Colleges Are More Flexible Than You Think

When I first decided to go back to college, I did some major debating about whether I should finish a degree online or go the traditional route. As you can tell, traditional university won out for several reasons, but the allure of the flexible online class really intrigued me.

I was surprised to find that traditional schools are way more flexible and accommodating than you think! I first discovered this when I asked my advisor about a "features writing" class that I saw in the undergraduate catalog but not on the class schedule. He told me that it was no longer offered but suggested that I take it as an independent study course instead. Okie-dokie. I did it!

Then, when I realized that I wanted to take summer school but I already had two weeks blocked out on my calendar for travels--things that are very important to me and that I will not compromise for class--my advisor suggested a "hybrid class:" part traditional classroom, part independent study. Basically, I will go in for some lectures and I will work on projects at home. I ended up enrolling in two hybrid courses this summer because the second class was scheduled while I would be traveling. Add those to the one online class I will be taking and that means I won't have to miss my travels at all!



I enrolled in a geography class at another university (it is an online class; my school doesn't offer these), but I was afraid that it wouldn't meet my general ed requirements because it wasn't listed on the transfer list of classes for our state. A quick e-mail to the registrar's office and they said it would be just fine.

Also, I found out that one specific classes listed as requirement for my major could be substituted for another class. I thought that was really weird--aren't requirements "requirements?"--but I was really glad to be able to work it all out. It was the one class preventing me from graduating in December.



So the moral of the story is: if you think traditional university is not for you because it's not as flexible, you might be wrong. Make friends with your advisor because they know all the short-cuts and substitutions that aren't going to be spelled out in any undergraduate catalog. When in doubt, call the registrar's office, and lastly, always eat your Wheaties. Oh wait...maybe you can strike out the last one.

Students Rejoice! The Semester Hath Ended!

My tests are done, my projects have been turned in, the bookstore refused to buy back a huge stack of books...that can only mean one thing:Yay! Time for a breather...a short one, but a breather nonetheless.

The end of the spring semester at college totally makes me flash back to elementary school: kids sad because they might not see their buddies during the summer and already missing their favorite teachers but excited about moving up to the next grade. It's the same here: lots of hugs, "miss you's," and even a little sadness if you've had a really great professor who taught you a lot but that you will never have in class again. All the grads are excited to put on the cap & gown but many of them will admit that they are nervous about "the real world."

Personally, I'm just excited to have a couple of weeks at home. I think I'll make a great effort to "veg out" and "waste time" just for the heck of it. "Because I can, that's why!" :)

Down to the Wire

So, I somehow managed to end up working right up until my deadline this week. I have to turn in my projects tomorrow and I have my final test. It's 9 p.m. and I have barely gotten around to studying because I am still working on my project (which I thought would be completed by now).

I think I work best under pressure, but I wish I'd quit doing it to myself! I have a feeling it's going to be a long night... *sigh*

The Great Summer School Debate

My spring semester will be officially be wrapped up in two more days. You know what that means? I'll say "good-bye" to homework, writing papers and research and say "hello" to lazy summer afternoons by the pool, sleeping late with my kids and relaxing in a lawn chair.

Well....maybe.

I've actually decided to consider summer school. At the beginning of the spring semester, I planned to take several classes this summer so that I could graduate in December. But I talked myself out of it, saying that I didn't want to miss all the summer activities that I'm usually involved in (youth camps, mission trips) and I wanted to be able to hang out with my kids instead of my computer. Plus, it wasn't like I had a job waiting on me when I graduated. As the semester wore on, I found myself looking forward to a break.

However, I started recalculating the hours I had left plus the monetary savings that I could gain by skipping the spring 2009 semester. I discovered that I might be able to complete a full 11 hours this summer through a combination of testing out of a class (it only costs $10!), taking two internet classes and one "hybrid" class (a hybrid class is a combo of independent study & classroom teaching). Taking these classes would not interfere with the summer activities I already have planned (as long as I have internet access when I travel). I also discovered that I could save $1000 or more by skipping the spring semester in favor of the summer/fall combo The savings would come from tuition that will increase for fall/spring (but not summer), gas savings and food savings (I usually eat out when I'm at school). That makes summer school a pretty good investment overall.

