Back to School for GrownUps

Well … it’s just about ….um… how the heck do you spell that word… unaminous, that’s it… thank goodness for spellcheck (in Word)…

It is just about unaminous … most people who commented about reasons to go back to school - or not - agreed that money is a big factor.

Education = better job opportunities, independence and better pay.  

Patricia found more rewarding and interesting (and better paid) jobs as a result of earning her doctorate.  CurvyQueenBee is headed for a career in Psychology; a much more attractive option than what would be available in her area without higher education. Drofen ’s on the road to a better paying career, too, as are Jenni, who is on the road to financial independence (and being an awesome role model for her daughter in the process) and melisann , who is considering a law degree.

Money is often an issue in people deciding NOT to go back to school, as well, as both Stephanie and *lynne* mentioned.  It definitely is a huge investment - in time, energy & resources - it isn’t worth it for everyone …and sometimes the time just isn’t right.

Education = change

Me, I first went back to college (computer programmer analyst) because I was totally and completely burned out in social work and mental health support services - I needed a way to earn a living that did not involve working with messed up people. No offense to messed up people…I am one on occasion …but I just had nothing left to give, and I thought I would like a little cubicle of my own. Turned out, not so much. Those that can, do …those that can’t - or can, but hate it, teach

Then, several years later, I went back, again, as a sanity strategy… I was spending way too much time at home with my mother-in-law, who had Alzheimers, and who, at the time, was altogether too fond of  being in my personal space. I was not teaching enough that first summer semester, and she was driving me NUTS. So Ross suggested I “go take a course or something”.  The rest is history …took 2 courses, got a 94 and a 97% and that was that…. started full time that fall, and have been going year round (and also teaching) ever since.

While the potential $$ is very much part of the reason Ross keeps encouraging me to go on …especially since I got the OGS (the big scholarship)… for me, it’s less about the $$ and more about the learning and the doing and the feeling that I can do well at it. And now I am totally excited about the possibility of pulling all of my ~stuff~ together and going back to where I started … making a difference in the lives of emotionally and behaviourally challenged young people. I loved working with those kids… can’t do that any more… but I can still make a difference.

Education = positive role modelling 

Jenni mentioned the role modelling aspect of going back to school… I think it bears repeating. We all want the best for our kids - and by showing them that we really believe that school is worth the sacrifice and hard work, I hope we can encourage them to make the most of their own opportunities.

There are probably as many reasons to go back to school - or not - as there are back to schoolers… but seems to me that these are the major ones, and that the money question factors in pretty consistently. What do you think? 

One of the universities I applied to for my Master’s level was York U, which is in Toronto. Geographically, it is the closest of my options - a bit closer, even, than where I did end up. I am applying there again for my PhD year - but only as a backup to Trent… if I am accepted into the Canadian Studies program at Trent, that is where I will go… probably.

Not that York isn’t a good school - when they are not on strike. They are well known for multi-disciplinary research - and Dr. Raymond Mar, one of the two psychologists whose work I come back to repeatedly in reference to my own, is there. 

But I sure am glad that I didn’t go there this year! They have been on strike since November 6. It is the TAs and contract profs that are out - so if I had gone there, I too would be on strike. Been there, done that - hated it. When the college I work for went out, I didn’t actually have to walk the picket line due to health issues - but I hated the whole thing anyway.

I teach. I love to teach. And I love to learn. Got no interest in walking picket lines, and I am very glad that I’m not caught up in this one.

At this point, the management have asked for a vote on the last offer; that is taking place shortly, and if the offer passes, classes could start again Jan. 22. If it doesn’t, it seems likely that students will lose their semester, and possibly all sorts of job and grad school opportunities. Even if it does, it is a mess - they will have to somehow cram a whole lot of uncompleted Fall semester content and exams in before they can even get started on the Winter semester courses, which for most started almost 2 weeks ago now.

Definitely a mess.

Sometimes it seems as though computers have made things harder, not easier…. but really, it’s the programmers that are causing the problems, not the technology.

Today I started my applications for graduate school next year - both universities that I am applying to require an online form (in addition to a bunch of other hoops to jump through). Not TOO frustrating.

The first form wanted basic info - and then start and end dates for each university or college I have attended. None of it was too onerous - but it took me a bit of time to get the dates sorted and make sure every thing was completed - and I had the whole thing just about done and somehow the page reloaded and wiped out ALL of the information I had just filled in. Not TOO frustrating.

The second form was even worse - basically all the same information - but this form wanted everything exactly their way - and only their way. Some control freak programmer wrote that one, guaranteed.

I was not able to include several of my previous employers on their form as I do not have valid postal codes for them (some of them no longer exist - be damned if I can find addresses from waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back then). I also could not ‘go’ to Athabasca University, because the university isn’t in their dropdown list - and when I did add it in, in the space provided, I still couldn’t go there because I was unable to provide a program name and a graduation date - since I am not IN a program, I just take courses a la carte.

