Will I Make It This Time?

Hi Everyone,

I took a giant step today. I have applied for readmission to college. I tried to go a year and a half ago but was unable to complete my courses due to being SOOOO overwhelmed.

I have bipolar and receive disability. I have special allowances in my classes; e.g., longer test time, someone taking notes for me, special seating, etc.

I already have a BS in Business Admin. but I thought I would try another undergrad degree in Social Work.

I have one more core course to take in order to start on my degree program. And of all things it's Prob and Stats!!! So that will be the class I will be taking Spring Semester.

For those of you who have gone back to school, what can you suggest as far as coping skills that helped you stay in school and not drop out. The most classes I took at one time since I have been disabled have been two.

I want to make it this time!

droopy

Droopy I can't offer any words of wisdom or advice but I do wish you the best fortune with your endeavor, and much strength to focus and stick with it! I have often dreamt of going back to school ... can't afford it.

Hi Mal,

Thank you so much for the well wishes. I need them!

As far as advice or wisdom, you gave me some by telling me to stay focused. That is one of my biggest problems. How do you personally stay focused?

I hope that you can find a way to go back to college. If you are on disability, there are programs that can help you go back to school. It wouldn't hurt to check it out.

Again, thanks for the advice!
droopy

Oh God Droopy,

Do I ever envy you! I think I remember (and please feel free to kick me HARD if I'm wrong) but when it was your birthday recently you said you were no spring chicken anymore? I went back to college when I was 38, man, was I ever scared. It seemed like me and all these young kids, who BTW, went out of their way to call me sir...I was working part time in the day school at night, and it was hard. My advice to you is is find YOUR pace and work it to your advantage. This is your education, your future, and letting someone who sits behind a desk with no vested interest in the outcome of your studies dictate the pace you work at is not to your advantage. I worked a little more slowly at first, taking a little extra class time to bring myself up to speed. My classmates were really helpful in helping me understand the coursework. And in short time I was right up with everyone else, and people were coming to me for help. It was one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life. I finished the course with a 4.0 GPA and made the Honor Roll. It was one of the proudest days of my life when they hung that yellow sash with the gold medallion around my neck.

Droopy, Set your goals, make them clear to the school, and then work them. The only one who should push you any harder, is you. You CAN do this. Yes, it is overwhelming, but this country is made up people who are successes because they did things they didn't think they could do. You'll be one of those. All my luck and good wishes.

I wish I could go back to school...enjoy!

Greg

Hi Greg,

You're right about my birthday. I said that I was no spring chicken. I'm a KFC reject! LOL!!! This is difficult to say but I just turned 49. Ouch! That hurt.

I got my first degree when I was in my early thirties. I was working fulltime during the day and going to college at night. I was high functioning and not yet diagnosed with a MI. I had a 4.0 and finished 2nd in my class. I enjoyed school so much. I love to learn new things.

My difficulty now is with concentration, comprehension, and memory; whether they are med produced, bp produced or both, I don't know. But I do have some challenges ahead for me.

I know what you mean about the "kids" calling you "sir." I've started being called "ma'am"; that's really weird! Clerks in stores call me "hon" and "sweetie." Talk about feeling old.

Your success story is awesome and your advice is priceless. I need to remember what you said about pacing myself. I tend to want to overdo.

Wow, do you know me! I need to set some reasonable goals. Setting goals are hard for me because of the fact that I set them too high sometimes and I set myself up for failure. I'm a perfectionist; that makes it worse.

You have given me invaluable advice! When I walk across that stage to get my second degree, it will be because I set goals, worked at my own pace, and remembered a friend who told me "YOU CAN."

Thanks (((((((Greg)))))))

droopy

I'm not a returning student, but I went through a program called "distance ed" for two years, in which most of my classmates were returning students. I LOVED them! I miss them!

My advice to you- don't be afraid to reach out to the younger students. Sometimes the returning students hide in the back of the classroom and don't interact. Sometimes they talk to the rest of us, and find that we all have more in common than maybe we would have thought.

Some of my very favoritist friends from school have been 20+ older than me. We've been able to help eachother get through, and I TREASURE their friendships.

If you can get classmates that you're friendly with, school becomes so much easier. Even if you never "hang out" outside of class, they can help you with studying, and you can help them. I love to do have a friend in each class that will help me out.

Angela

P.S. I get called ma'am ALL THE TIME, and I'm 22 AND look very young for my age. I could pass for 17. But I get called ma'am

Hi -- I went back to school at 40, and stayed in FT for 8 years, completing 3 degrees.

I always took the lightest FT courseload that my funding allowed, unlike the younger students. I was there to learn, not to get a degree, and I tried to suck all the juice I could out of the learning experience.

