This morning, thanks to my youngest daughter who woke up at 5:30 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep, I got up early and finished my summer coursework. All the "i's" have been dotted and "t's" crossed, so I can officially brush my hands together and call it a semester.
Would I do it all over again if I could? I won't be stupid and say that it was easy juggling school work, my kids' summer activities, my travel schedule and a host of "everyday life" chores. I struggled with spending downtime with my kids (like a real summer should be) and I didn't get to do a great many things that I planned to catch up on this summer.
I spent a lot of time pre-planning my travels to make sure I would have adequate time and internet connections, spent several late nights with in my office, and tried to do homework while keeping an eye on my kids and their friends. Heck, I even spent some quality multitasking time poolside in a bathing suit--lifeguarding, sunbathing and doing homework!
If I were to do it over again, I would....but just once.
If I weren't trying to speed up graduation and complete my degree this fall, I wouldn't have taken summer school nor would I have advised anyone else to. Summer break is really important for recharging batteries and preventing burn-out, but since I can see the light at the end of my tunnel, it has been worth it for me. After all, there's always next summer to catch up on my postponed projects.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tests For Advanced Standing
Okay, so I admit it: I've always been a pretty good test taker. It was the thrill of my day to be able to complete a test in grade school before anyone else in my class. There was just something about being the first to hand a test over to the teacher. If I made a good grade, then I felt all the prouder.
Yes, I realize I am a weirdo, thanks.
Even during standardized tests in high school, I never broke out into sweats or hives or nervously bit my fingernails. It was multiple choice for cryin' out loud! There was always at least one obviously wrong answer leaving three or less to guess from. Simple deduction; you don't really have to know it all!
So, back to tests....
When I first started the journey back to school as an adult student, I planned to CLEP as many classes as possible because A) it's cheaper B) it's less time consuming C) I'm a pretty decent test taker most of the time. I even bought a CLEP prep book for the Biology test (mainly because I desperately did not want to be stuck in a two hour lab each week). Well, that ended up being a little ambitious. I never tried it because I remembered that science is not my strong suit. If I had not already taken English Comp I & II, I would have certainly tried CLEP-ing those classes.
Without Biology to CLEP, there weren't a lot of general education requirements that I could test out of. However, I found out that my college had a test for the basic computer science class. By showing competency in Windows-based software by taking a timed test at the Assessment Center, a person could receive Advanced Standing and two hours credit...for only ten bucks! The only "downside" (if you could even call it that) is that the hours would not be calculated into the overall GPA. Like I said, not much of a "downside." You have to take the tests in order (Access-Excel-PowerPoint-Word) and you can not move on to the next until you have passed. And you can only take each test three (?) times.
Test one (Windows Access) was a little harder than I expected, but I passed. Barely. I made exactly the grade required to pass. Whew! Test two was on Excel which I am pretty familiar with and can use competently though not expertly. I passed with a grade in the high 70's I think. Since I had to drive an hour to take my test, I decided to make the most of my time and try to take the rest of the required sections. Even though I just dabble in PowerPoint occasionally, I still felt fairly confident in testing even though there were very few questions (making it harder to get a passing grade if I had missed too many). I passed it too! Yay! They saved the best for last--Word, software that my six year old knows how to navigate--and I wrapped up my test and my computer science class for good.
Moral of the story: take a chance. If you feel fairly--if not entirely--competent in a subject area, why not try to test out of at least one class. Of course, it will take a fair amount of preparation (I studied/practiced about an hour or more for each section using test preparation software), but it was well worth the tuition saved and hours saved sitting in a classroom!
Yes, I realize I am a weirdo, thanks.
Even during standardized tests in high school, I never broke out into sweats or hives or nervously bit my fingernails. It was multiple choice for cryin' out loud! There was always at least one obviously wrong answer leaving three or less to guess from. Simple deduction; you don't really have to know it all!
So, back to tests....
When I first started the journey back to school as an adult student, I planned to CLEP as many classes as possible because A) it's cheaper B) it's less time consuming C) I'm a pretty decent test taker most of the time. I even bought a CLEP prep book for the Biology test (mainly because I desperately did not want to be stuck in a two hour lab each week). Well, that ended up being a little ambitious. I never tried it because I remembered that science is not my strong suit. If I had not already taken English Comp I & II, I would have certainly tried CLEP-ing those classes.
