One Hell of a week

[weirdharold]

I went over the water also.... went to work in the oil field in the Gulf of Mexico.... got paid much better than the Navy and might have seen as much of the world over time as he did by joining the navy.

[sarettah]

Words of advice from someone who's been there, done that.......

(went back to school and got my two degrees after 8 years in the military, so was an older student with 2 kids on my own trying to pull down a full time schedule)

1. NEVER DECLARE A MAJOR BEFORE YOUR JUNIOR YEAR.

As soon as you declare a major (even saying something like "Well, I thought I might like to get into computers" to a counselor is wrong) The counselors, administrators, et all will try to push what they envision as the proper courses to get you there.

2. NEVER LISTEN TO A COUNSELOR AS TO WHICH COURSES TO TAKE.

Grab copies of the degree requirements for yourself and work your own plan that way you can plan stuff out that you want (such as me pulling down the 2 degrees in the usual time of one). I looked at the various courses required for the several areas I was interested in and started taking courses that worked for all of them. I used my art courses as electives for my computer degree and vice versa. There were certain core requirements that counselors told me I had to take before everything else but when I checked, they weren't actually prerequisites for anything else, so many of them I delayed until the very end.

3. PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE AROUND WHAT INTERESTS YOU.

Ok, there are going to always be certain courses that are required but bore you to death. Schedule (at the max) one boring class per semester (and if it is available over the summer, take it then). This will allow you to keep your interest going.

4. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DROP A CLASS, FURTHER, IF THE PROF STARTS THE FIRST DAY WITH "IF YOU DO REALLY GOOD, YOU MIGHT EVEN GET A B" DROP IT THAT VERY MOMENT.

If you don't like a prof, or like I say, you get a Prof who doesn't believe that there is such a thing as an "A" grade. Drop the course, walk away clean.

Also, since you are an adult, if you get a prof who insists on treating you like one of the 18 year olds, drop the course and tell the Prof to go screw himself as you walk out the door.

These rules served me well and I pass them on without any obligation of any sort.............

[weirdharold]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Words of advice from someone who's been there, done that.......

(went back to school and got my two degrees after 8 years in the military, so was an older student with 2 kids on my own trying to pull down a full time schedule)

1. NEVER DECLARE A MAJOR BEFORE YOUR JUNIOR YEAR.

As soon as you declare a major (even saying something like "Well, I thought I might like to get into computers" to a counselor is wrong) The counselors, administrators, et all will try to push what they envision as the proper courses to get you there.

2. NEVER LISTEN TO A COUNSELOR AS TO WHICH COURSES TO TAKE.

Grab copies of the degree requirements for yourself and work your own plan that way you can plan stuff out that you want (such as me pulling down the 2 degrees in the usual time of one). I looked at the various courses required for the several areas I was interested in and started taking courses that worked for all of them. I used my art courses as electives for my computer degree and vice versa. There were certain core requirements that counselors told me I had to take before everything else but when I checked, they weren't actually prerequisites for anything else, so many of them I delayed until the very end.

3. PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE AROUND WHAT INTERESTS YOU.

Ok, there are going to always be certain courses that are required but bore you to death. Schedule (at the max) one boring class per semester (and if it is available over the summer, take it then). This will allow you to keep your interest going.

4. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DROP A CLASS, FURTHER, IF THE PROF STARTS THE FIRST DAY WITH "IF YOU DO REALLY GOOD, YOU MIGHT EVEN GET A B" DROP IT THAT VERY MOMENT.

If you don't like a prof, or like I say, you get a Prof who doesn't believe that there is such a thing as an "A" grade. Drop the course, walk away clean.

Also, since you are an adult, if you get a prof who insists on treating you like one of the 18 year olds, drop the course and tell the Prof to go screw himself as you walk out the door.

These rules served me well and I pass them on without any obligation of any sort.............

sarettah, those guidelines aren't to bad, if I do say so myself. There are a couple I no longer have a chance to follow... like not declaring a major.... I walked in doing that, so I guess I have to live with it.

Although I kinda of bitch about the classes.. I have been able to schedule mostly to my interests considering all the crap that is required.... I have been eyeing a double major and working the required classes with that in mind...

Counselors advice has really been about as rare as hen's teeth, but I have been pretty lucky with the Proffessors... I have, so far, recieved nothing but the respect I feel I should be given.... and I wouldn't bet against me telling one to kiss my ass as I walked out the door if I didn't get the respect I feel I deserve. My Grades aren't too bad... I missed a 4.0 by 2 points on a biology finial... So I just have to live with my 3.857 for now, with the understanding I can never have that 4.0.... and that has really taken some of the pressure -- I was putting on myself -- Off.

Thanks for putting your point of view up for me, I really appreciate you taking the time... And I am still open for farther advise.

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by weirdharold

I went over the water also.... went to work in the oil field in the Gulf of Mexico.... got paid much better than the Navy and might have seen as much of the world over time as he did by joining the navy.

My husband joined the navy in like 1968, to avoid the draft. He defended Corpus Christie, Texas from the North Vietnamese. It was the only part of the world he saw once he was out of basic. He was a musician, and his recruiter enthusiastically talked about the Navy band.

They made him an airplane mechanic.

He got a ribbon for enlisting during war time and a cute little plaque.

He also got a deep seated hatred for Corpus Christie that exists to this day.

I think he also got some kind of GI Bill loan on the first house he ever bought.

sarettah...the University of Phoenix is a university for working adults. One class at night for five weeks, plus one night each week (at least) for what's called "Learning Team Meetings." You pick your major or you don't get to play, then you're pretty much along for the ride. He has a "counselor," but asking one of the cats a question would be easier and probably get him a more intelligent response. On the upside, since he's worked for the UOP for 10 years, his tuition is free. (80% of mine would be knocked off, if they offered anything in which I'd want a degree...and wouldn't kill the members of my Learing Team on Day One. My husband has patience to a frightening degree.) He was forced to miss one class, so his grade was docked, and he's pissed about that. He'd have a perfect 4.0, instead of the like 3.95 or something he has. He wants to get his Masters, then supplement the income later in life teaching at UOP. Personally, I think he'll end up killing somebody and I'll have to spend my old age visiting him in prison.