I think the students will drop the ma'am once they find out that you are accessible. You may never be "one of the crowd" or want to be, but asking how they are, sympathizing with school stress, etc., goes a long way.

As for focus, I don't have trouble with that. I am rigorous about the way that I set up my study schedule.

For example, in some graduate courses, I had to read as much as 80 pages a night!!! Every night, 7 days a week. That meant that if I missed a night, the next night I had to read 160 to catch up. And if I missed two nights, 240 pages -- which no way I could catch up at that point. So I was highly motivated to put my studies first, and to block out periods of time for each assignment.

I never cram for tests. I review the notes for each class immediately after the class, filling in various shorthand abbreviations, words omitted, and scrawls. And I spend 10 minutes reviewing the notes again before the next class. This means, I am ready to pick up where the last class left off.

If you don't already have a shorthand way of taking notes, develop your own code. For example, I use "t' for "the"; w for "with" and wo for "without." I have little squiggles that I've invented for the "ing" ending and the "tion" ending. I find abbreviations for frequently used words in a given course: MM for mass media; HH for houshold; P for persuasion; and so on. If I find I forget what an abbreviation means, I can fill in the whole words after class.

I also use odd moments of down time -- such as waiting in a physician's office, eating lunch, to continue to review my notes. That way, the beginning of the course and where we've been is always fresh in my memory as we move on.

I try to anticipate test questions. In stat, these should be self-evident, as you will have certain formulas to master for each test. You may have a project to learn to use one of the computer analysis programs. Pick something that you might like to know the answer to, to stay motivated.

I break every reading assignment, every term paper, every project, into all its steps, and budget time for each step. I plan ahead. I keep my eyes on due dates.

There are even books on how to study, hopefully available in the school library. (And yes, I have flipped through them.)

I am a very good student, and I guess some people would say I am obsessive reading this.

Hi -- Yes, you will make it this time!

I went back to school at 40, and stayed in FT for 8 years, completing 3 degrees.

I always took the lightest FT courseload that my funding allowed, unlike the younger students. I was there to learn, not to get a degree, and I tried to suck all the juice I could out of the learning experience.

I think the students will drop the ma'am once they find out that you are accessible. You may never be "one of the crowd" or want to be, but asking how they are, sympathizing with school stress, etc., goes a long way.

As for focus, I don't have trouble with that. I am rigorous about the way that I set up my study schedule.

For example, in some graduate courses, I had to read as much as 80 pages a night!!! Every night, 7 days a week. That meant that if I missed a night, the next night I had to read 160 to catch up. And if I missed two nights, 240 pages -- which no way I could catch up at that point. So I was highly motivated to put my studies first, and to block out periods of time for each assignment.

I never cram for tests. I review the notes for each class immediately after the class, filling in various shorthand abbreviations, words omitted, and scrawls. And I spend 10 minutes reviewing the notes again before the next class. This means, I am ready to pick up where the last class left off.

If you don't already have a shorthand way of taking notes, develop your own code. For example, I use "t' for "the"; w for "with" and wo for "without." I have little squiggles that I've invented for the "ing" ending and the "tion" ending. I find abbreviations for frequently used words in a given course: MM for mass media; HH for houshold; P for persuasion; and so on. If I find I forget what an abbreviation means, I can fill in the whole words after class.

I also use odd moments of down time -- such as waiting in a physician's office, eating lunch, to continue to review my notes. That way, the beginning of the course and where we've been is always fresh in my memory as we move on.

I try to anticipate test questions. In stat, these should be self-evident, as you will have certain formulas to master for each test. You may have a project to learn to use one of the computer analysis programs. Pick something that you might like to know the answer to, to stay motivated.

I break every reading assignment, every term paper, every project, into all its steps, and budget time for each step. I plan ahead. I keep my eyes on due dates.

There are even books on how to study, hopefully available in the school library. (And yes, I have flipped through them.)

I am a very good student, and I guess some people would say I am obsessive reading this.

Droopy..........I'm 61 and going to start a nursing program next year.......could we hold hands on opening day of classes?

Hi Angela,

Oh to be 22 again!

That's great advice: getting to know some of the younger students and making some friends. Due to my "disability," I need someone to take notes for me. Maybe I can make a special friend that way. Maybe we can even help each other get through Prob & Stats!

Just because I'm older doesn't mean I know everything. I realize that young people have life experiences that I haven't had and we can share and learn from each other.

I feel so hopeless most of the time. But younger students are so full of hope. And I'm counting on that rubbing off on me.

Thanks, Angela, for your excellent advice!!!

droopy

Wow, Wants2Fly!!! Three degrees in eight years!!! And FT on top of that. I'm not there yet. I'm not even able to work.

What excellent study aids!