Since I couldn’t go there, I also couldn’t use the transcript request system for that university. Of course.

While it would be easy to get frustrated with the technology, each and every one of my aggravations was caused not by the computer, but by a programmer who did not have the foresight or the skill to make the form work WELL.

All programmers should have to take courses in usability, y’ask me… of course, nobody does.

Anyway - those are (mostly) done…. sure wish I had printed off and kept absolutely everything I did last year when I jumped through all these hoops - would make my life SO much easier now.

Good tip for you - file folders - and save everything! In the ORGANIZED file folders.

For some wanna-be back to schoolers, the first step to consider is likely to be doing some upgrading.

If you don’t have a high school diploma - or if you do, but are missing some specific courses that you need for the course you want to pursue - or if it’s just been a very long time and you are lacking confidence in your academic ability - upgrading might well be a very good first step towards restarting your academic career.

I could have should have done a math/algebra course before I jumped into my computer programming courses. Because I didn’t, I ended up having to do a college level algebra course that counted toward my overall average. DUH! If only I had had a clue, I would have gone and done it through upgrading prior to starting… it would have been a lot easier. Even if it wasn’t, really, in content - it most certainly would have been easier to just do that one and get it out of the way rather than having to do it at the same time as I was taking 6 other courses.

Most (all?) community colleges that I know of offer upgrading programs for those who need them, at least in Math and English.

If any of those issues is among your reasons for not starting school, a little bit of research to see what might be available to you might be well worth your time. Get to it!

One of the most fun things about going back to school, for many of us, is the back to school shopping.

Me, I’m not much into clothing - and rarely get excited about the excuse to buy new clothes… but if you are into them and can afford it, it does provide a good excuse to update your wardrobe, or so I hear.

The back to school shopping that I most look forward to is the office supply sort. I’m not alone.

I was talking with some fellow students this week and turns out we pretty much all started our new school year off with a trip to buy cool back to school stuff (that we didn’t really need cuz we’re graduate students and we’ve been in school pretty much for what feels like forever) …. binders, pens, way cool organizers, etc. Several of us got new laptops this year - for me, so far, that has been more a frustration than anything, as my Internet at the motel where I am staying is abysmally slow, and in the parts of the university campus that I am at most of the time, there isn’t any at all!!! Imagine having a brand new back to school laptop - and it is PURPLE even - and hardly ever having Internet… it’s very frustrating!!!!

Anyway … I was back at Staples earlier this week and bought more back to school stuff that I am sure I could have managed without but…

I like school supplies

This trip, I bought 2 packages of markers, some large index cards (we’re making name cards in my seminars today) and a portfolio for each of my 2 seminar groups. The plan is that I will keep everything for each class in the correct portfolio, so I will show up with everything I need to hand out neatly organized - and if my students hand me ~stuff~ that I am not supposed to lose (students hate it when you lose their stuff) - I will put it right into the portfolio rather than tossing a stack of student papers onto the front seat of my car, or into a textbook which then gets tossed into the car or…

I’m hoping to spend less time looking for things this year than I have in the past, in other words.

Don’t you think that a good excuse to buy school supplies is a good reason to go back to school? Year after year? Works for me

As you can see, I have begun adding some resource links to the blogroll … not that many yet - mostly because I am working on my brand spanking new back to school laptop. It is very, very pretty …and also very, very fast compared to either of my 2 older computers (yes, I am a geek as a matter of fact!) … but I do not yet have the track pad sorted out. I need a proper mouse.

At some point today, I shall get off my butt and go buy a proper mouse. But for now, I am making do, and getting frustrated… so more linking of resources will have to wait. I wonder if I can buy a purple mouse to match my laptop? Would that be just too much geekdom? Probably I will likely go for what ever is cheap - I don’t even want a wireless, as I have a history of snapping the little doomaflicky that goes in the USB port right off. Very expensive tendency!

So anyway - resources! I can stay on topic, really Sometimes. So far today has not shaped up to be one of those times, but I will get there. Soon. Hopefully. I have a 15 - 20 page psychology paper to write between now and when I start at Trent on Tuesday morning. It doesn’t HAVE to be done - but it would be SO nice to get it done and out of the way before I jump into the next bit. Will still have to arrange to write the exam for the course, also - but once the paper is done, the bulk of the course (and stress) will be finished.

I will continue to add to the resource links as I round them up or come across them - and eventually, will also write some articles re: specific resources and so on - but I certainly encourage you to share any resources you have come across in your travels with us, and will be happy to add them to the list.

What websites have helped you in your back to school as a grown up experience? Tell us about them!