KneelforAnne
Posts: 1011
Joined: 6/14/2006 Status: offline
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Let me add, please… I went to a larger, metropolitan university with lots of options for degrees, classes and social organizations. My experience was both academic and social, and totally positive. I prefer classroom settings to online classes, as I prefer discussions and debates on points rather than sifting through research on a computer, looking for the “right” answer-or the answer the professor wants to see. I’ve also taken classes recently at a community college and I, personally, find that the professors (to me) leave something to be desired. I will say that small colleges are much more personal, and work more closely with you. To me, it’s a trade off. I know that I can manage in a large school where sometimes you just feel like a number, and I would prefer that-with high quality instruction rather than the “close-knit” family feel with less qualified, or less experienced professors. (AGAIN, this is just my experience.) You’ll want to check and make sure that any classes you take at a CC will transfer to a traditional degree program. Some will not. You’ll also want to make sure that the college you are attending is not a “degree-mill”…ask if they are accredited by the US Department of Education (I think-- I just did a search for this the other day…can’t remember where I searched it….) Most major universities have smaller CC style campuses, that will lead you directly into your degree path. Just call the admissions office and ask for an appointment, come in with questions…take notes, and get a number of a REAL PERSON to talk to so when more questions pop up( I always think of questions after the meeting!) you can call and talk to someone who knows. If you have been out of school for a while, or really just want to dip a toe in to see if you like it…try a summer class? They are much more relaxed, and they tend to offer things that you will need in the future. In my experience the introduction courses are a lot more work than you would think. They sort of have to be, though, to lay the foundation for the higher level courses. For instance, Introduction to Physical Geography was awful for me because a) I hate science and B) it bored me to tears. Taking a higher level geography class was much more enjoyable because it discussed the “higher level” concepts that I found interesting-- like the politics of geography and why families tend to stay in the same place. Personally I tried not to take 100 and 200 level courses in anything. I tried to stick to the 300 level because I found that the concepts were interesting but not overwhelming in their abstract-ness. Don’t worry so much about being out of school. Think of it as you have different life experiences to draw on. ACT/ SAT may not be necessary, contact the college itself. Do this before you get scared and talk yourself out of it….( I don’t know you personally, but I do this to myself a lot!) "i just fear that i will go and that it won't benifit anything." Won’t pleasing him be a benefit? And, since it is free, what is the drawback? "i can already draw. if i go to college, then i will have a paper telling other people that i can draw?" If you want to teach drawing in the future, it is necessary. "i have the drive to learn, but fear i'd not have any ambition thats needed to put a degree to use." What ambition? I’m not sure I understand (and I am not trying to be snarky J ). If you are going to get the education for the sake of learning, then the mission is accomplished simply by going and engaging in class. If it is your ambition, or his ambition, for you to use that degree in the future, then all you have to do ( it sounds simple, but I do realize that it isn’t) is finish and find a job where the degree, in whatever it is, is useful. Good luck!
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