By The Wiz
…and not just for the kids. For me as well.
Yes, peeps, I am headed back to school. For my Associate’s. Yes, I already have a Bachelor’s. In a few years time, if I play my cards right, I might just get my high school diploma!
I am going to the local community college to become a Radiographer. Think X-Ray Tech, Bone Density scans, MRI’s, etc., etc. I’m looking forward to it. I need to get some biology pre-req’s (anatomy! Hello!) out of the way before I can enter the program, but oddly enough, I HAVE all the other requirements for an Associates so I just need the required Bio and Psych classes. (Also writing 101. However, my transcript did get me out of writing 102. Explain that one, suckas.)
I haven’t been to college for 10 years.
Do people still take notebooks and pens to class? Or is it all laptops and ipads? Do people still GO to class, or just download lectures? I have 2 online courses and one ‘brick and mortar’ class+lab. Not sure how this is all going to work.
Also, anatomy books? Pricey.
Wish me luck. Give me advice. Thanks
P.S. I was all set to raffle off an Ipad mini that would kindly be donated by my husband’s company in order to raise money for Dr. Faustman. Apparently online raffles are illegal, unless you have a “no purchase necessary” option. Grrr….you guys totally would have donated for that, right?
You can still do it with a “no purchase necessary” option. I’ll bet 99% of the readers here would choose to donate anyway. Kind of like, “suggested donation: 5 bucks” and then the fine print says no purchase necessary.
Comment #1 by BarbJanuary 6th, 2013 at 6:01 pmBack to school - awesome for you!
Comment #2 by ErinJanuary 6th, 2013 at 7:38 pmWhat the what! I start school tomorrow too. For the first time since 2005. I am terrified and excited and terrified. I think I’ll go throw up.
Comment #3 by KrisJanuary 6th, 2013 at 9:06 pmGood luck! That’s awesome. And I’ll totally donate to a raffle!
Comment #4 by StarababaJanuary 6th, 2013 at 9:17 pmI headed back to school for anatomy & physiology as prereqs for nursing school several years after my bachelors. I did it all with a pencil & notebook, but I tend to remember things that I personally write down more than I remember typing. Anatomy & Phys are all about memorization. I bought myself something like this:
Comment #5 by AmyJanuary 6th, 2013 at 10:11 pmhttp://www.barcharts.com/Inventory/Navision/9781572221642
(sorry for the lack of hyper link)
and taped it in the shower. While I was washing my hair I’d memorize bones & muscles & flexion positions, etc. That kind of stuff works for me. Whatever helps you memorize what you need to do to ace the class, go for it.
Good luck!
sweet, wordpress hyperlinked it anyway!
Comment #6 by AmyJanuary 6th, 2013 at 10:12 pmDon’t buy textbooks from the bookstore! Get the ISBN numbers then go to bigwords.com. It is a search engine that will find you the cheapest used book. Then sell them back when you are done. I mostly bought and sold from half.com and in the end (once they were sold), it cost almost nothing for my books. Actually, some I made money off of!
Comment #7 by Amanda RJanuary 7th, 2013 at 3:48 amMy husband rents his textbooks. Way cheaper & easier than buying then selling back to the bookstore. Unless you want it for a reference then buy it used on-line. Half.com is another good place to look. He does paper & pencil, he can’t type
Comment #8 by TrixieJanuary 7th, 2013 at 11:35 amExciting stuff! Good for you and good luck! I did anatomy and physiology and I remember taking note cards while I went jogging… maybe assume a yoga position and memorize away?
Comment #9 by AndiJanuary 7th, 2013 at 1:24 pmI start my last semester on the 21st and I am beyond excited. Last semester and this one coming up I did the e-book and loved it. Cheaper and it doesn’t kill my back. It’s not for everyone, but worth it to look into it. I like a 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper because you aren’t limited to the size of the notebook. And I always use mechanical pencils so I don’t have to look for a sharpener. Anyway super excited for you, I love being in the classroom just hate the test and group assignments.
Comment #10 by DorriJanuary 7th, 2013 at 6:10 pmI am so old-school. I do paper and pencil. I’m practically the only one who does. When the teacher asks for us to pull out a piece of paper for an activity or something, I end up passing out half of my notebook because nobody has paper.
Actually, the real reason I do paper and pencil is because I have no self-discipline. I tried doing notes on the computer … but there are so many blogs to see and sites to visit and the little rectangle in the corner notifies me that there are new emails to read. And of course, I’ve just got to see what my latest suggestions from Amazon are right now, even if the professor is covering a topic that will be crucial for the final.
So my suggestion is take your computer - you may need it or get the odd free time to start on papers while waiting for professors - but during lectures, don’t connect to the internet.
Comment #11 by EmilyJanuary 10th, 2013 at 12:54 amI teach at a community college and many of my non-traditional students are going into the medical field like you.
Re: advice–your instructor or someone in the department might have put a copy of the textbook on reserve in the library for financially-strapped students to use (I do this).
Use the paper and pencil method to take notes, if possible. Handwriting is an activity that taps into your kinesthetic intelligence, and will likely help you remember concepts in a different way than if you audio-taped the lecture, or copied the notes from someone.
Utilize the instructor’s office hours for help, since you help pay their salary. However, don’t expect the instructor to be able to pay all of their office time to you.
Use mnemonics to help you memorize new definitions and concepts.
Study in groups, even if the group is composed of eighteen-year-olds. I know of a trio of students who met through a study group, and the youngest is seventeen and the oldest is forty-seven. They became fast friends, even outside of the classroom.
Hope this helps!
Comment #12 by Erin WhitneyJanuary 23rd, 2013 at 1:09 pmThanks for all the tips! I actually got the date wrong, it didn’t start until the 14th, so that was a great start, made me feel super smart, getting it wrong. But hey.
The first week went well. And laptops aren’t allowed in the one class I have that isn’t online, so paper it is! I like paper.
And I have found that all in all, college hasn’t changed that much. I reserve the right to change my mind.
Comment #13 by The WizJanuary 23rd, 2013 at 3:50 pm