Without Biology to CLEP, there weren't a lot of general education requirements that I could test out of. However, I found out that my college had a test for the basic computer science class. By showing competency in Windows-based software by taking a timed test at the Assessment Center, a person could receive Advanced Standing and two hours credit...for only ten bucks! The only "downside" (if you could even call it that) is that the hours would not be calculated into the overall GPA. Like I said, not much of a "downside." You have to take the tests in order (Access-Excel-PowerPoint-Word) and you can not move on to the next until you have passed. And you can only take each test three (?) times.
Test one (Windows Access) was a little harder than I expected, but I passed. Barely. I made exactly the grade required to pass. Whew! Test two was on Excel which I am pretty familiar with and can use competently though not expertly. I passed with a grade in the high 70's I think. Since I had to drive an hour to take my test, I decided to make the most of my time and try to take the rest of the required sections. Even though I just dabble in PowerPoint occasionally, I still felt fairly confident in testing even though there were very few questions (making it harder to get a passing grade if I had missed too many). I passed it too! Yay! They saved the best for last--Word, software that my six year old knows how to navigate--and I wrapped up my test and my computer science class for good.
Moral of the story: take a chance. If you feel fairly--if not entirely--competent in a subject area, why not try to test out of at least one class. Of course, it will take a fair amount of preparation (I studied/practiced about an hour or more for each section using test preparation software), but it was well worth the tuition saved and hours saved sitting in a classroom!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Extra Load of an Adult College Student
Something I've been pondering....
Several weeks ago, I went on a trip. This trip wasn't leisurely by any means--it involved a great deal of manual labor--yet I experienced a kind of peacefulness while I was there working. For many hours, I was stuck scraping century-old paint off of 122-year-old stained glass windows, so I had some time to consider why I felt that way. I wasn't getting extra rest by any means--I was going to bed late and getting up earlier than I would at home. I wasn't lounging around by the poolside--I was sweating and sore from working hard. What was it??
Then I figured it out...I felt lighter.
No, I don't mean physically lighter, but mentally lighter. It wasn't because I was out of school, either. No, I spent the fifteen hour drive reading my Geography book and downtime during the week filling out maps, taking notes and taking tests online.
No, the reason for my "lightness" was simply because I had less to take care of that week. I was only responsible for taking care of myself (actually, I was a sponsor for a group of teenagers, but they didn't cause an ounce of trouble or need my help for the most part). I only had to worry about my mess, my meals, my needs...no one else's.
During that trip I realized how much of a load I had been carrying compared to the swinging single, young adults that I share a classroom with. Many don't have a job (I do), some don't have to worry about finances because mom & dad keep their account filled (not the case for me), they have more free time and fewer people/things to take care of than I do, etc.
I don't really think about the differences on a day-to-day basis because, when you become an adult student, it's just one more thing to add to the giant "to-do" list of everyday life. When you're married or have children, you soon realize that, like Nike, you "just do it." Your family has to eat so you have to buy groceries and cook meals. Your family needs clean clothes to wear so you just fit a load in between whatever else you are doing. Your kids need help with their homework or need to read to every night, so you just do it and fit in whatever else you have to do afterwards.
I don't really resent the younger students for being so carefree; I had my chance to finish my schooling while I was relatively carefree and chose not to. However, I am looking forward to the time when I feel lighter on an everyday basis. Until this summer, I guess I didn't realize what an extra burden I've taken on.
Five more months!
Several weeks ago, I went on a trip. This trip wasn't leisurely by any means--it involved a great deal of manual labor--yet I experienced a kind of peacefulness while I was there working. For many hours, I was stuck scraping century-old paint off of 122-year-old stained glass windows, so I had some time to consider why I felt that way. I wasn't getting extra rest by any means--I was going to bed late and getting up earlier than I would at home. I wasn't lounging around by the poolside--I was sweating and sore from working hard. What was it??
Then I figured it out...I felt lighter.
No, I don't mean physically lighter, but mentally lighter. It wasn't because I was out of school, either. No, I spent the fifteen hour drive reading my Geography book and downtime during the week filling out maps, taking notes and taking tests online.
No, the reason for my "lightness" was simply because I had less to take care of that week. I was only responsible for taking care of myself (actually, I was a sponsor for a group of teenagers, but they didn't cause an ounce of trouble or need my help for the most part). I only had to worry about my mess, my meals, my needs...no one else's.