I still have to visit with my advisor and make sure this is going to work the way I think it should. I'll be honest: this is not going to be easy. It requires me to work throughout the summer, take a short break (I'm headed to the beach in August, thankfully), then hit the books again...this time, with 18 hours in my schedule. So, if I do go forward with this plan, I'm going to have to keep my eye on the prize. I think I should put sticky-notes on my bathroom mirror, computer monitor, fridge and any other frequently-used flat surface that says "Just Do It"...you know, Michael Jordan style. :)

Twas the Night Before Finals

It is the night before finals and I am staying up late studying. But I'm interrupting my regularly scheduled studying to bring you a poem I found in my filing cabinet that I had saved from my freshman year way-back-when. It's aptly titled "The Night Before Finals" (author unknown).

'Twas the night before finals,
And all through the college,
The students were praying,
For last minute knowledge.

Most were quite sleepy,
But none touched their beds,
While visions of essays
Danced in their heads.

Out of the taverns
A few were still drinking,
And hoping that liquor
Would loosen their thinking.

In my apartment,
I had been pacing,
And dreading exams,
I soon would be facing.

My roommate was speechless
Her nose in the books
And my comments to her
Drew unfriendly looks.

I drained all the coffee
And brewed a new pot,
No longer caring
That my nerves were shot.

I started at my notes,
But my thoughts were muddy,
My eyes were ablur,
I just couldn't study.

"Some pizza might help,"
I said with a shiver.
But each place I called
Refused to deliver.

I'd nearly concluded
That life was too cruel,
With futures depending
On grades had in school.

When all of the sudden,
Our door opened wide,
And Patron Saint Put It Off
Ambled inside.

His spirit was careless,
His manner was mellow,
A grin on his face as
He started to bellow:

"What kind of student
Would make such a fuss,
To toss back at teachers
What they tossed at us?"

"On Cliff Notes! On Crib Notes!
On Last Year's Exams!
On Wingit and Slingit,
And Last Minute Crams!"

His message delivered,
He vanished from sight,
But we heard him laughing
Outside in the night.

"Your teachers have pegged you,
So just do your best.
Happy Finals to all,
And to all, a good test."

How the Economy Effects College Students

Maybe I should amend that title to say, "How the Economy Effects This College Student."

I've never been a person to get all out-of-shape about the economy. I mean, "what goes up, must come down," right? But I've got to tell you, with the rising cost of eggs, milk, gas, paper, EVERYTHING...it's starting to become a real bummer.

How has it effected me? Well, we sold our large SUV because we had to have something more fuel-efficient especially since I will spend the next two semesters putting 10,000 miles on a car just traveling to class and back.

Conveniently, since everything else is skyrocketing, tuition is also going up at least 9%. Man....couldn't they have waited a year? I would have everything finished in a year!!

Sometimes I think about how much money I would have saved had I finished my degree in my early 20s. Then again, even with a tuition hike I won't be anywhere near what tuition costs were for my first year of college back in 1995 when I was attending a private liberal arts school.

What am I complaining about anyway? I won't stop buying eggs. I won't stop buying gasoline. I won't stop paying for tuition.

It'd just be nice to have a little wiggle room, KWIM?

Four Hours in a Car

Today was an unusual day. I did the daily commute to school...twice. Yep, I spent four hours in the car (and at these gas prices! Ouch!).

I really haven't minded commuting. My department doesn't schedule 8 a.m. classes (God bless 'em!) and it's actually kind of nice to be stuck in a quiet car for an hour alone (if there were kids on board, that might be a totally different story). But today was one of those days when I wished that I just lived down the street. I went to class, came home and did two hours of hard-n-heavy housecleaning, threw on some fresh clothes and left for the theatre department's production of "Daddy's Dyin' Who's Got the Will" (it for for a class requirement, but I would have wanted to go anyway).

Days like this make me look back and groan. I once worked on a university campus in my early 20's (I even had free tuition if I wanted it. *ugh*). Then I moved to a small town that was only 15 or 20 minutes from a nice university. (*ugh* x 2)

I guess hindsight is 20/20....but in all honesty, I couldn't have been a student in those days (I could have but it would have meant giving up other important things that weren't worth sacrificing).

So, the commute continues. Luckily for me, I see a stop sign in the near future!