I used to be well organized in my studies (not as much as you, however) and made straight A's in my courses. My lack of focus, I feel, is due to my BP and/or my meds. It's very discouraging.

I'll certainly use your suggestions to make my experience a lot less stressful.

Thanks for sharing your successful study aids,
droopy

Droopy,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am so happy for you. Just remember that you are never too old to go back to school. I had a anthro class my freshman year and no lie I had this guy in there that had to be at least 75 or 80 years old. He used to come into class with a cane.
School is one of those things that you can do at any point in life. I really think that it is not just for people right out of high school anymore. Plus I think I heard that people who wait to go or go back do better in their classes.
Anyway Ill stop ranting. What you are doing is great!!

Jessica

Fayerody,

61!!! That great!!! Sure we can hold hands!

Is this your first degree?

droopy

Jessica,

You're not ranting!!! You've really encouraged me! If a 75 or 80 year old man can do it, surely I can, too.

Thanks bunches,
droopy

Hey Droopy
I had been out of school for 17 years and I just went back this past september. I was terrified.
The best advice I can give you is find a friend. I wouldn't have made it this far without my friend Shannon. I probably would have dropped out again if she hadn't been there.
Use the resources available, use them ALL to their full potential. Greg is right, this is YOUR time to shine, YOUR dream and you CAN do it. If I can, you can. I have severe panic attacks and anxiety and I have managed 4 oral presentations in the past 10 days. I never thought I could ever do something like that. School has brought me courage, friends, and love at a time when I thought life was basically over. I now have an A+ average in 7 of 8 classes. Never thought I'd be capable of that either.

Seriously, try to find someone you click with, that helps immensely. Get to know your profs too. They can help more than you might realize. It's part of their job description to help you make it through. Use EVERY resource available, disability service, peer assistance, this forum, everything you can find to help you.
I believe you can do it droopy. I may be an eternal optimist now but I really do believe, just from your tone about wanting to make it this time, that you WILL!!
ALl the best,
Tina

Hi Tina,

I hope that I do find a friend that I can have as a "study buddy" and someone to lean on, particularly when the class gets tough. I don't know if I mentioned this in an earlier post (forgive me if I have), but at this university there is a 60% failure rate for the prob & stats class and you're lucky if you get a C. It's really tough! There goes my grade point average.

Speaking of grade point averages, congrats on all the A+'s! You are an inspiration to me having given all those oral presentations and having a panic and anxiety disorder.

As far as using every available resource, I certainly am going to do just that. Disabilities Services at this university is WONDERFUL! They will give me a letter to take to my prof to tell him/her what accommodations I will need. Also, I probably will ask for a tutor.

Thank you, Tina, for sharing your success story! I'll try to remember what you said about school giving you courage, friends, and love. With that type of attitude, I WILL make it this time.

droopy

Hi -- Droopy makes a good point about getting to know your teachers. I love it when students drop by to chat. It's great when someone takes something from classs and applies it in their life, or notices something new, or remarks on some project.

I usually don't have time for long conversations -- unless I am helping the student with a project -- but these little check-ins are great.

As a matter of pure strategy, I find it very challenging to give a disappointing final grade to a student who has taken the time to make a personal impression.

I will never, ever "fix" a grade for a single student. That is unethical. But let's say I have three students who I know have been getting things out of the course but their grades don't seem to reflect what I know they've learned. I do have the authority to raise everyone's grades in the class by the same amount. (Students call this a "curve" but it isn't. This isn't the place for the technical explanation.)

Bottom line: Knowing students in my classes helps me to make better informed judgments about when my "evaluatory protocols" do not fairly and accurately measure the students' achievements. That is, my tests, assignments and grading criteria may not have been well enough explained or overly stiff.

Hi Wants2Fly!

I need to give credit were credit's due. It was Angel04 that suggested that I get to know the profs.

It's great to get a teacher's point of view! What do you teach?

In some of my previous classes, I have spoken to my teachers about class things before class started; sometimes it might be just casual stuff, but very rarely.

But math intimidates me. I'm not sure what to say to a prob and stats teacher except HELP!!! LOL!!!

Thanks for the strategy!

droopy

Droopy
I talk to my profs in the halls all the time. I visit them during office hours and just chat about the curriculum, assignments, life in general. It's been so good for my college career. All of my profs are in the business that I hope to get into when I graduate so getting to know them might get my foot in the door when it comes to begging one of them for a job in 3 years

It also makes me feel much more confident when handing in my research papers and assignments because I know they know me a bit better than some of the other students. I just feel more comfortable instead of very removed. Even a small connection can help. Maybe you and your prof have the same kind of pet, same taste in music, whatever. It's just nice to close that gap between teacher and student now and then.

All the best
Tina