During that trip I realized how much of a load I had been carrying compared to the swinging single, young adults that I share a classroom with. Many don't have a job (I do), some don't have to worry about finances because mom & dad keep their account filled (not the case for me), they have more free time and fewer people/things to take care of than I do, etc.
I don't really think about the differences on a day-to-day basis because, when you become an adult student, it's just one more thing to add to the giant "to-do" list of everyday life. When you're married or have children, you soon realize that, like Nike, you "just do it." Your family has to eat so you have to buy groceries and cook meals. Your family needs clean clothes to wear so you just fit a load in between whatever else you are doing. Your kids need help with their homework or need to read to every night, so you just do it and fit in whatever else you have to do afterwards.
I don't really resent the younger students for being so carefree; I had my chance to finish my schooling while I was relatively carefree and chose not to. However, I am looking forward to the time when I feel lighter on an everyday basis. Until this summer, I guess I didn't realize what an extra burden I've taken on.
Five more months!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Testing Out of Class: Part One
Today I began my quest to a) get out of taking a snoozer of a class and b) saving some moolah (the test costs $10 as opposed to almost $300 for a few credit hours). I took part one of four of the test for my general education Computer Science requirement. The test covers four different windows based software programs and today's section was over Access.
I have never, ever used Access before.
Needless to say, I was quite nervous about this test. I'm pretty computer savvy, but I had no idea how the test would operate or if the training software would be adequate preparation. OR if my brain would function properly (that's always questionable).
I had to pass with a 70% and you can only take each section of the test twice (and you can't move on to another area until the first is passed). Scary!
The test was almost game-like. First of all, it was timed (50 minutes). Second of all, if you made three wrong moves, you were out (well, you missed the question). So, when I actually answered correctly, I had to restrain myself from doing fist-pumps in the air....probably because I seemed to be missing so many! There were SO many times when I was just on the brink of getting it right, but I had used up my three wrong moves. OUCH! There were other times when I had one wrong move left, and I managed to pull out a winner. WAHOO! Oh, and don't even think about trying to use the "Help" function if you are stuck...that would be a definite "strike!"
Wanna know my score? 70%. Exactly 70%! You should have heard the major sigh of relief coming from my cubicle.
What have I learned from this fiasco? Actually use the training software; it really does help (even if it is somewhat annoying to go through). Also, schedule your test for later in the afternoon so you can go through your training software one last time before the test. This totally saved the day for me.
I kept thinking, "If I have only missed one more...." Instead, I switched gears and treated myself to some Mexican food. :)
I have never, ever used Access before.
Needless to say, I was quite nervous about this test. I'm pretty computer savvy, but I had no idea how the test would operate or if the training software would be adequate preparation. OR if my brain would function properly (that's always questionable).
I had to pass with a 70% and you can only take each section of the test twice (and you can't move on to another area until the first is passed). Scary!
The test was almost game-like. First of all, it was timed (50 minutes). Second of all, if you made three wrong moves, you were out (well, you missed the question). So, when I actually answered correctly, I had to restrain myself from doing fist-pumps in the air....probably because I seemed to be missing so many! There were SO many times when I was just on the brink of getting it right, but I had used up my three wrong moves. OUCH! There were other times when I had one wrong move left, and I managed to pull out a winner. WAHOO! Oh, and don't even think about trying to use the "Help" function if you are stuck...that would be a definite "strike!"
Wanna know my score? 70%. Exactly 70%! You should have heard the major sigh of relief coming from my cubicle.
What have I learned from this fiasco? Actually use the training software; it really does help (even if it is somewhat annoying to go through). Also, schedule your test for later in the afternoon so you can go through your training software one last time before the test. This totally saved the day for me.
I kept thinking, "If I have only missed one more...." Instead, I switched gears and treated myself to some Mexican food. :)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Traveling & Online Classes: A Tricky Combo
My online summer class has been going well, but it has taken a lot of diligence on my part to keep up. After all, it is a regular 16 week class that has been condensed into 8 weeks. Last week, I was traveling and most of that time without internet connection. I used drive time (well, I wasn't driving but riding) to keep up with my reading (50-something pages) and preparing for tests. I had to spend one evening away from my travel group (I found a library with an internet connection so I could take my first test), but all's well that end's well: it worked out fine. The problem was that I had two tests waiting on me when I got home in addition to the many aspects of my job that were neglected for a week and my two children who wanted to spend time with their mother who had been gone. I was just TIRED having had little sleep and being on a trip that required a lot of work, so all I wanted to do was crawl into bed early & out of bed late. No such luck. Sometimes it feels like there is just not enough time in a day, but I'm guessing most people in North America feel that way.
