go to student services, turn in lots of paperwork, and drag an interpreter to class. In many ways, that makes the class much harder. I pay attention to my terp and forget to take notes. Or I take notes and forget my terp. I've gone the route of someone else taking notes for me, but couldn't hold the new I.information in my brain because they weren't MY notes. So...unless you're one of the professors that utilizes online and offline, I'm much less likely to succeed.

[Novelafemme]

Today I start my Masters/PhD program in Mexican American Studies with an emphasis on Chicana/o History and Pedagogy. I was so excited and nervous last night a barely slept a wink. I picked up my books last week and have been perusing them and looking forward to an enlightening and enriching first semester of grad school. There are actually four more books than what I have posted below, but fortunately I already have them in my home library. And I still have one class missing its booklist!! Let's just say I will be knee deep in books for the next 2-8 years. I LOVE IT!

I am also working full time and raising two girls. Medusa, I'm right there with you in the thick of crazyville!!

[Novelafemme]

Originally Posted by always2late

After reading the posts, I thought I would throw a question out there....how many are taking online classes as opposed to the actual classroom? When I got my nursing degree, many of my classes couldn't be taken online (for obvious reasons...a lot of them were clinical in nature). Luckily, I was able to transfer many of my credits, and CLEP even more...so now, I have the option to take a good number of classes online. I've always been a bit leery of online classes, because I felt that I needed the discipline of an actual classroom setting. However, this summer I took two online classes and, to my surprise, really enjoyed it! I'm thinking of perhaps splitting the rest of my remaining classes 50-50 between online and classroom. If you are taking online classes...what have been your experiences with them? Do you find them easier or harder? Are you online by choice, or is that all that is available?

My Fall classes:
Speech Science I
Sign Language
Aging and the Law
Intro to Physical Science

Hi Always,

I'm curious to hear how your sign language class goes; assuming it is one you are taking online.

I have taken a ton of online courses and each one has been fairly unique in its own right. Most of them were in my minor area which was Sociology. One of the toughest ones by far was a Sociology of Gender course I took in the spring. I thought it would be a piece of cake since my major was Gender & Women's Studies, but the prof weighted our entire grade on three exams. I got a C on my midterm and brought my A down to a B. I have found that the more work there is, the harder I work in turn. My online linguistics class this summer required a lot of interaction via a discussion forum where the class met three times a week. That was in interesting class and provided more of a interactive platform which is a nice change from the solitary realm of online academics.

I definitely do better in face-to-face classes, but that's probably due largely to me being so easily distracted when I'm online (oh, lookie...Facebook!) But, if it weren't for online courses I would not have been able to graduate as quickly as I did given my work/family schedules.

[lusciouskiwi]

My Master's in entirely online. My uni uses Blackboard. We're supposed to post work related to each week's readings. There's no opportunity to mix with classmates off BB and folks tend to only post what's necessary so no interaction - we don't have any online discussions.

I'm behind in my readings and have a terrible mental block and like others I'm easily distracted.

I don't do very well when I feel isolated so I don't like not having an opportunity to interact with classmates off BB.

[QueenofSmirks]

Originally Posted by always2late

*snip* Are you online by choice, or is that all that is available?

My Fall classes:
Speech Science I
Sign Language
Aging and the Law
Intro to Physical Science

It's online all the way for me, but it takes a LOT of discipline, so it isn't a good fit for everyone. I enjoyed classroom when I attended, but I don't have the time or availability for that now. I need the flexibility of online classes.