This is an interesting thread. I would like to share my experiences
and observations as both student and teacher.
I entered a college classroom for the first time in my life at age
44. It was a scary experince. The first night I drove out of the parking
lot twice I was so scared, I didn't think I could keep up the the "kids"
especially with my booze damaged brain. The big lesson learned the first
night was that the traditional age students weren't there to learn, they
were there to get a degree at best and to get a date for Saturday night at
worse. It was a very hot summer and I think many of them were there to
keep cool!
Had no intentions of getting a degree but found a non-traditional
path to a BS throught Thomas Edison State College. Did 2/3 of the
credits via exams, not classes. Took only computer classes. When I
interviewed for graduate school the fact I had a non-traditional degree was
a decided advantage. (Self motivation and all that good stuff.) I
subsequently led to a MS, an MBA, and a doctorate from Temple
University. As an aside, I met my wife what at Temple. We were the only two
grandparents in the class.
I taught computer science, from introductory undergraduate level
through graduate level, for 15 years. Teaching undergraduate reconfirmed
my earlier observation that most (thankfully, not all) students look upon
college as a credentialling instutution, sort of like an intellectual
purgatory. A place one spend four year of partying before one has to get
serious about life.
Having said these nasty things, a college degree is highly
significate not because of what you've learned but because of what you've
done. Think about it, what characteristics do all college graduates share?
They have spent enought time at the task to accumulate 120 credits and have
spent a whole lot of time doing things they really didn't want to do. These
are the things most employers want, I've delt with local business people.
They want to employ people who have demonstrated the tenacity to see an
unpleasant task through to it's conclusion. A college degree, to many
employers, is a four year apptitude test.
If you are over age 25 and don't have a degree, consider going the
alternative route. You will be surprised how good it will make you feel
about yourslef, even if you have not intentions of using the degree for
fiscal gain.
You can obtain a degree, including a masters, from an accrredited
institution of higher learning without leaving home. You can also do it
completely at your own pace. I went from zero credits to compleation of a BS
in Business Administration in 53 weeks. But that's another thread.
If you would like any information, or insight, to the
non-traditional route, contact me off the list.
Urb, W2DEC [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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