My tips for summer travel while taking online classes:
*Check your syllabus & plan ahead--For this particular course I had to study some maps. I printed out maps for the week of my travels as well as the following week so that I would be ready to test when I got back home. Also, knowing when assignments or tests will need to be taken/uploaded will help you call ahead and find internet connections if you need to do so.
*Make sure you have internet access--Although I do have a laptop with wireless capabilities, I don't have a mobile broadband card. If you have one, that's super! Otherwise, you will have to find places with internet access. McDonald's, Panera Bread, Starbucks and most bookstores have internet accessibility. Even if you have to pay a buck or five, it's well worth not getting a zero on a test! I wasn't staying at a hotel this week, but most chains offer free wireless these days. If you don't have a laptop, call ahead to public libraries in the area you are traveling; they should have computers with internet for the public to use.
*Use your downtime to stay on top of things--No matter how you travel--by car, boat, plane--there are always periods of downtime. It's easy to take on "vacation mentality" and not want to do anything while you are out and about, but you'll be doomed to failure if you don't use your time wisely. If you are waiting on someone in your travel party to get dressed for dinner, crack open a book and read a few pages. Study your notes while you are stuck in an airport for a layover. Check for new announcements or discussions online while your three-year-old finishes his McDonald's chicken nuggets. I found my downtime studying to be more productive than studying at home!
My tips for summer travel while taking online classes:
*Check your syllabus & plan ahead--For this particular course I had to study some maps. I printed out maps for the week of my travels as well as the following week so that I would be ready to test when I got back home. Also, knowing when assignments or tests will need to be taken/uploaded will help you call ahead and find internet connections if you need to do so.
*Make sure you have internet access--Although I do have a laptop with wireless capabilities, I don't have a mobile broadband card. If you have one, that's super! Otherwise, you will have to find places with internet access. McDonald's, Panera Bread, Starbucks and most bookstores have internet accessibility. Even if you have to pay a buck or five, it's well worth not getting a zero on a test! I wasn't staying at a hotel this week, but most chains offer free wireless these days. If you don't have a laptop, call ahead to public libraries in the area you are traveling; they should have computers with internet for the public to use.
*Use your downtime to stay on top of things--No matter how you travel--by car, boat, plane--there are always periods of downtime. It's easy to take on "vacation mentality" and not want to do anything while you are out and about, but you'll be doomed to failure if you don't use your time wisely. If you are waiting on someone in your travel party to get dressed for dinner, crack open a book and read a few pages. Study your notes while you are stuck in an airport for a layover. Check for new announcements or discussions online while your three-year-old finishes his McDonald's chicken nuggets. I found my downtime studying to be more productive than studying at home!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Scholarships Rock!
I just checked my student e-mail account tonight and, low and behold, I found out that I am receiving a scholarship for fall and spring!! Yay, me! It will cover six hours of tuition which only equates to about $750, but $750 will buy a lot of gasoline or groceries, my friends (well, not a lot but it beats nothing!).
Actually, after two seconds of silent celebration I busted out the calculator. As I've already mentioned, I plan on going to summer school so I can graduate in December. Since my summer school classes start next week (and it's not too late to withdraw for a full refund at this point), I decided I'd better do some quick calculations. The calculator still says it is a better financial move for me to graduate at mid-term, so the plans roll on....
Applying for scholarships has been hard for me since I went back to school as an adult. I generally feel like a) they are intended for teenagers or b) I don't stand a chance or c) I just can't write a bunch of bull glorifying myself like I was able to as a high school senior.
Earlier this spring, I picked up an application for my department's scholarship because one of my professors kept harping on it. I thought, "What the heck...it's worth a shot." But after I got past all the formalities (name, address, blah...blah...blah...), they started in with questions like "Why are you valuable to our department?" Well....I'm not. I guess I could be considered valuable because I make good grades, give good reviews for my professors and pay my tuition bill, but other than that... I ended up wadding it up and throwing it away. I just couldn't make myself write some phony baloney, even if it was for free money.
Later, my professor mentioned how they have, in years past, had money laying around because there weren't enough applicants and how, many times, all the applicants end up getting a scholarship. A girl in my class confirmed it by telling me she had gotten $500 per semester. Hello??? This is information I would have liked to have known before I threw my application away! When I asked the girl how she was valuable to the department, she said she made up something about how she always sings the praises of the department to other people. Niiiice. Why couldn't I have thought of that?
Lesson learned: it never hurts to apply for scholarships. If it does make you sick at your stomach to write sugar-coated nuggets of praise about yourself, just keep a trash can or toilet nearby as you write. It's free money!! F-R-E-E M-O-N-E-Y!!
Actually, after two seconds of silent celebration I busted out the calculator. As I've already mentioned, I plan on going to summer school so I can graduate in December. Since my summer school classes start next week (and it's not too late to withdraw for a full refund at this point), I decided I'd better do some quick calculations. The calculator still says it is a better financial move for me to graduate at mid-term, so the plans roll on....
Applying for scholarships has been hard for me since I went back to school as an adult. I generally feel like a) they are intended for teenagers or b) I don't stand a chance or c) I just can't write a bunch of bull glorifying myself like I was able to as a high school senior.
Earlier this spring, I picked up an application for my department's scholarship because one of my professors kept harping on it. I thought, "What the heck...it's worth a shot." But after I got past all the formalities (name, address, blah...blah...blah...), they started in with questions like "Why are you valuable to our department?" Well....I'm not. I guess I could be considered valuable because I make good grades, give good reviews for my professors and pay my tuition bill, but other than that... I ended up wadding it up and throwing it away. I just couldn't make myself write some phony baloney, even if it was for free money.
Later, my professor mentioned how they have, in years past, had money laying around because there weren't enough applicants and how, many times, all the applicants end up getting a scholarship. A girl in my class confirmed it by telling me she had gotten $500 per semester. Hello??? This is information I would have liked to have known before I threw my application away! When I asked the girl how she was valuable to the department, she said she made up something about how she always sings the praises of the department to other people. Niiiice. Why couldn't I have thought of that?
Lesson learned: it never hurts to apply for scholarships. If it does make you sick at your stomach to write sugar-coated nuggets of praise about yourself, just keep a trash can or toilet nearby as you write. It's free money!! F-R-E-E M-O-N-E-Y!!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Good News For My Degree
Yahoo just featured this article about lucrative work-from-home jobs. The good news is that two of the five are areas covered by my degree and one is closely related. Public Relations was listed as #1 which is a big part of Mass Communication. In fact, I will be taking a PR class this fall and I'm looking forward to it. The other is freelance writing. Both of these jobs can be done from home thanks to the internet and cell phone techonology.
A similar field is graphic design--some of which I already do as a photographer and in desktop publishing at school. I actually planned on minoring in graphic design, but took the easy way out instead, relying on credits I had previously earned in English studies to graduate more quickly.
This is a very encouraging article for me because I have been desperately racking my brain, wondering how I can incorporate my soon-to-be-earned degree and my interests with a job when I live in the middle of nowhere.
It's good to know that there are viable options out there. However, I know for a fact that it takes a lot of work to be a freelancer. Jobs don't come to you--you have to bust your behind to find them and then win them (just b/c you have a great article idea doesn't mean the magazine wants it). This is one of the reasons that I'm not sure freelancing is for me. When I was younger, I loved jobs that were different everyday, but the older I get, I like stability and knowing what to expect so I can plan the rest of my life accordingly. I will continue to look into these areas and see if they are right for me.
A similar field is graphic design--some of which I already do as a photographer and in desktop publishing at school. I actually planned on minoring in graphic design, but took the easy way out instead, relying on credits I had previously earned in English studies to graduate more quickly.
This is a very encouraging article for me because I have been desperately racking my brain, wondering how I can incorporate my soon-to-be-earned degree and my interests with a job when I live in the middle of nowhere.
It's good to know that there are viable options out there. However, I know for a fact that it takes a lot of work to be a freelancer. Jobs don't come to you--you have to bust your behind to find them and then win them (just b/c you have a great article idea doesn't mean the magazine wants it). This is one of the reasons that I'm not sure freelancing is for me. When I was younger, I loved jobs that were different everyday, but the older I get, I like stability and knowing what to expect so I can plan the rest of my life accordingly. I will continue to look into these areas and see if they are right for me.
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